Human Development and Family Science Graduate Program

Department of Human Development and Family Science

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This graduate program prepares you to define problems and conduct innovative and rigorous research that informs policies and practices aimed at helping individuals and families thrive. You will develop the skills needed to study the biological, developmental, interpersonal and contextual determinants that protect and/or undermine the health and well-being of individuals and families throughout their lives.

Program Highlights

  • The graduate program emphasizes sophisticated methodologies and novel approaches to advance discovery and better the lives of individuals and families across multiple social contexts.
  • You will have opportunities to work closely with faculty members to advance research across three main developmental periods: infancy and childhood, adolescence and adulthood and aging.

Potential Careers

  • Assistant or associate professor
  • Extension specialists
  • Research scientist
  • Research fellow
  • Policy fellow
  • Data analyst
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Research

Research is an important component of the human development and family studies graduate program, allowing you to develop interventions and frameworks that will benefit individuals and families throughout their lives.

Graduate students meeting with faculty

Research Opportunities

  • The transition from childhood to adulthood
  • Social, emotional, familial factors that contribute to adult development
  • Children’s health
  • Early childhood developmental trajectories of children at risk for autism
  • Parenting and parent-child relationships
  • Peer relationships
  •  Individual, family and home factors and child development

Faculty by Research Area

Culture and Diversity

    Early Childhood Education and Care

      Health and Well-being

        Interpersonal Relations

          Military Families

            Admissions/Requirements

            Graduate Program Coordinator

            For questions regarding the HDFS graduate program, please contact Elizabeth Atha, eatha@purdue.edu.