The Doctor of Philosophy program focuses less on issues of an applied nature and more on the development of theory and research knowledge. This program of study is multidisciplinary, calling for a synthesis of knowledge from the social and behavioral sciences and for an examination of the influence of social context and policy on individual and family behavior and development.

Course work focuses on the contributions of family, peer, school, and other cultural contexts to the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children, adolescents, and adults; the changing nature of the family constellation; local and national policies affecting families; and issues related to the elderly.

Doctoral students have considerable flexibility in tailoring their areas of specialization to special interests and career goals that also reflect the interests and areas of expertise of the faculty.