The Department of Health and Human Development offers a 36-credit Master of Science degree in Health and Human Development with an option in Family and Consumer Sciences. The option is structured to prepare scholars in the fields of early childhood education, child development, or family science. Students have the opportunity to develop skills necessary for professional achievement in basic and applied research settings, in higher education, in public and private organizations, and in the child and family program evaluation and policy arenas. The strength of this master's program is based on three major components: the integration of early childhood education, child development, and family science; specialization in early childhood education, child development, or family science; and an emphasis on becoming proficient producers and consumers of research. Both nonthesis and thesis options are available. The nonthesis option requires the completion of a professional paper/project and additional supporting course work. A master's thesis option that is concurrently specialized and integrative in nature reflects the complexity of the disciplinary subject matter, provides a broader context to formulate theoretical questions, and broadens the empirical literature for addressing those questions.

Prospective candidates must meet the general academic admission standards of the Department of Health and Human Development. Background knowledge of human development and behavioral sciences is required. Deficiencies in these areas may need to be addressed by taking identified courses prior to, or immediately upon, entering the program. Credit for courses taken to compensate for deficiencies cannot be used toward the 36 credits required to graduate from the program. Additional admission requirements include a GPA of 3.0 or better during the last two years of study at the undergraduate level and a total verbal and quantitative score of 900 on the Graduate Record Exam (minimum 350 verbal and 350 quantitative, together totaling at least 900).

Graduate teaching and research assistantships are available on a competitive basis to outstanding graduate candidates. Early childhood/child development master's students may be eligible for teaching assistantships in the Child Development Center.

An application may be obtained from the Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3540. All applications materials must be received in the department on or before June 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. Materials include the application form, application fee, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and GRE scores. In addition, a letter of intent stating your goals for completing this program and providing background data about yourself, your personal and professional experiences and interests shall be included in the application.