HDFSMS - Human Development and Family Science

Master of Science

College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences

Graduate

The doctoral program includes basic and applied courses, which provide broad exposure to relevant theories and research methods and encourages ongoing student involvement in research, including but not limited to the thesis and dissertation. In addition to major coursework, a student is required to choose a minor outside of the major to enhance the student's ability to solve problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. Other elements of the doctoral program are the research mentorship program, research methods and statistics courses, and the doctoral dissertation. Through the doctoral program, a student will acquire a firm foundation in theory and research methods relevant to their emphasis area and will also become competent in advanced statistical techniques necessary for conducting research. A primary expectation for all entering graduate students (including international students) is that their written communication skills in the English language are at an appropriate level for the graduate program. Therefore, students should possess appropriate knowledge of, and proficiency in, academic formal writing, including mastery of English grammar and punctuation, ability to organize ideas, and logical presentation of ideas. Students wishing to hone skills in writing may avail themselves of a variety of graduate writing tutorials, institutes, and workshops offered by the Graduate College (see https://grad.arizona.edu/new-and-current-students). In addition, the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) offers an academic writing/speaking course, ENGL 407, for nonnative speakers/writers. Students may also be requested to enroll in specific courses by the Graduate Committee if deficiencies are identified in their writing skills.