PhD Human Development and Family Studies at Iowa State University

Programme overview

Multidisciplinary programme preparing students for careers in research, counseling, family therapy, social services and policy development. Students may custom design a programme of study with committee approval. Specializations include adolescent/youth development, adult development and aging, family studies and policy, family economic well-being and financial planning, health and well-being, infant and child development, and lifespan development.

Faculty: Graduate College | Intake: Priority 1 December (assistantships/scholarships); final 2 January | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ames, IA, United States

What you will study

Students select graduate coursework with committee approval across the specialization areas.

Career pathways

Research, counseling, family therapy, social services and policy development.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate College requirements: 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) Academic Records/Transcripts Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.) Proof of English Proficiency. Programme-specific requirements: Copy of your CV/Resume is needed by department. Please upload within your online application. Statement of Purpose Program Requires GRE: No Program Requires GMAT: No

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for first-year applicants include Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. International undergraduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted up to one year before the intended start date; applying at least six to eight weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

Graduate application fee: $60 for domestic applicants and $100 for international applicants (nonrefundable), a separate fee for each program applied to; some programs postpone fee collection until after review. Deadlines are set by each graduate program.

Apply through the official page: https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/online/

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