Application Procedures

All application materials are available online. Electronic applications where available are recommended for the most efficient processing. If you do not complete the Graduate School Application online, you will need to submit a duplicate copy to the department. All university online applications are automatically forwarded to the department.

Application Deadlines

Master's and Doctoral Programs
Both the Graduate School (online) application and the HDFS departmental (online) application must be received by the HDFS department by January 15 in order for the applicant to be considered for admission the following Fall.

To the University

Complete the Online Graduate School Application. Assistantships/Fellowships are included in this application.

To the Department

  • A duplicate copy of all forms submitted to the University in paper format must be submitted to the Department (online applications are automatically forwarded to the Department by the University)
  • Complete the Departmental application for the program you are applying for:
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to assess the student's potential for graduate study in an area of specialization. Click here to download the letter of recommendation form.
  • Two copies of official transcripts of all university courses completed at all colleges and universities attended. Colorado State University students or graduates can submit unofficial copies of CSU transcripts.

Application deadline for receipt by the department of HDFS of all materials is JANUARY 15th.

The minimum requirements for admission to all graduate programs are:

  1. BS or BA degree with appropriate background in Human Development and Family Studies or a related field (see below for prerequisite coursework), with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 (B) or higher.
  2. For nonnative speakers of English, a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 550 (paper version), 213(computer version), or 80 (internet version).
  3. Course work in human development (minimum of two courses required with A or B), family studies (minimum of one course required with A or B), and statistics (minimum of one course required with an A or B). Additional course work in research methods is recommended. If a student is deficient in any of these three areas, additional course work will be required before entry into the program is permitted.

In order to be considered for admission to the M.S. programs in Family & Developmental Studies or Marriage & Family Therapy, the following additional minimum requirement must be met:

  • Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination. The test is composed of verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections (scores of 500 or higher on the Verbal, 500 or higher on the Quantitative section, and 4.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing portion are usual for students admitted to the Master's program.)

In order to be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program in Applied Developmental Science (ADS), the following additional minimum requirements must be met:

  • Although only a BS/BA degree is required, students who have Master’s degrees also can apply to the ADS program. For those who already have a MS or MA degree, a research thesis or comparable research project is required for the ADS program. As part of their application form, applicants are advised to include a synopsis of their thesis. If the applicant did not complete a research thesis as part of the Master’s degree requirements, or if the degree was not in a related field, a first-year research project will be required as part of the Ph.D. in ADS.
  • Current Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores at the 50th percentile or higher on the Verbal and Quantitative tests, and a score of 4.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing test.
  • Identification of at least one faculty mentor for whom there is a well-defined fit with the applicant’s research interests and career goals.

Interviews:

Finalists for admission into the MFT program will be asked to interview with departmental faculty during February. Applicants must cover their own transportation expenses. The department can provide lodging if desired.

Residency

Out-of-state students interested in gaining residency should visit the Student Financial Services Tuition Classification site for details.

Submit all non-electronic application materials to:

  • Graduate Program Chair
  • Department of Human Development and Family Studies
  • 102 Gifford Building
  • Colorado State University
  • Fort Collins, CO 80523-1570
  • Phone: (970) 491-5558
  • Fax: (970) 491-7975

For questions regarding the Department Application, contact the HDFS Graduate Program Chair, Dr. Karen Caplovitz Barrett at (970) 491-7382 or email at Karen.Barrett@ColoState.EDU

For more information on the Graduate School requirements, applicants should consult the Graduate and Professional Bulletin. The Bulletin is available from the Colorado State University Graduate School office at (970) 491-6817.