You can enter the Applied Developmental Science program with a completed master's degree or with a completed bachelor's degree. Based on your coursework and the nature of your degree will determine if you need to fulfill prerequisites before entering the Ph.D. program.
An undergraduate grade point average of 3.000 (A = 4.000) is required by CSU regulation for admission.
Minimum TOEFL score for admission without condition is 550 (paper based), or 80 (internet based).
Minimum IELTS score for admission without condition is 6.5.
Bachelor's Degree
If you are entering with a bachelor's, you must earn a master's in Human Development and Family Studies, with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy or Prevention Science.
Master's Degree – Different Subject Area
If your master's degree is in a subject area other than Applied Developmental Science, or a closely related field, you will need to complete the master's coursework in Human Development and Family Studies.
If you did a thesis on a topic appropriate for the Applied Developmental Science program, present your thesis for review. You may be granted partial fulfillment of the master's degree requirement.
Master's in a Closely Related Field – No Thesis
If you have completed a master's in Applied Developmental Science, Human Development and Family Studies, or a closely related field, but have not completed a thesis as part of that program, you will need to complete a first-year project that is comparable to a thesis project as a part of the Ph.D. requirements.
Master's in Closely Related Field – With Thesis
If you have completed a thesis from a previous program in Applied Developmental Science, or a closely related field, we still need to review your thesis. Our thesis review committee includes the Applied Developmental Science Director, Assistant Department Head, and your adviser or co-advisers.
If your thesis is not accepted, you will need to complete a first-year project comparable to a thesis project as part of our Applied Developmental Science Ph.D. program requirements.
Note: the GRE requirement has been waived for 2022 applications. Submitting your GRE scores is optional – you may submit them if you choose to but it is not required.