Texas Tech University

Master of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences

Texas Tech graduate students discuss the Human Development and Family Sciences program.

Advance Your Career Opportunities With A Master's In Human Development

Our Master's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences explores the science of development across the life span with a focus on relationships.

Our master's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences focuses on the development of the individual across the life span as well as interpersonal relationships in multiple contexts. You will get superior preparation for a leadership career in social services, family counseling, childhood advocacy, doctoral studies, or a related field.

Choose Texas Tech's master's program in Human Development and Family Sciences, and you can work with:

  • World-class research facilities. You will be able to conduct observations and research in the on-site Child Development Research Center, which serves 80 families with children aged five and younger. Texas Tech also operates an Early Head Start program in Lubbock. The Texas Tech University Neuroimaging Institute gives you the opportunity to support behavioral research with brain studies. You can also use the state-of-the-art Iva Lea Barton Research Suite, a private space that can accommodate focus groups, private observations, interviews, and more.
  • Nationally recognized faculty researchers.  Graduate faculty in our Human Development and Family Sciences department offer significant expertise in a wide range of issues, including addiction, risk-taking, gender issues, family violence, blended families, and parenting.
  • One-on-one mentoring. Texas Tech boasts a highly interactive Human Development and Family Sciences master's program. You will have personalized attention from involved faculty.
  • Quantitative and qualitative research. Our faculty excel in both qualitative and quantitative research, a rare distinction among Human Development and Family Sciences graduate programs.

Human Development and Family Sciences Master's Degree Course Requirements

About half of the hours in the Human Development and Family Sciences master's degree program consist of electives. You will have the flexibility to tailor the program to your own needs and interests.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore your interests in-depth via an original master's thesis that includes at least six hours of research.

Core curriculum in the Human Development and Family Sciences master's program includes courses in:

  • Theories of human development
  • Family theories
  • Research methods
  • Statistics

Online Human Development and Family Sciences Master's Degree Options

Texas Tech offers eLearning options for 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.

The youth development concentration includes 28 credit hours of coursework and an eight-hour practicum, research project or thesis. The gerontology concentration consists of eight core courses totaling 24 credit hours, and four electives totaling 12 credit hours.


For more information about the Human Development and Family Sciences master's degree


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Contact the Graduate Program Director

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