This degree is a Master of Arts or Master of Science in the Department of Human Development & Family Science with an emphasis in Human Development and Family Science.
Mizzou’s on-campus Master’s degree in Human Development and Family Science prepares students to critically consume research and apply it to community settings. This degree prepares you to work in a variety of settings to support the lives of individuals and families.
DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING: Research the development and resilience of individuals, couples, families, and communities in context and across the lifespan.
CURATE YOUR LEARNING: Create your personalized plan of study and capstone experience to specialize in the area most relevant to your career or educational goals.
PRACTICE REAL-WORLD SKILLS: Join research teams, support undergraduate instruction, and engage with the community through student organizations.
Degree Requirements
Courses are selected from:
- Statistics, research methods, and professional development (7 hours)
HDFS 8200: Research Methods
Any advisor-approved statistics course 7000 level or above
HDFS 8087: Professional Seminar I - Theory (6 hours)
HDFS 8210: Theories of Human Development
HDFS 8220: Family Theories - Families (6 hours; additional courses may be taken to fulfill electives requirements)
HDFS 7300: Black Families
HDFS 7610: Stress in Families
HDFS 8087: Poverty
HDFS 8300: Advanced Seminar on Multicultural Families - Electives (12-15 hours)
HDFS 7001: Contemporary Issues in Family Science
HDFS 7001: Contemporary Issues in Human Development
HDFS*: Infancy and Childhood
HDFS 7640: Interpersonal Relationships
HDFS *: Adult Development and Aging
HDFS 8012: Family Dynamics and Intervention
HDFS 8450: Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
HDFS 8640: Family Interaction
*course numbers not yet set
Or any advisor approved graduate level course - HDFS 8090: Project (3 hours) or HDFS 8090: Thesis (3-6 hours)
*A minimum of 30 credit hours are required to earn a Master’s degree.
Accelerated Master’s
Mizzou’s 4+1 on-campus Master’s degree in Human Development and Family Science allows you to complete your Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in just five years. It will prepare you to critically consume research, translate research to practice, and make empirically-supported decisions. This degree prepares you to work in a variety of settings to support the lives of individuals and families.
Undergraduate HDFS students with at least 90 completed credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply for the Accelerated Master’s program. This program has rolling admissions, so apply as soon as you are eligible to start in summer, fall, or spring terms.
Careers
Graduates from the on-campus Master’s program work in a variety of settings that support adaptive development and relationships.
- Human services agencies
- Family advocacy programs
- County Extension offices
- Emergency shelters / Crisis centers
- Public policy / Government agencies
- Early childhood centers
- Assisted living centers
Why Mizzou HDFS?
- Mizzou HDFS ranked #6 nationally in value by Great Value Colleges of all family and consumer sciences departments
- Excellent national reputation and ranking among HDFS doctoral programs
- Collegial and supportive culture
- Over $100,000 awarded annually from department, college, and university fellowships
- Exceptional post-graduation employment rate in the graduate’s chosen field
- Award-winning mentorship from nationally-recognized faculty
- Curated plan of study prepares you for the career you want
- Built-in opportunities to conduct research, publish, and present at conferences
- Face-to-face and online teaching opportunities
- Free professional development workshops