Human Development and Family Studies, M.S.

I. Contact Information

Bridget Walsh, Assistant Professor, Graduate Program Director
College of Education
Bridgetw@unr.edu
(775)784-7007

II. Brief Introduction

The mission of the M.S. graduate program in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) is to produce knowledgeable, well-qualified graduates who are prepared to enter the professional workforce as informed, well-rounded specialists in at least one area of the lifespan and in the study of the families, and who are prepared to undertake further graduate level education if desired.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The M.S. graduate program in HDFS aims to generate graduates who are well versed in content, theories, research methods, and the application of knowledge to practice. Graduate students specialize in early childhood education, child and adolescent development, family studies, or addiction treatment services. Graduate students conduct an original piece of research under faculty supervision in the form of a thesis or complete a professional paper, which includes earning the qualification of a Certified Family Life Educator.

IV. Admission Requirements

Priority consideration will be given to M.S. graduate program applicants who meet the requirements for graduate degree admission status listed below:

1. Meet the Graduate School admission requirements;
2. Complete the Graduate School application;
3. Complete the Application for Admission to the Master of Science Program in Human Development & Family Studies

Applications are due to the HDFS program by March 1 for fall admissions and by October 1 for spring admissions. In special circumstances, late applications may be considered. Consideration should be requested of the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Bridget Walsh.

V. Program Requirements

In the M.S. HDFS graduate program, students may specialize in an area of academic interest through the selection of electives and a thesis topic or professional paper. Twelve hours of credit in courses numbered 700 or above are required in addition to 6 credits in HDFS 797  or 3 credits in HDFS 796 . At least 24 of the total credits taken for the degree must be in human development and family studies, as listed below:

VI. Total Units (33 units)

VIII. Undergraduate Prerequisites

Before beginning the M.S. graduate program in HDFS, students are expected to have completed an introductory level course on lifespan development (e.g., HDFS 201 Lifespan Human Development or similar), an introductory course on families (e.g., HDFS 202 Introduction to Families or similar), and an undergraduate course in research methods or statistics (e.g., HDFS 391 Introduction to Research or similar). Students who are accepted into the program without these prerequisites will be required to complete coursework in the deficit area(s). A plan for making up the deficit areas will be developed with the Director of Graduate Studies and the student’s initial advisor upon student admission to the program.