Graduate Program: Family & Consumer Sciences (PHD) - Retailing & Consumer Sciences

Strengthening families, communities, and the marketplace...

The John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences provides instructional, research, extension and outreach programs that enable families, individual family members and consumers to achieve an optimum quality of life throughout the life span. Instructional programs prepare professionals for careers serving families and consumers in a culturally diverse and rapidly changing society.

There are two broad areas of study at Norton School, Family Studies and Human Development and Retail and Consumer Sciences. Currently we only offer a Ph.D. program in Family Studies and Human Development.

The FSHD graduate program curriculum is designed to provide broad exposure to developmental and interpersonal and family theories, to develop research skills and expertise, and to build in-depth knowledge in a content area chosen by the student.

Ph.D. Program in FSHD
Students interested in research, consulting, and/or teaching at the college level may pursue a doctoral degree with a concentration in family studies and human development. The program typically takes five years and combines advanced study in human development with family and interpersonal theories, research, and special topics.

Courses required for the Ph.D. include Analysis of Family Studies, Theories of Human Development, Foundations of Family and Interpersonal Theory, Application of Family and Interpersonal Theory, Research Methods, Statistics, and special topics seminars chosen based on student interests. Doctoral students also complete coursework in a chosen minor area.

Recent program graduates have taken positions as research scientists and professors in the fields of human development and family studies, family health, adolescent sexuality, criminal justice, psychology and anthropology.

For more information about our program, please visit our website. You may also contact the Graduate Coordinator, Linda Burkholder for more information at lindab2@email.arizona.edu