PhD in Human Development
About Our Program
The doctoral program in Human Development provides a systematic approach to observing, understanding, and analyzing human development across the lifespan, close relationships, and families within their individual, social, and historical contexts. Students complete coursework that includes developmental and systemic theories, qualitative and quantitative research methods and advanced statistical analysis, and opportunities to hone your area of expertise. This program is designed for doctoral students who already hold a master’s degree. For prospective students who do not have a master’s degree, see our MS to PhD in Human Development program.
With a myriad of opportunities to do real-time research through our Child Development Center for Learning and Research (CDCLR), Family Therapy Center, and the Engagement Center for Creative Aging (ECCA), our multidisciplinary program provides prepares professionals for careers in academia, social services, health care, government, non-profits, and more.
Campus:
Virginia Tech Blacksburg Campus
Type of Instruction:
On-Campus In-Person
The Department of Human Development and Family Science has four focus areas: Adult Development and Aging (ADA), Child and Adolescent Development (CAD), Family Science (FS), and Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Faculty and students are associated with one or more of these areas reflective of their scholarly interests. The MFT area is the most distinct as students affiliated with this area engage in clinical practice and supervision and complete an internship during their fourth year.
Curriculum
What You'll Study
Required Coursework (17 Credits) +
- HD 5005 HDFS Theories: Individual & Lifespan (3)
- HD 5006 HDFS Theories: Family & Systems (3)
- HD 5114 Adult Development & Aging (3)
- HD 5224 Child Development in the Family Context (3)
- HD 5324 Marriage & Family Relationships (3)
- HD 6004 Professional Development Seminar (2)
Methods & Statistics Requirements (21 Credits)
- HD 5514 Research Methods (3)
- HD 5974 Research Methods Lab (1)
- HD 5524 Qualitative Research (3)
- HD 5714 Regression (3)
- HD 5974 Regression Lab (1)
- HD 6514 Advanced Research Methods (3)
- HD 6524 Advanced Research Methods Lab (1)
- Additional Methods Course (3)
- Additional Methods Course (3)
Elective Coursework+
Students pick at least 2 electives; examples include
- HD 5224 Sexual Health & Human Rights (3)
- HD 5334 Perspectives of Human Sexuality (3)
- HD 5254 Social Epidemiology and Health Inequities (3)
- HD 5714 Mixed Methods (3)
- HD 5644 Program Development and Evaluation (3)
- HD 5654 Grant Writing and Administration (3)
Research and Dissertation+
- HD 7994 Research and Dissertation (30)
- HD 5964 Research Team (4)
Why choose this program?
- The doctoral program focuses on theory and research training.
- Our small program enables students to get individualized attention from our award-winning and research-active faculty.
- All of our doctoral students receive funding through research and/or teaching assistantships, dependent on satisfactory performance and progress to degree.
- Faculty actively publish and present with students, and our graduate students are also encouraged to lead research projects and publish in scholarly journals.
- Our department provides students with a plethora of research opportunities, including experimental and observational research in laboratory settings, field research in the surrounding communities, and secondary data analysis.
- Numerous rewarding career opportunities are available for doctoral graduates in Human Development, including teaching, research, administration, and extension service. A wide range of career options exist outside the academy as well, such as program development and evaluation, policy analysis and advocacy work, and administration and supervision in private and public human services agencies.
Admissions and Tuition
Admissions Requirements
- A bachelor's degree and master’s degrees with minimum GPA 3.0 (4 Scale)
- TOEFL/IELTS (For all non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents)
- Transcripts (official copy must be sent after students receive an offer of admission)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Letter of Interest and CV
- Writing Sample
Application Deadlines
Domestic and International
- December 1st for next Fall semester start
Tuition
Funding Opportunities
We are currently able to provide assistantship funding to all graduate students who make timely and satisfactory progress. All Ph.D. students that maintain full-time status and maintain a 3.0 GPA will be offered an assistantship (20 hours of work per week). Assistantships may include research obligations, teaching undergraduate level courses, or other administrative tasks. Students on assistantships receive a monthly stipend, tuition waivers/remission, and health benefits.
Questions?
366 Wallace Hall
295 West Campus Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061
vthdfs@vt.edu
Marty Wyatt, Graduate Staff Coordinator
540-231-4794
martywyatt@vt.edu
Erika L. Grafsky, Director of Graduate Studies
egrafsky@vt.edu