Human Development and Family Science

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.
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 official 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.

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

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. If you would like to schedule a visit to the department, please contact us at fcs_gs@fsu.edu.

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.

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 three 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. 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.
3. Submit official GRE test scores to the FSU Office of Admissions. The school reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required. 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: Submit an official 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

5. Submit official transcripts (with translations if not in English) 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 official transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

• Special Notice: Florida State University is requiring applicants from Nigeria and Ghana to obtain a World Education Service (WES) credential evaluation. This evaluation of official transcript(s) will then be directly sent to FSU.
• Send electronic transcripts to: graduateadmissions@fsu.edu
• Send paper transcripts to:
  Florida State University
  Office of Admissions
  A2500 University Center
  282 Champions Way
  Tallahassee FL 32306-2400

Please allow a minimum of ten (10) business days for the Office of Admissions to process your incoming materials.

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 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.
3. International students: Applicants must submit an official 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.

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; Once you have Current Content with the info below:
   • Pay the application fee.
   • 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 personal statement outlining your research interests, career goals, and why Florida State University is a good fit for you. We strongly encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with the research interests of the faculty in their area so the statement can specifically address those faculty members. The statement should include how your background and prior training make you a good candidate and should include your top three (3) choices of faculty members with whom you would like to work. 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.
   • 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. 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. Please submit 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 official test scores (GRE® and, if required, TOEFL iBT®) school reporting code for test scores is 5219; no department code is required. International Students: Submit an official 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
3. Submit official transcripts (with translations if not in English) 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 official transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
   • • Special Notice: Florida State University is requiring applicants from Nigeria and Ghana to obtain a World Education Service (WES) credential evaluation. This evaluation of official transcript(s) will then be directly sent to FSU.
   • Send electronic transcripts to: graduateadmissions@fsu.edu
   • Send paper transcripts to:
     Florida State University
     Office of Admissions
     A2500 University Center
     282 Champions Way
     Tallahassee FL 32306-2400

Doctoral students have access to the entire departmental faculty as part of their education and professional development. Students select their major professor and supervisory committee based on areas of scholarly interest and expertise. The doctoral supervisory committee provides mentorship throughout the doctoral experience. Doctoral students have access to computer laboratories, statistical software, and on-campus and remote access library resources.

For students admitted to a Doctoral program after completing a Master’s degree, a preliminary examination must be completed within 3 years but no longer than 5 years from beginning coursework.

When students complete coursework, they then complete a preliminary examination. Upon successful completion of the exam, the student enters into “candidacy,” where original research is undertaken, culminating in a dissertation. Although some students complete their dissertation within a year, others take longer. The period of candidacy is limited to 5 years.

We make every attempt to provide financial support to full-time enrolled students through Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships. Students typically provide 20 hours of service to the department through these assignments.