Human Development & Family Sciences

Why Choose our HDFS Graduate Program?

Texas Tech's Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) graduate program provides cutting-edge education focused on interpersonal and family relationships and human development across the lifespan. Students will have access to expert faculty whose research is published in some of the nation's leading journals and publications. Graduate students in the HDFS program participate in meaningful research that impacts the lives of children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and communities. Graduate students will graduate prepared to excel in professional and academic positions through our intensive theoretical and methodological training. Our graduate program prepares individuals to conduct research, teach at colleges and universities, develop and implement programming, and serve individuals, families, and communities in a variety of academic and applied settings. 

View our top tips for applying to graduate school.

See our list of graduate program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

For information about our online graduate programs, please visit: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/great_plains_interactive_distance_education/index.php

Learn more about living in Lubbock: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/hdfs/graduate/student_life.php

What can you do with an HDFS degree?

Human development and family sciences graduate degrees prepare students to pursue many different career paths including:

Our HDFS graduate program does not provide training for individuals hoping to become counselors, therapists, or child life specialists. 

What type of research do we do?

Faculty in the Human Development and Family Sciences department conduct research on individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan. Students participate in innovative research projects and areas of study from a wide range of topics. Our M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs utilize a mentorship model in which students gain experience conducting research with faculty advisors. Students interested in pursuing our M.S. and Ph.D. programs should contact faculty they are interested in working with prior to applying as identifying potential advisors is part of the application process.  

Please view our faculty research labs to learn more about their work: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/hdfs/research_labs.php  

For detailed dissertation information, please visit the Texas Tech Library Theses and Dissertation Website.

Careers of Human Development and Family Sciences Graduate Student Alumni

Texas Tech HDFS alumni are making an impact in their careers. Below is a list of occupations and employers of some of our recent HDFS graduate alumni.