PhD in Human Development & Family Studies

Earn your PhD in Human Development & Family Studies and prepare for a career in higher education, research or leadership. Designed for working professionals, this program offers courses at night or in hybrid formats.

Program Features

48 credit hours post-master’s*
Tracks in Child & Adolescent Development or Family Studies
Courses meet once weekly in the evening or in hybrid format (e.g., five Fridays in person + 30% online)
All courses take place on TWU’s Denton campus
Small class sizes
Qualifying exam after completion of coursework
Dissertation required
Knowledgeable and supportive faculty with expertise in child development, family studies, child life, and developmental psychology

*Individual requirements may vary

Degree Plan

Program Information

The PhD in Human Development & Family Studies covers advanced content in growth and development in individuals and within family systems.

Specialize in child and adolescent development or family studies, and enjoy various professional development options. Students receive integrative and interdisciplinary training in theory, application and research as well as advanced training in research methodology, statistics and qualitative analysis.

Gain marketable skills:

Ability to apply human development and family studies knowledge to professional and academic practice
Critical thinking
Academic/scholarly writing
Quantitative and qualitative research

Courses offered by semester

Faculty Advisors

Students will be assigned an initial degree plan advisor when first accepted to the program. Within the first two years, students should identify a research advisor who will guide their program progression, qualifying exam, and dissertation research. Students are expected to conduct dissertation research on a topic that is aligned with their advisor’s research expertise.

Advisors currently accepting students:

Melissa McInnis Brown
Rhonda Buckley
Catherine Dutton
Shann-Hwa Hwang
Nerissa LeBlanc Gillum
Seonhwa Lee
Elizabeth McCarroll
Katherine Rose
Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez
Azucena Verdin Peralta

Career Opportunities

Faculty at a college or university
Child care administration
Family-related agency administration
Child and family advocacy
Parent/family life educator
Public policy
Federal or state agency positions
Research

Admission Requirements

Department Admission Contact:

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

Application Deadlines

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 that meets the following expectations:
  1. 500 words maximum
  2. The page layout should meet APA standards
  3. It should reflect your academic writing skills and have a professional tone.
  4. It should include the date it was written and your name and return address
  5. The first paragraph should identify:
    - Who you are.
    - What degree program you are seeking.
    - What degree(s) you have already earned and include where you earned the degree(s).
  6. The Body of the letter should identify:
    - Your professional goals
    - Why you believe that a degree from the Human Development and Family Studies program at Texas Woman's University will help you reach your goals.
    - Topics in child and adolescent development or family studies that you are particularly interested in and/or passionate about.
    - Previous research experience and the type of research you would like to engage in as part of your doctoral degree.
    - Any faculty members that you would like to work with and explain why you would like to work with them.
    - Your strengths and skills that will help you to be successful in the program.
    - How you plan to use the degree after graduating.
Participation in a virtual admissions interview and completion of a writing sample. The admissions coordinator will contact those applicants that the department invites to interview and complete a writing sample.

Contact Information

Melissa McInnis Brown, PhD
Associate Professor & Division Head
mbrown50@twu.edu
940-898-2675

Page last updated 6:08 PM, March 25, 2025

PhD in Human Development & Family Studies

Program Features

Program Information

Gain marketable skills:

Faculty Advisors

Career Opportunities

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies

Contact Information