Contact

Sara Vasilenko, Graduate Program Director
315-443-9866
savasile@syr.edu

Program Description

The Master of Science degree (M.S.) in human development and family science is a 30-credit degree program that aims to promote an understanding of human development across the lifespan. With an emphasis on the importance of social-cultural context, students gain broad knowledge of the study of childhood and family systems across various cultural and societal contexts.

All M.S. students must complete the core course and elective course requirements. Courses and training emphasize multicultural perspectives in child and family relationships and diverse research methodologies and scholarship, spanning across the lifespan.

Students can personalize their education by selecting courses from additional HFS offerings as well as courses from various departments, including anthropology, biology, marriage and family therapy, psychology, education, sociology, social science, nutrition, special education, or women’s studies.

Students are required to complete either a master’s thesis or a master’s project (refer to the HDFS graduate handbook for details). M.S. programs prepare students to pursue careers in research, health services, and community agencies. Students completing a M.S. thesis can apply to the HDFS doctoral program.

Admissions

Students seeking admission to the Department of Human Development and Family Science must meet the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School. Although no single factor determines entry to the program, competitive applicants typically have a minimum of:

1. GPA of 3.00 or higher (undergraduate and/or graduate work);
2. GRE scores of 144 Quantitative, 153 Verbal (please note, the GRE exam must be taken within the last five years).

For international students whose primary language is not English, TOEFL scores of 577 (paper test) or 100 for the internet based (IBT) test are desirable.

Part-Time Study

Students may pursue their graduate degree on a full or part-time basis. Students must enroll in a minimum of nine credit hours for full-time status. Students enrolled in six credit hours or less are considered part-time.

Financial Support

Limited department financial aid is available in the form of graduate assistantships and scholarship credits for students enrolled in masters and doctoral programs. Financial aid is determined based on merit.

Additional information regarding graduate financial aid can be found at Graduate students applying for financial aid - Syracuse.edu.

Transfer Credit

Master’s students are limited to a maximum of 6 transfer credits. Transfer credit petitions should be completed by the end of the first semester of course work to guide advising for remaining coursework for the degree.

Satisfactory Progress

To maintain good standing, all graduate students are required to:

• Earn a B or better in all required courses.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, including courses taken outside the department (e.g., anthropology, education, psychology, sociology, etc.).

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Explain human development and changes in individuals and families across the lifespan.
2. Evaluate theory and empirical research on human development and families, drawing from in-depth analysis of the content.
3. Integrate understanding of the roles of development, family dynamics, and change within diverse cultural communities and contexts.
4. Apply knowledge of human and family development by conducting a practical project in real-world contexts. (Project option)
5. Conduct independent research to generate knowledge on a specific topic in human and family development, culminating in a comprehensive thesis. (Thesis option)

Core Courses

(15 Crs.)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
HFS 621	Statistical Concepts I	3
HFS 631	Research Methods/Cfs I	3
HFS 667	Chld&Fam Crss/Cltrl Persp	3
Select two of the following:		6
HFS 637	Theo,Intrp,Apps/Child Dev
HFS 643	Aging in the Context of Family Life
HFS 648	Family Theory:Interp&Applc

Elective Courses

(12 Crs.)

Students should choose up to 12 credits in alignment with their career goals, interests, and professional aspirations. See the note below for additional information.

Culminating Project/Research Options

(3 Crs.)

Students are required to select one of the following options to fulfill either the Master’s Applied Project/Internship or Thesis requirement.

• HFS 996 Masters Project 3 credit(s)
  This practical/applied option requires students to undertake an applied project or internship in real-world settings.
• HFS 997 Masters Thesis 3 credit(s)
  This theoretical/research-based option requires students to undertake a scholarly thesis with data analyses and is particularly suitable for those interested in a research career or a Ph.D. program.

Distribution of Credits

• Core Requirements 15 credits
• Elective Courses 12 credits 
• Project (HFS 996 Masters Project) or Thesis (HFS 997 Masters Thesis) 3 credits

Total Credits for Degree - 30 credits

Notes

• With advising, students may be able to pursue a certificate of advance study (typically 12 to 15 credits) in a related field. These course credits can count towards the 12 elective credits required for the M.S. program.
• With advising, students who wish to further enhance their expertise and delve deeper into their chosen culminating experience may register more than once for HFS 996 Masters Project (project) or HFS 997 Masters Thesis (thesis) by utilizing elective credit. Students can take no more than 3 credits of HFS 996 Masters Project or HFS 997 Masters Thesis in one semester.