Human Development and Family Science, Doctor of Philosophy

The PhD program at Ohio State deepens your knowledge about the human condition and the factors that influence its development. As a student, you will receive valuable research experiences and mentoring relationships from faculty invested in your success while developing your own interests and preparing for a career focused on research and teaching.

Program Features

Student-focused - Few required courses so you can tailor your training to create the program of study that best meets your needs.

Multidisciplinary - The program faculty includes scholars trained across several disciplines who push you to explore new, innovative ways of conceiving research questions and conducting research projects.

Systems perspective - The program takes a systems perspective on human development, emphasizing the study of development in family, educational, community and societal contexts.

Research-focused - Faculty and graduate students publish their research in the top disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals.

Professional development - From your first semester, you’ll develop the professional skills needed to be successful in graduate school. Your experiences are accentuated through courses and forums on professional development topics, including college teaching and the job market for PhDs.

Current Students Spotlight

Our students make essential contributions to the vibrant intellectual community of our program. Click below to learn more about some of our students’ interests and accomplishments.

Student profiles

Take your PhD farther

Ohio State offers unparalleled opportunities that benefit your doctoral studies and provide you numerous ways to study human development and behavior.

Couple and Family Therapy

Aging

Obesity Sciences

Applied Developmental Science

Demography

Global Health

Quantitative Research Methods

Sexuality Studies

Career Paths

PhD graduates from Ohio State's Human Development and Family Science program are hired in a variety of professions at major universities and colleges. They also are sought by private and public institutions such as research institutes, government agencies and hospitals.