Human Development and Family Studies (M.S.)
https://chhs.unh.edu/human-development-family-studies/program/ms/human-development-family-studies
Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, the M.S. Human Development and Family Studies (Child/Adolescent Development) is pausing admissions to the program. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.
M.S. Degree: Core Areas of Study
The Core Areas of Study has two foci: Child Development and Adolescent Development. Students in the Core Areas of Study Program may elect one of two options to complete their master's degree: Thesis or Comprehensive Examination. Both programs prepare students to work in a variety of human service positions and enter doctoral programs. Please visit the Career Opportunities section of our website for more information.
Child Development: This core area of study is designed to develop an understanding of theory and research regarding children from infancy through the early school years and to prepare students to work in a variety of positions focused on children's family and school experiences. Students are expected to complete a practicum in a child-focused setting.
Adolescent Development: This core area of study is designed to develop general competence in understanding and applying theory and research regarding adolescence through early adulthood within the context of families and communities. Students are expected to complete a practicum in a program that serves adolescents.
Program Distinctions
- Collegial and supportive Culture
- Department scholarship opportunities available
- Award-winning mentorship from nationally-recognized faculty
- Many career options
- Individualized M.S. plan of study
- Option to work and conduct research at the department's Child Study and Development Center
- Exceptional placement rate post-graduation
- Opportunities to conduct research, publish, and present at conferences
- Practical experience gained through practicum
- Small class size
Why Core Area of Studies?
Graduates of Human Development and Family Studies, M.S. are positioned to:
- Innovative outreach efforts that extend knowledge to policymakers, employers, and professionals.
- Contribute to the well-being of individuals and families through knowledge, teaching, leadership, and professional practice.
- Apply to doctoral programs.
- Assume leadership positions in human service agencies, corporations and school.
CORE AREAS OF STUDY REQUIREMENTS
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Child Development Courses: | ||
| HDFS 911 | Graduate Internship | 4 - 8 |
| HDFS 930 | Child Development in Context | 4 |
| HDFS 991 | Professional Issues for Family Specialists | 4 |
| HDFS 993 | Theoretical Approaches to Human Development and Family Studies | 4 |
| HDFS 994 | Research Seminar | 4 |
| Graduate-level stats class, options include: | ||
| EDUC 881 | Introduction to Statistics: Inquiry, Analysis, and Decision Making | 4 |
| or MATH 835 | Statistical Methods for Research | |
| or SOC 901 | Sociological Methods I: Intermediate Social Statistics | |
| or SW 962 | Data Analysis and Statistics | |
| Additional 10 elective credits selected with advisor from the following departmental courses or approved graduate courses in other departments 1 | ||
| HDFS 857 | Race, Class, Gender, and Families | 4 |
| HDFS #895 | Advanced Independent Study | 1-6 |
| HDFS 846 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| HDFS 876 | Children, Adolescents and the Law | 4 |
| HDFS 894 | Families and the Law | 4 |
| Thesis or Comprehensive Examination: | ||
| Thesis Option 2 | ||
| HDFS 899 | Master's Thesis (Successful completion) | 6-10 |
or | ||
| Comprehensive Examination | ||
| Additional 8 credits of approved electives | ||
| Total credits required to graduate | 40-44 | |
- 1
Students will design a program of study from HDFS and other departments graduate courses
- 2
Students electing to complete a research thesis must write and defend a thesis based on original research. Students must earn a minimum of 6 credits of HDFS 899 Master's Thesis.
ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Adolescent Development Courses | ||
| HDFS 876 | Children, Adolescents and the Law | 4 |
| Graduate-level stats class, options include: | ||
| EDUC 881 | Introduction to Statistics: Inquiry, Analysis, and Decision Making | 4 |
| or MATH 835 | Statistical Methods for Research | |
| or SOC 901 | Sociological Methods I: Intermediate Social Statistics | |
| or SW 962 | Data Analysis and Statistics | |
| HDFS 911 | Graduate Internship | 4 - 8 |
| HDFS 950 | 4 | |
| HDFS 991 | Professional Issues for Family Specialists | 4 |
| HDFS 993 | Theoretical Approaches to Human Development and Family Studies | 4 |
| HDFS 994 | Research Seminar | 4 |
| Additional 6 elective credits selected with advisor from the following departmental courses or approved graduate courses in other departments 1 | ||
| HDFS 857 | Race, Class, Gender, and Families | 4 |
| HDFS #895 | Advanced Independent Study | 1-6 |
| HDFS 846 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| HDFS 876 | Children, Adolescents and the Law | 4 |
| HDFS 894 | Families and the Law | 4 |
| SW 814 | 3 | |
| SOC #897 | Special Topics | 4 |
| Thesis or Comprehensive Examination | ||
| Thesis Option 2 | ||
| HDFS 899 | Master's Thesis (Successful completion) | 6-10 |
or | ||
| Comprehensive Examination | ||
| 8 Additional credits of approved electives | ||
| Total credits required to graduate | 40-44 | |
- 1
Students will design a program of study from HDFS and other departments graduate courses
- 2
Students electing to complete a research thesis must write and defend a thesis based on original research. Students must earn a minimum of 6 credits of HDFS 899 Master's Thesis.
Grade Policy
A graduate student who fails a course must immediately attend a mandatory meeting with the instructor of the course, the Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Coordinator, and, if desired, the student's adviser. If a graduate student receives grades below "B-" in two or more courses, the Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Coordinator will make a recommendation to the Graduate School that the student be dismissed from the program.
Students demonstrate a knowledge of the major models of marriage and family therapy and other systems related theories that support the MFT field students will acquire the clinical skills to assess and treat a wide range of problems from a systems paradigm demonstrate an understanding of multicultural diversity, larger systems and family/individual development across the lifespan develop ethical principles and practices in the field of marriage and family therapy develop systemic knowledge of marriage and family therapy research, striving toward a theoretically driven and research informed clinical practice.