PhD in Human Development & Family Studies

Department Admission Contact:

Melissa McInnis Brown, PhD
940-898-2675
mbrown50@twu.edu   

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Preferred deadlines are as follows:

• Fall admission - March 1
• Spring admission - October 1
• Summer admission - February 1

Admission Requirements

• Completed master's degree in a relevant field from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency, or an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university.
• Minimum 3.25 GPA on all graduate work.
• Submit the following documents in to the application:
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume highlighting relevant education, experience, and employment.
  • Letter of Intent (500 words maximum): A letter of Intent helps us learn more about you, your academic preparation, research interests, and professional goals. It should demonstrate academic writing ability and communicate a clear sense of fit with the Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies program at Texas Woman’s University. Please keep your letter professional, clear, and within 500 words. Follow APA formatting and include your name, date, and contact information. Be sure to include:
    • Who you are: Your academic and professional background as well as previous degrees
    • Your goals: What you hope to achieve through doctoral study and how you plan to use this degree
    • Your interests: Topics in child or family studies you are passionate about, related research experience, and which HDFS faculty member you’d most like to work with
    • Your fit: Why TWU’s Ph.D. in HDFS is the right place for you
    • Your strengths: Relevant skills and experiences that will support your success in our doctoral program

Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.  

1. Apply online.
   Apply to Graduate Programs  via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below.  
2. Submit transcripts to TWU.
   • Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details. Original transcripts for each college/university attended must be submitted, even if referred to on another schools transcripts.
   • International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
3. Submit Recommendation Requests
   If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application. List of programs-majors.  
4. Pay the application fee.
   The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:
   1. Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
   2. Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
   3. Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.
5. Submit Program supplemental documents
   1. Review the specific requirements for your intended program to identify any supplemental materials needed for your application.

Watch for emails from your new program/department that may come to your TWU email address.

For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.