Human Development & Family Science (HDFS) Graduate Programs

If you meet the below requirements, we encourage you to apply to the program.

1. An upper-division undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The same scale applies for graduate-level work.
2. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited university. Questions about degree equivalency should be directed to graduateadmissions@fsu.edu.
3. A competitive Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE) score; recommended score of above the 50th percentile (approximately 150) in both verbal and quantitative sections with a 4.0 or higher on the writing section. Please note that it can take up to ten (10) days after sitting for the GRE for an official score report to be sent to the university. A waiver for the GRE general test requirement for MS Human Development & Family Science applicants has been extended through the fall 2026 admission cycle.
4. International students: Applicants must submit an English Proficiency Score Report.  A TOEFL iBT® score of at least 80 (iBT) or 550 (paper-delivered) or an IELTS^TM Academic score of at least 6.5 is required. Our department does not accept other English proficiency examinations.

Attainment of these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission decisions are based on assessments of all aspects of the student’s application materials. The department reserves the right to increase standards if warranted by enrollment limitations and by the number and quality of applicants. Financial aid is a separate process from the admission to a graduate program.

You may directly contact graduate faculty members in your area of interest to determine availability regarding mentorship in internships, practicum, research and other hands-on experiences.

Before you submit your online application and pay the application fee, please carefully review the required documentation on the Application Process tab.

If a related undergraduate degree was not awarded, certain leveling courses may be required. Individuals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and provided with leveling course information.

This program admits only in the fall semester. All application materials must be received by the deadline posted and only complete applications will be reviewed. Applications are not deferred; if you decide to apply for a different term or major, you will need to start a new application.

Admission to the graduate program is term specific. Therefore, if you are unable to attend the term in which you were admitted, you will need to reapply for a future term.

All items below must be on file, and the fee paid, before an application is considered complete and ready for review. We encourage you to complete your application early.

1. Apply Online and pay the application fee.
2. Once you have submitted your application:
   • Complete the Faculty Preference Form., Please select three faulty members, in order of preference, with whom you would like to work with throughout your graduate program.
   • Upload a Statement of Purpose outlining your research interests and/or career goals. We want to know how your background and prior training make you the right candidate and why Florida State University is a good fit for you.  Please indicate up to three FSU faculty members with whom you would like to work and why. We strongly encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with the research interests of the faculty.
   • Submit contact information for two recommenders. The system will directly contact each recommender individually and provide them with a link to upload their letter. Academic recommendations are preferred, but relevant professional recommendations will be accepted. Please list a work/business email address for each recommender. Recommenders should be professionals you have worked for, are familiar with your academic performance, and can speak directly about your qualifications for this degree. No personal recommendations or letters from peers will be accepted.
   • Upload a resume or vita (information should be current).
3. Submit GRE test scores to the FSU Graduate Office of Admissions. The school reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required. The GRE general test requirement for MS Human Development & Family Science applicants has been waived through the fall 2026 admission cycle.
4. Submit  transcripts to the FSU Office of Admissions. Even if courses are posted to another institution’s transcripts, we require transcripts from EVERY post-secondary institution you attended. Please have transcripts sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.  If you are a domestic student that attended an institution outside of the U.S., you will be required to provide a credential evaluation for that transcript (please see below regarding credentialing.)
   • Send electronic transcripts to: graduateadmissions@fsu.edu
   • Send paper transcripts to:
     Florida State University
     Office of Graduate Admissions
     222 S. Copeland Street
     314 Westcott Bldg
     Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410

International Students: 

1. Submit an English Proficiency Score Report:
   • TOEFL test scores electronically from ETS.org to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions. The university’s reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required.
   • IELTS Academic test scores in physical (paper) form directly from IELTS.org to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions at:
     Florida State University
     Office of Graduate Admissions
     222 S. Copeland Street, 314 Westcott Bldg.
     Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
     USA
      
2. Florida State University (FSU) requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants who have taken courses at non-U.S. institutions. International and domestic applicants must submit their official transcripts from international institutions through a NACES-approved evaluator. SpanTran has created a custom application for FSU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. This link is found in the application checklist. Please also see the "Transcript Requirement" section on the Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on university transcript requirements for graduate students.

Please allow the Office of Graduate Admissions time to process your incoming materials.

If a related undergraduate degree was not awarded, certain leveling courses may be required. Individuals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and provided with leveling course information.

Non-Thesis Curriculum

Thesis Curriculum

For questions about the program:

Dr. Kani Diop-Lo
kdiop@fsu.edu

For questions about the application process:

CEHHS Office of Academic Services and Intern Support – HDFS Grad Admissions
HDFS-grad@fsu.edu
850-644-1117

You may apply directly to the Human Development and Family Science Doctoral Program following completion of a related bachelor’s program. The MS portion of the degree program (thesis) must be completed concurrently. Students apply for dual enrollment in the HDFS master's during their second semester.

