Child and Family Studies, PhD

Contact

Rachel Razza, Graduate Director, 144 White Hall 315-443-7377, rrazza@syr.edu

Faculty

Colleen Baish Cameron, D. Bruce Carter, Joseph P. Fanelli, Irene Kehres, Ambika Krishnakumar, Eunjoo Jung, Teresa MacDonald, Matthew Mulvaney, Kamala Ramadoss, Rachel Razza, Jaipaul L. Roopnarine

Description

The Ph.D. program consists of 72 credits, including completion of a dissertation. The doctoral (PhD) program provides in-depth studies of familial, societal, and cultural factors that shape child development and family relationships. A primary focus is on scientific inquiry and research methodology employed in disciplines such as education, psychology, social sciences, and women’s studies. It trains professionals for careers in academia, research, and child and family human service agencies.

Courses and training emphasize multicultural perspectives in child and family relationships and diverse research methodologies and scholarship. In addition, doctoral students have the opportunity to obtain university teaching instruction and experience through participation in Syracuse University’s Future Professorate Program.

Admission

Students seeking admission to the Department of Human Development and Family Science must meet the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School. While no single factor determines entry to the program, competitive applicants typically have a minimum of: 1) GPA of 3.00 or higher (undergraduate and/or master’s degree); 2) GRE score of 144 Quantitative score, 153 Verbal score (exam taken on or after August 1st, 2011); Combined GRE score of 1000 (exam taken before August 1, 2011). Please note, the GRE exam must be taken within the last five years); 3) TOEFL scores of 577 (paper test) and 100 for the Internet based (IBT) test (For international students whose primary language is not English).

Transfer Credit

Up to 30 credits directly related to child development and family studies may be transferred from a student’s master’s degree coursework with advisor and faculty approval.

Part-time Study

Students may pursue their graduate degree on a full or part-time basis. Students must enroll in a minimum of nine credit hours for full-time status. Students enrolled in six credit hours or less are considered part-time.

Satisfactory Progress

Graduate students must earn a minimum average of 3.0 for work comprising the program for the degree or certificate and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8.

Financial Support

Falk College academic programs offer a limited number of graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships. Graduate admissions officers in each graduate program allocate this financial aid based largely on merit. Graduate assistantships in the form of research assistantships and teaching assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis from among applications received by February 1; assistantships are usually not available at any other time of the year.

Research assistants are required to assist their sponsoring faculty to perform research. Teaching assistants are required to assist with undergraduate/graduate instruction, this includes teaching assistantships at the Bernice M. Wright Child Development Laboratory School. Recipients of these assistantships receive a stipend in addition to a tuition scholarship.

Syracuse University fellowships are awarded competitively from applications received by January 1 on an all-University basis. Doctoral fellows receive a stipend, plus a tuition scholarship of 30 credits for the academic year. Fellows devote full time to their studies and are not assigned duties.

To apply for University fellowships or College assistantships, check the proper place on the application for admission.

Core course requirements (24 credits)

CFS 615 - Graduate Proseminar in Child and Family Studies 3 credit(s)
CFS 637 - Theo,Intrp,Apps/Child Dev 3 credit(s)
CFS 648 - Family Theory:Interp&Applc 3 credit(s)
CFS 621 - Statistical Concepts I 3 credit(s)
CFS 622 - Statistical Concepts II 3 credit(s)
CFS 631 - Research Methods/Cfs I 3 credit(s)
CFS 667 - Chld&Fam Crss/Cltrl Persp 3 credit(s)
CFS 732 - Research Methods/CFS II 3 credit(s)

Elective Credits (36 credits)

In addition to completing the core requirements (24 credits), students are required to take additional supporting courses (36 credits) from within or outside the college in areas such as education, psychology, the social sciences, and women’s studies. Students should consult with their faculty advisor prior to selecting elective courses. Students may choose courses at the 500 or the 600 level. All students must complete a two-semester sequence in statistics and research methods. Students must also select an additional research methods course (advanced statistics, qualitative research) in preparation for their doctoral research.

Subject to departmental approval, a maximum of up to 30 credits of Masters level coursework (in CFS or related disciplines at Syracuse University or other universities) may be applied to your Ph.D. program as electives. Courses in research methodology, statistics, and major or substantive areas of study within Child and Family Studies or related disciplines are eligible to be considered.

Comprehensive Examination

After completing required coursework and prior to their dissertation, doctoral students must complete the comprehensive examination. These examinations are intended to advance learning by requiring students to integrate substantive knowledge within the broad field of Child and Family Studies. Students are expected to synthesize, critically analyze, and evaluate the literature in the field and also articulate this scientific information in the written defense examination. Formal acceptance as a Ph.D. candidate is contingent upon successful completion of the written examination. Comprehensive examinations are scheduled twice each year.

Dissertation (12 credits)

Students are expected to take 12 dissertation credits. The dissertation is a final requirement of the Ph.D. program wherein students are expected to undertake original research that makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in child and family studies (students complete 12 dissertation credits). Students are expected to present a dissertation proposal to a committee of three faculty members. Only after approval of the dissertation proposal are students allowed to undertake the proposed research project. Upon completion of the dissertation, an oral defense is scheduled before a dissertation committee. The dissertation must meet additional requirements specified by the department and the Graduate School.

Course Catalog