Career Opportunities

Our graduate program prepares students for a variety of career pathways.  See below for the types of positions students have pursued with their doctoral degree in HDFS, or click here to see profiles of a few of our alumni.

Students earning a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies receive world renowned training as scientific researchers. 

Types of careers our doctoral program graduates pursue

• Professor at research university
• Professor at teaching-focused institutions
• Research scientist
• Researcher/policy specialist in state or federal government
• Program evaluation specialist for public or private institutions
• Data specialist for private companies

Students have opportunities to customize coursework and degree options tailored toward specific career pathways, pursue internship opportunities, and gain practical experiences through research and teaching opportunities, that make our graduates highly competitive in their professional pursuits. 

See this recent article on non-academic career paths for Ph.D.s written by one of our own graduate students.