If you meet the below requirements, we encourage you to apply to the program.

1. An upper-division undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The same scale applies for any attempted graduate-level work.
2. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited university. Questions about degree equivalency should be directed to graduateadmissions@fsu.edu.
3. A competitive Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE®) score; recommended score of above the 50th percentile (approximately 150) in both verbal and quantitative sections with a 4.0 or higher on the writing section. Please note that it can take up to ten (10) days after sitting for the GRE for an official score report to be sent to the university.
4. International students: Applicants must submit an English Proficiency Score Report. A TOEFL iBT® score of at least 80 (iBT) or 550 (paper-delivered) or an IELTS^TM Academic score of at least 6.5 is required. The department recommends 600 (paper-based) or 100 (internet-based) TOEFL for a competitive application to the doctoral program. Our department does not accept other English proficiency examinations.

Attainment of these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission decisions are based on assessments of all aspects of the student’s application materials. The department reserves the right to increase standards if warranted by enrollment limitations and by the number and quality of applicants. Financial aid is a separate process from the admission to a graduate program

Before you submit your online application and pay the application fee, please carefully review the required documentation on the Application Process tab.

This program admits only in the fall semester. All application materials must be received by the deadline posted and only complete applications will be reviewed. Applications are not deferred; if you decide to apply for a different term or major, you will need to start a new application.

Admission to the graduate program is term specific. Therefore, if you are unable to attend the term in which you were admitted, you will need to reapply for a future term.

All items below must be on file, and the fee paid, before an application is considered complete and ready for review. We encourage you to complete your application early.

1. Apply Online to the doctoral program with major in Human Development and Family Science. Pay the application fee. Once you have submitted your application:
   • Complete the Faculty Preference Form. Please select three faculty members, in order of preference, with whom you would like to work with throughout your degree program.
   • Upload a personal statement outlining your research interests, career goals, and why Florida State University is a good fit for you. The statement should include how your background and prior training make you a good candidate. Please familiarize yourself with the research interests of the faculty so that you may list your top three (3) choices of faculty members with whom you would like to work and why. To apply for the Ph.D. Human Development and Family Science program directly following a related bachelor’s program, you must clearly state that you are interested in the Ph.D. Direct Option with a dual enrollment master’s in Human Development and Family Science.
   • Upload a resume or vita (information should be current)
   • Upload contact information for three recommenders. The recommenders should be professionals you have worked with who are familiar with your academic performance and can speak directly about your qualification for this degree. Please list a work/business email address for each recommender. Academic recommendations are preferred, but relevant professional recommendations will be accepted. No personal recommendations or letters from peers will be accepted.
   • Upload a writing sample that represents your best scholarly work. Examples include a thesis, a research-based paper, published article, or a paper submitted as a course assignment.
2. Submit GRE test scores to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions. The school reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required.
3. Submit transcripts to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions. Even if courses are posted to another institution’s transcripts, we require transcripts from EVERY post-secondary institution you attended. Please submit transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions. If you are a domestic student that attended an institution outside of the U.S., you are required to provide a credential evaluation for that transcript (please see below regarding credentialing).
   • Submit electronic transcripts to: graduateadmissions@fsu.edu.
   • Send paper transcripts to:
     Florida State University
     Office of Graduate Admissions
     222 S. Copeland Street, 314 Westcott Bldg.
     Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
     USA

International Students:

1. Submit an English Proficiency Score Report. This program accepts only TOEFL and IELTS.
   • • TOEFL test scores electronically from ETS.org to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions. The university’s reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required.
     • IELTS Academic test scores in physical (paper) form directly from IELTS.org to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions at:
       • Florida State University
         Office of Graduate Admissions
         222 S. Copeland Street, 314 Westcott Bldg.
         Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
         USA
2. Florida State University (FSU) requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants who have taken courses at non-U.S. institutions. International and domestic applicants must submit their official transcripts from international institutions through a NACES-approved evaluator. SpanTran has created a custom application for FSU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. This link is found in the application checklist. Please also see the "Transcript Requirement" section on the Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on university transcript requirements for graduate students.

Please allow the Office of Graduate Admissions time to process your incoming materials.

If a related undergraduate degree was not awarded, certain leveling courses may be required. Individuals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and provided with leveling course information.

Curriculum

For questions about the program:

Dr. Kani Diop-Lo
kdiop@fsu.edu

For questions about the application process:

CEHHS Office of Academic Services and Intern Support – HDFS Grad Admissions
HDFS-grad@fsu.edu
850-644-1117

If you meet the below requirements, we encourage you to apply to the program.

