Family Sciences, PhD

The doctoral program is a research-based curriculum that provides a strong foundation in theory, research methods, statistics, and teaching opportunities. It is designed particularly for those desiring a research career in family science, including positions at colleges and universities, program evaluation positions in public and private settings focusing on individuals and the family, and administrative positions in public and private human services prevention and intervention. 

Areas of emphasis within the doctoral program are: (a) adolescent development, (b) aging, (c) family finance and economics, and (d) family processes. 

 

Admission Requirements  

Applicants must submit a statement of clearly developed academic and research goals for the Ph.D. degree, three letters of recommendation, transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate work with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of 4.0, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. GRE score requirement is currently under review and its decision will be made in Fall 2022. Master’s level practitioners, educators, and researchers in the social sciences are best suited for the doctoral program. Previous research experience is desirable, but not required. Although students generally must have a master’s degree prior to admission into the doctoral program, particularly outstanding applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree but not a master’s degree may be considered for admission into the doctoral program. Admissions are conducted one time each year; the application deadline is January 15 for admission Fall Semester of the same calendar year. See https://fam.ca.uky.edu/content/doctoral-program for details. 

 

Degree Requirements   

Credit Requirements: 

• Minimal coursework requirements prior to the qualifying examination include 2 years of residency and 36 credit hours, comprised of 20 credit hours of foundational courses (if not taken in master’s program), 9 hours of research methods and theory, 9 credit hours of statistics, 8 credit hours of professional development, and 15 credit hours in a specialization area.  

Course requirements: 

• Research Methods(minimum 9 credit hours) 

  • FAM 790 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCES  (3) 
  • One Qualitative Method(3) 
  • One Quantitative Method(3) 

• Statistics(minimum 9 credit hours) 

  • FAM 777 APPLIED STATISTICS IN FAMILY SCIENCE  (4) 
  • Two Additional Statistics Courses(6) 

• Professional Development(minimum 8 credit hours) 

  • FAM 775 -002: Professional Development Seminar II (1) 
  • FAM 785 ADVANCED PROBLEMS IN FAMILY SCIENCES  (teaching apprenticeship) (1) 
  • FAM 786 TEACHING PRACTICUM IN FAMILY SCIENCES  (supervised teaching) (3) 
  • FAM 784 RESEARCH PRACTICUM IN FAMILY SCIENCES  (qualifying exam) (3) 

• Area of Specialization(minimum 15 credit hours) 

  • Adolescent Development 
  • Aging 
  • Family Finance and Economics 
  • Family Processes 
• Foundational required unless approved from master’s degree 
  • FAM 601 FAMILY PROCESSES  (3 credit hours) 
  • FAM 652 READINGS IN FAMILY THEORY AND RESEARCH  (3) 
  • FAM 654 THE LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE ON FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS  (3) 
  • FAM 668 ALLOCATION OF FAMILY RESOURCES  (3) 
  • FAM 690 RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCE  (3) 
  • FAM 775 SEMINAR IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY RELATIONS  (1) 
  • Basic Master’s-level Statistics Course(3) 

Program Websites    

• For an overview of the Doctoral program in Family Sciences please visit:  https://fam.ca.uky.edu/content/doctoral-program 

• Doctoral Curriculum Requirements can be found on the following website:  http://fam.ca.uky.edu/sites/fam.ca.uky.edu/files/d-curriculum-requirements_4-10-18.pdf