Additional course fees for the online master’s degree in Human Development and Family Science may apply.

To find pricing information, visit our pricing page. For financial aid information, view our financial aid page. For detailed tuition information, visit our business services page. To view all the funding resources available to graduate students, please visit the Graduate Admissions Funding Resources page.

The prospective student must complete the graduate school admission application online and pay the application fee at http://apps.usm.edu/graduate-school/grad-school-apps/.

All application materials are submitted online to the graduate school, http://www.usm.edu/graduate-school/apply-graduate-school. Prospective students for the online master’s degree in Human Development and Family Science program must complete the application form on the website, pay the application fee, and then submit the following materials:

• 1. An essay related to the field of HDFS. See the graduate application for detailed instructions.
  2. Statement of Purpose – In a 1-2 page essay, describe your educational training, experiences working with children and families, and discuss your professional goals and how they are compatible with the program’s mission.
  3. Résumé
  4. Letters of Recommendation – Three (3) letters of recommendation from previous professors and/or employer supervisors who can attest to your academic performance and readiness for graduate work.

This is a 1-2 page essay detailing how this program aligns with your professional and personal goals. Be sure to highlight your educational training and experiences working with children and families.

Regular admission to the Graduate School for study in the online master’s degree in Human Development and Family Science requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 (on a 4.0 scale) and a 3.25 on the last 60 hours of coursework; strong letters of recommendation by professionals qualified to evaluate your potential for success in the graduate program; a strong statement of purpose, a esearched response to the HDFS essay prompt, and relevant work experience.

All application materials are considered collectively to determine an applicant’s strengths and potential areas of concern. Our goal is to have a cohort of students who are strong academically but will also provide diverse perspectives to the program.

Students for the online HDFS MS will need a reliable computer, broadband access to the Internet, and a web camera and microphone. Chromebooks, tablets, and smartphones may not suffice.

Class activities may be asynchronous or synchronous (learn more at https://online.usm.edu/blog/synchronous-degree-programs/), involving class discussion boards, instant messaging, and/or video chats. During their second year in the program, students choose to complete either a supervised practicum or a thesis. The practicum experience is arranged on an individual basis with each student, and in some instances, the practicum can be completed at the student’s current job site; however, the practicum must be a new professional experience. Students who plan to continue their education in doctoral study are encouraged to complete a thesis (1-6 credit hours), which involves independent research under the guidance of their faculty thesis chair and committee.

Online Human Development and Family Science master’s students are required to take a comprehensive examination during their final semester in the program. Students are expected to complete the exam within a specific time limit and return to the Comps Committee Coordinator. Depending on the adequacy of the student’s responses, the student may pass or fail. A failed comprehensive examination may be retaken after three months while still enrolled and can only be retaken once. 

Ask professionals (e.g., professors, supervisors) who know your academic and/or professional work to write letters of recommendation for you. Letters of recommendation from former professors and other credentialed academics carry more weight and are strongly encouraged. Your recommenders should upload their letters to your Graduate Application online (they will receive an email with instructions when you enter their names and email addresses into your application). If they are unable to attach their letters online, they should mail them to: The University of Southern Mississippi Graduate School 118 College Drive #5024 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001.

Any student who does not qualify for regular admission may be considered for admission on a conditional basis, provided, however, such a student possesses a grade point average of at least 2.50 (calculated on a 4.0 scale) with a GPA of at least 2.75 on the last 60 hours of coursework. After considering all of the applicant’s materials as a whole, conditional admission can be granted only upon the recommendation of the faculty review committee, the program coordinator, and the school director. 

Any student on conditional admission must make a 3.0 in FAM 500: Orientation in CFS (1 hr.) as well as in the first six (6) hours in coursework in the Human Development and Family Science MS Online Program to be reclassified as a regularly admitted student the next semester. If the first-semester grades of a conditionally admitted student are too low to obtain the required 3.0 for the first nine (9) hours of coursework, they will not be able to continue in the program.

This program is structured for students who work and want to go to school part-time. The first semester students take seven (7) hours and then six (6) hours every semester after that. If you follow this format, you will finish in two calendar years. Full-time students should be able to finish in 5 semesters! 

We would love to have you visit us, but it is not a requirement.

No, online students pay resident tuition. For information about pricing, click here.

If yes, visit online.usm.edu/military for more information on how Southern Miss can serve you and your needs. We will help you with funding and scholarship information, admissions, and course enrollment.

Our program is not a “Child Life Specialist” program; however, our child life pathway strives to meet most of the academic requirements set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals. It is up to each student to make sure their degree plan/curriculum fulfills their individual needs with the Association of Child Life Professionals including any additional coursework, internships, and clinical experiences we do not provide. For more information, visit childlife.org/certification/become-certified.

If you still have questions, please visit our FAQ page, or take a moment to fill out our form at the bottom of the screen, and we will reach out to you!