1. An upper-division undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The same scale applies for graduate-level work.
2. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited university. Questions about degree equivalency should be directed to graduateadmissions@fsu.edu.
3. A master's degree from an accredited university (must be U.S. equivalent). You may apply directly to the Human Development and Family Science Doctoral Program following a related bachelor's program and earn your master's on the way to the Ph.D. Please see details above about the M.S./Ph.D. option.
4. A competitive Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE®) score; recommended score of above the 50th percentile (approximately 150) in both verbal and quantitative sections with a 4.0 or higher on the writing section. Please note that it can take up to ten (10) days after sitting for the GRE for an official score report to be sent to the university.
5. International students: Applicants must submit an English Proficiency Score Report.  A TOEFL iBT® score of at least 80 (iBT) or 550 (paper-delivered) or an IELTS^TM Academic score of at least 6.5 is required. The department recommends 600 (paper-based) or 100 (internet-based) TOEFL for a competitive application to the doctoral program.  Our department does not accept other English proficiency examinations.

Attainment of these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission decisions are based on assessments of all aspects of the student’s application materials. The department reserves the right to increase standards if warranted by enrollment limitations and by the number and quality of applicants. Financial aid is a separate process from the admission to a graduate program

You may apply directly to the Human Development and Family Science Doctoral Program following a related bachelor’s program and earn your master’s on your way to the Ph.D. Please see details above about this  MS/PhD option.

Before you submit your online application and pay the application fee, please carefully review the required documentation on the Application Process tab.

This program admits only in the fall semester. All application materials must be received by the deadline posted and only complete applications will be reviewed. Applications are not deferred; if you decide to apply for a different term or major, you will need to start a new application.

Admission to the graduate program is term specific. Therefore, if you are unable to attend the term in which you were admitted, you will need to reapply for a future term.

All items below must be on file, and the fee paid, before an application is considered complete and ready for review. We encourage you to complete your application early.

1. Apply Online and pay the application fee. Once you have submitted your application:
   •  Complete the Faculty Preference Form. Please select three faulty members, in order of preference, with whom you would like to work with throughout your degree program.
   • Upload a personal statement outlining your research interests, career goals, and why Florida State University is a good fit for you. The statement should include how your background and prior training make you a good candidate. Please familiarize yourself with the research interests of the faculty so that you may list your top three (3) choices of whom you would like to work and why. If you are applying to the Human Development and Family Science Doctoral Program directly following a related bachelor’s program, please see info on the Human Development and Family Science in-flight master’s degree.
   • Upload a resume or vita (information should be current).
   • Upload contact information for three recommenders. The recommenders should be professionals you have worked with who are familiar with your academic performance and can speak directly about your qualification for this degree. Please list a work/business email address for each recommender. Academic recommendations are preferred, but relevant professional recommendations will be accepted. No personal recommendations or letters from peers will be accepted.
   • Upload a writing sample that represents your best scholarly work. Examples include a thesis, a research-based paper, published article, or a paper submitted as a course assignment.
2.  Submit GRE test scores to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions. The school reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required.
3. Submit transcripts to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions. Even if courses are posted to another institution's transcripts, we require transcripts from EVERY post-secondary institution you attended. Please submit transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions. If you are a domestic student that attended an institution outside of the U.S., you are required to provide a credential evaluation for that transcript (please see below regarding credentialing).
   • Submit electronic transcripts to: graduateadmissions@fsu.edu.
   • Send paper transcripts to:
     • Florida State University
       Office of Graduate Admissions
       222 S. Copeland Street, 314 Westcott Bldg.
       Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
       USA

International Students:

1. Submit an English Proficiency Score Report. This program accepts only TOEFL and IELTS.
   • • TOEFL test scores electronically from ETS.org to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions. The university’s reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required.
     • IELTS Academic test scores in physical (paper) form directly from IELTS.org to the FSU Office of Graduate Admissions at:
       • Florida State University
         Office of Graduate Admissions
         222 S. Copeland Street, 314 Westcott Bldg.
         Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
         USA
2. Florida State University (FSU) requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants who have taken courses at non-U.S. institutions. International and domestic applicants must submit their official transcripts from international institutions through a NACES-approved evaluator. SpanTran has created a custom application for FSU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. This link is found in the application checklist. Please also see the "Transcript Requirement" section on the Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on university transcript requirements for graduate students.

Please allow the Office of Graduate Admissions time to process your incoming materials.

For questions about the program:

Dr. Kani Diop-Lo
kdiop@fsu.edu

For questions about the application process:

CEHHS Office of Academic Services and Intern Support – HDFS Grad Admissions
HDFS-grad@fsu.edu
850-644-1117