Texas Tech University

Human Development and Family Sciences

Online Human Development and Family Sciences Master's Degree Option

Texas Tech offers online master's degree concentrations in gerontology and youth development via the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA). Both online master's degrees require a total of 36 credit hours and are aimed at working adults who are already employed as professionals in child and family services.

Application Deadlines

Fall — May 31st

Spring — November 4th

Summer — March 23rd (For Youth Development Only)

Gerontology

The gerontology concentration consists of eight core courses totaling 24 credit hours, and four electives totaling 12 credit hours.

Youth Development

The youth development concentration includes 28 credit hours of coursework and an eight-hour practicum, research project or thesis. Master's students are encouraged to reach out to the program director before applying: ali.j.luempert@ttu.edu.

Online Human Development and Family Sciences Graduate Certificate Options

Early Childhood & Family Policy Online Graduate Certificate

The Early Childhood & Family Policy Online Graduate Certificate empowers those who are committed to working on behalf of young children and their families domestically and internationally. This innovative curriculum provides optimum flexibility through online courses offered in 8-week sessions so you only have to focus on one course at a time. In just four courses, students develop essential policy skills and understand the interrelationship of early childhood and family policies from a range of systems such as health care, education, family leave, mental health, child abuse and neglect, incarceration of parents, and minimum wage.

Gerontology

The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is a 15-hour inter-institutional program offered through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, a consortium of seven universities. The program is designed to prepare professionals who are either working directly with older people or are involved in education or research related to aging adults. The web-based courses are comprised of two core courses and three electives offered by universities participating in Great Plains IDEA.

Youth Development Specialist

The Graduate Certificate in Youth Development Specialist is designed to assist youth professionals to train individuals in the second decade of life with the skills necessary for a successful transition into adulthood. The target audience is professionals who are either working directly with adolescents and young adults or are involved in education and research related to youth. Great Plains IDEA is the only alliance of public universities to offer a youth specialist certificate completely online. The program addresses the need for advanced education in youth issues and does so through a strengths-based curriculum.

Youth Program Management and Evaluation

The Graduate Certificate in Youth Program Management and Evaluation is designed to prepare professionals who are either working directly with adolescents and young adults or are involved in education and research related to youth. Few graduate programs exist that focus solely on the second decade of life, and Great Plains IDEA is the only alliance of public universities to offer this type of certificate completely online. The certificate is designed to assist youth professionals to develop and apply resources for successful implementation and management of youth-serving organizations. The program addresses the need for advanced education based on research and policy for optimal youth outcomes through a strengths-based curriculum.