Admission to the Human Development and Family Sciences Program (HDFS) is based on academic merit; a personal statement outlining the applicant’s background, research interests, and career goals; letters of recommendation; and work samples or other evidence of academic promise. Past experience as a research assistant in a faculty research lab is highly valued. The Admissions Committee also examines the fit between applicants’ goals and the goals of the program. Applicants are encouraged to identify one or more HDFS faculty whom they would like to serve as their research mentor and to contact them before applying to ensure compatibility of research interests and space in the faculty mentor’s research lab. Applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree prior to beginning the graduate program. A master’s degree is not required for admission. HDFS only accepts applicants for the Ph.D. program and only for the Fall semester.
The application submission deadline is December 1st, for Fall Admission only.
A select group of applicants will be invited January 25th and 26th to participate in virtual interviews with faculty and to meet current graduate students. Admissions decisions will be made and admitted applicants will be invited to a campus visit February 29th.
Approximately 15% of applicants are accepted for admission. Admissions decisions are made by the Graduate Admissions Committee on the basis of review of each applicant’s particular profile of strengths. Admitted students have different profiles. Some, for example, have extremely high test scores or grade point averages, whereas others have unusually strong prior research experience. International students should first contact the Graduate School for information on application to the University of Texas at Austin.
Click here to learn specifics about applying to the HDFS graduate program.
