The cornerstone of doctoral preparation across program areas is research. Doctoral students are actively involved in research, usually projects within existing research programs of the faculty, The doctorate program in Human Development and Family Science teaches graduate students about human development and behavior from multiple disciplinary perspectives and across several contexts, including families and neighborhoods. Students also receive intensive training in research methods and statistics.

Through instruction in systems and bioecological perspectives, a strong multidisplinary knowledge base in family science and human development and intensive research with faculty, our HDFS graduate students are contributing new knowledge that has the potential to improve the lives of children, adults and families around the world.

Faculty in Human Development and Family Science have developed a program that meets the needs of its students. The key aspects of the program include:

Student-focused - The program has few required courses so students can tailor their training to create the program of study that best meets their needs.;Multidisciplinary - The program faculty includes scholars trained across several disciplines who push students 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, community and societal contexts.;Research-focused - Faculty and graduate students publish their research in the top disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals.;Professional development - From a student's first semester, faculty help students develop the professional skills needed to be successful in graduate school. Students' experiences are accentuated through courses and frequent forums on professional development topics, including college teaching and the job market for PhDs.

Students also get additional benefits from their studies in HDFS by supplementing them with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy, graduate interdisciplinary specializations such as obesity science, demography, or applied developmental science, graduate minors and opportunities at several research centers.