Oklahoma State University

1569

Marriage and Family Therapy option provides students with basic knowledge, clinical skills and a professional identity essential for entry level practice of marriage and family therapy. Students specializing in marriage and family therapy operate the Center for Family Services, an on-campus family therapy clinic. The MFT curriculum takes at least two and one-half years (including summers) to complete. The academic course work includes courses in systems theory, marriage and family therapy techniques, ethics and professionalism, and research. Course work provides a framework for the application of marriage and family therapy theory and research in clinical practice. In addition, all students are required to take at least 18 months of clinical practice. Graduation requirements include the completion of required coursework, a minimum of 500 client contact hours, and the completion of either a thesis or non- thesis plan. The Marriage and Family Therapy option is only available on the OSU-Stillwater campus. The Gerontology option engages students in an in-depth study of adulthood, the aging process, needs of aging individuals and family care providers, and services for aging populations. Students may complete the on-campus program (thesis or non-thesis) or the online master's program, a collaborative program of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA). The Family and Community Services option focuses on the development and implementation of public, private and voluntary support services for individuals, families and communities. This program prepares individuals to function in a variety of occupations promoting family life and family/ community well-being and is a collaborative program of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance and is offered in an online format. More information on HDFS MS programs may be obtained from the HDFS department, on the web at humansciences.okstate.edu/hdfs (http://humansciences.okstate.edu/hdfs) or by e-mail hdfs@okstate.edu (humansciences.hdfs@okstate.edu). For additional information on the online master's programs in Gerontology and Family and Community Services, visit the website at gpidea.okstate.edu (http:// gpidea.okstate.edu). The Doctor of Philosophy Degree The PhD in Human Sciences with option in human development and family science (HDFS) is a research doctoral program designed to promote breadth, depth and integration of knowledge in HDFS through research collaborations. Doctoral students collaborate with faculty and other graduate students on research projects which integrate the theoretical and empirical knowledge base in HDFS and investigate key processes associated with risk and resilience. Upon graduation, doctoral students have the knowledge and experience to develop into leading scholars able to conduct high quality basic and applied research, to provide relevant instruction, develop effective interventions and contribute to the development of informed public policy that reduces risk and enhances resilience within individuals and among families across cultures and generations. The PhD option in HDFS provides students with the opportunity to concentrate on one of the following disciplines: Human Development or Family Science. Students are admitted to the program to focus in a primary discipline in the department (human development or family science) and to take additional course work in a secondary discipline (human development is the secondary discipline for family science students and family science is the secondary discipline for students in human development).

PhD graduates are prepared to apply knowledge in human development and family science in a collaborative manner in diverse settings. To accomplish this goal, the program is designed around four primary themes: breadth (knowledge of substantive content across the two disciplines of human development and family science), depth (knowledge of substantive content within one discipline, either human development or family science), integration (knowledge synthesized to capitalize on the strengths of the disciplines of human development and family science) and experience (knowledge through involvement in research, instruction and a variety of applications associated with reducing risk and enhancing resilience of individuals and families). To achieve breadth, depth and experience in the primary emphasis area and in the integration between human development and family science, students take courses and participate in individualized experiences, approved by their major adviser and doctoral advisory committee, that guide the student in mastering the forms (teaching, research and service) and functions (discovery of knowledge, integration of knowledge, application of knowledge and transmission of knowledge) of scholarship expected of doctoral graduates in HDFS. Two options are available: 90-hour program for BS graduates and 60- hour program for MS graduates (with additional coursework possible for students with BS and MS degrees in other fields). Doctoral training includes participation in research throughout the doctoral program, a qualifying examination in statistics, and completion of portfolio documents designed to integrate knowledge from coursework and experiences and demonstrate attainment of doctoral competencies. Coursework includes a minimum of 15 semester hours in human development and family science content classes, 15 hours in human development and family science methods classes and research practica, 12 semester hours in research and statistics classes, three semester hours in human sciences and 15 hours of dissertation research. Students who did not complete a thesis for the master's degree are required to complete a thesis equivalent project (beyond the 60 semester hour requirement). Admission to the PhD program is selective and requires the completion of an MS in human development, family science or related field. Admission decisions are based on a variety of criteria including grade-point average (3.0 grade-point average in undergraduate work and 3.5 in previous graduate study preferred; 3.25 in previous graduate study required), GRE scores (minimum scores of 150 for the verbal section, 147 for the quantitative section, and 4.0 for the analytical writing section are preferred for admission), TOEFL scores (required for students for whom English is a second language, minimum score of 79 on the internet-based TOEFL), three letters of recommendation, a statement of student goals and a résumé. More information on the PhD option in HDFS may be obtained from the HDFS department at humansciences.okstate.edu/hdfs (http:// humansciences.okstate.edu/hdfs) or by e-mail: hdfs@okstate.edu (human sciences.hdfs@okstate.edu). Faculty Sissy R. Osteen, PhD, CFP ® —Associate Professor and Head

Assistant Department Head: Jarrod Noftsger, MS Regents Professor and Dean: Stephan Wilson, PhD

Regents Professors: Laura Hubbs-Tait, PhD; Jennifer Hays-Grudo, PhD Regents Professor and George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Child Development: Amanda Morris, PhD Professor and Endowed Professor in Parenting: Robert Larzelere, PhD