PhD
Marriage, Family, & Human Development
Application Deadline
Contact Information
Admission Requirements
GRE not required, but recommended.
Additional Requirements
Additional Requirements
- Graduate courses in marriage, family, and human development.
- Letters of Recommendation should be from individuals who can evaluate your current academic and/or professional skills and abilities. Character reference letters from friends, family or acquaintances are not appropriate.
- Resume
Program Requirements
The graduate program is designed to address the theories, research, and practices that (1) strengthen marriages, (2) enhance the development of children, and (3) unfold the characteristics of quality nurturing relationships across generations.
The PhD degree in MFHD provides integrated and in-depth learning experiences in family studies and human development. It also offers the opportunity to acquire expertise in a number of different aspects of the field. The primary focus of doctoral study is to help students become effective educators and scholars. Many graduates find professional positions in university departments related to family studies or human development. Some find positions in community settings, research organizations, or the mass media; and others choose to work in business settings.
Typically from six to ten students are admitted each year to the program, with the proportion of MS and PhD degree candidates varying each year.
For additional information about scholarships, assistantships, ongoing faculty research programs, and research facilities, go to http://mfhd.byu.edu/.
Requirements for Degree.
72 credit hours of course work; Master's and transfer credits will be applied to the elective requirements, unless a case can be made that the content of the master's or transfer course closely correlates to a course in the required core.
Required Core - 48 credit hours:
Theory - 3 credit hours:
MFHD 514 (3.0 credits) Theories of Human Development
Human Development - 6 credit hours:
MFHD 611 (3.0 credits) Advances in Human Development
Elective Human Development Content Course (3.0 credits)
Family Science - 6 credit hours:
MFHD 612 (3.0 credits) Instruction to Research and Theory in Family Studies
Elective Family Studies Content Course (3.0 credits)
Methods & Statistics - 15 credit hours:
MFHD 691 (3.0 credits) Graduate Research Methods
MFHD 600 (3.0 credits) Multiple Regression
MFHD 605 (3.0 credits) Structural Equation Modeling in Social Sciences
MFHD 706 (3.0 credits) Advanced Statistics
Elective Methods/Statistics Course (3.0 credits)
Dissertation - 18 credit hours:
MFHD 799R (18.0 credits) Doctoral Dissertation
Electives - 24 credit hours: Approved by your Graduate Committee
The PhD degree in MFHD provides integrated and in-depth learning experiences in family studies and human development. It also offers the opportunity to acquire expertise in a number of different aspects of the field. The primary focus of doctoral study is to help students become effective educators and scholars. Many graduates find professional positions in university departments related to family studies or human development. Some find positions in community settings, research organizations, or the mass media; and others choose to work in business settings.
Typically from six to ten students are admitted each year to the program, with the proportion of MS and PhD degree candidates varying each year.
For additional information about scholarships, assistantships, ongoing faculty research programs, and research facilities, go to http://mfhd.byu.edu/.
Requirements for Degree.
72 credit hours of course work; Master's and transfer credits will be applied to the elective requirements, unless a case can be made that the content of the master's or transfer course closely correlates to a course in the required core.
Required Core - 48 credit hours:
Theory - 3 credit hours:
MFHD 514 (3.0 credits) Theories of Human Development
Human Development - 6 credit hours:
MFHD 611 (3.0 credits) Advances in Human Development
Elective Human Development Content Course (3.0 credits)
Family Science - 6 credit hours:
MFHD 612 (3.0 credits) Instruction to Research and Theory in Family Studies
Elective Family Studies Content Course (3.0 credits)
Methods & Statistics - 15 credit hours:
MFHD 691 (3.0 credits) Graduate Research Methods
MFHD 600 (3.0 credits) Multiple Regression
MFHD 605 (3.0 credits) Structural Equation Modeling in Social Sciences
MFHD 706 (3.0 credits) Advanced Statistics
Elective Methods/Statistics Course (3.0 credits)
Dissertation - 18 credit hours:
MFHD 799R (18.0 credits) Doctoral Dissertation
Electives - 24 credit hours: Approved by your Graduate Committee
Program Outcomes
Marriage, Family, and Human Development Fundamentals
Demonstrate knowledge of the dominant theories, main research findings, & contemporary issues in the literature in fields related to Marriage, Family, and Human Development.
Research Skills
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of and competence in the general research methods and statistics used in fields related to Marriage, Family, and Human Development.
Effective Research Analysis and Reporting
Review existing research: design, analyze, and report advanced original research that contributes to a scholarly specialty.
Demonstrate knowledge of the dominant theories, main research findings, & contemporary issues in the literature in fields related to Marriage, Family, and Human Development.
Research Skills
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of and competence in the general research methods and statistics used in fields related to Marriage, Family, and Human Development.
Effective Research Analysis and Reporting
Review existing research: design, analyze, and report advanced original research that contributes to a scholarly specialty.
Program Stats
Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
Total Students
6.0
International
1.0
Male
1.0
Female
5.0
LDS
6.0
BYU Undergraduate
3.0
Five Year Average of Graduated Students
Average Years to Degree
1.89
Graduated Per Year
18.2
GMAT Quantitative Percentile
67.5
Five Year Average of Admitted Students
Applied Per Year
2.2
Admitted Per Year
2.0
Percent Admitted
90.91
Average GPA
3.77
Courses and Faculty