For students admitted to the Family Studies doctoral program and beginning course work in Fall 2006

Prerequisites
A Master's degree in Family Studies or a related field and successful completion (grade B or higher) of these Master's level courses: Lifespan Human Development comparable to FS 5003, Family Theories comparable to FS 5123, Research Methods comparable to FS 5693, and Master's level Statistics. If taken at TWU following admission to the program, credits earned in these prerequisite courses will not be counted toward the doctoral degree.

Application of Course Credit to Graduate Degrees in Family Studies
The Family Studies graduate programs do not accept course work credit for courses accomplished before admission to the program. This standard means that courses taken as "non-degree seeking" or while in a different graduate major cannot be applied to the graduate degee of M.S. or Ph.D.

After admission to the Ph.D. program, a student may submit transcript(s) from a Master's degree program for consideration for application toward the doctorate. Only courses that were taken as part of a completed M.S. degree will be considered. (This is commonly called credits from and "intact Master's.")

First-Year Examination
A set of objective tests will be offered every semester and must be successfully completed by Family Studies doctoral students before completion of 18 hours of course work and as a requirement before advancing past 18 hours. (Called “First-Years,” the tests will typically be attempted in the first year of the program; however, there is no calendar requirement.) The examination consists of objective tests in the areas of human development, family theories, research methodology, and statistics. All tests must be completed in one 2-hour sitting. An acceptable passing score is required in each of the areas (not a mean score). One re-take is allowed; in a re-take sitting, all areas must be tested and scores from the re-take will be final, without opportunity for further testing. Dates and details are posted in the Family Studies Advising shell (Bb).

Attendance at Family Studies Professional Development Seminars
Doctoral students accepted to the Family Studies program are required to attend at least 3 seminars each academic year from a list of approved seminars. The following seminars will satisfy this requirement. Each opportunity on this list counts as ONE seminar, regardless of it being multiple days or just part of a day. [This requirement applies to all current doctoral students, regardless of time of entry to the program.]

Pre-Approved Seminars for Doctoral Students