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.
DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Research the development, diversity, 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.
JUMPSTART YOUR CAREER
Our accelerated master’s program allows you to enter your career sooner than a traditional program.
Apply for the accelerated master’s program by January 1 of your junior year. If accepted, you will begin your first year of the program in the summer term.
Year 1 of Master’s (as Provisional Graduate Student)
Year 1: Summer (credit hours: 1)
| Course number | Course title | Credit hours |
| HDFS 7001 | Topics in HDFS | 1 |
Year 1: Fall (credit hours: 7)
| Course number | Course title | Credit hours |
| HDFS 8200 | Research Methods in HDFS | 3 |
| HDFS 8210 OR HDFS 8220 | Theories of Human Development (8210; odd fall terms) OR Family Theories (8220; even fall terms) | 3 |
| HDFS 8087 | Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
Year 1: Spring Semester (credit hours: 6)
| Course number | Course title | Credit hours |
| HDFS 7001 | Contemporary Topics in Human Development (even spring terms) OR Contemporary Topics in Family Science (odd spring terms) | 3 |
| Elective course | 3 |
Graduate with your Bachelor’s; begin Year 2 of the graduate program
Year 2: Summer Semester (credit hours: 4)
| Course number | Course title | Credit hours |
| ESC_PS 7170 | Statistics | 3 |
| HDFS 7001 | Topics in HDFS | 1 |
Year 2: Fall Semester (credit hours: 9)
| Course number | Course title | Credit hours |
| HDFS 8210 OR HDFS 8220 | Theories of Human Development (8210; odd fall terms) OR Family Theories (8220; even fall terms) | 3 |
| Elective courses | 6 |
Year 2: Spring Semester (credit hours: 9)
| Course number | Course title | Credit hours |
| HDFS 7001 | Contemporary Topics in Human Development (even spring terms) OR Contemporary Topics in Family Science (odd spring terms) | 3 |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| HDFS 8090 | Research in HDFS: Master of Arts Capstone | 3 |
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 - Diversity (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
HDFS8410: Infancy and Childhood
HDFS 7640: Interpersonal Relationships
HDFS 7252: 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)****Students must petition the graduate committee to complete a thesis and earn a Master of Science degree.
*36 credit hours are required to earn a Master’s degree
Choose a capstone experience to support your goals:
- Project: Develop programming or policy to make a difference in your community
- Thesis: Hone research skills and contribute to a body of knowledge
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
- Family law offices
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