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Family, Home, and Social Sciences:
Family Life >
Program:
Marriage, Family, & Human Development
PhD

Marriage, Family, & Human Development

Application Deadline

  • Fall: Jan 10
  • Contact Information

    2086 JFSB
    801-422-2060
    mfhdgrad@byu.edu
    Website
    Admission Requirements
    Additional Requirements
    • GRE not required
    • 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 or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • Academic paper:
      • Writing Sample: Upload a recent (or as recent as possible) example of academic writing. This should be at least two written pages (no page maximum). This example should reflect the best of your writing abilities and should be written entirely by you. Do not include writing completed with the use of AI.
    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
    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.

    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