Graduate students in Family Social Science may seek a master's degree with thesis (Plan A), a master's degree without a thesis (Plan B), or a doctoral degree. A Ph.D. minor in Family Social Science is available to graduate students from other departments at the University of Minnesota. Admission to the accredited Marriage and Family Therapy program is available only to doctoral students with a clinical master's degree. The Graduate School requires that two-thirds of the credits for degree programs must be completed on the A-F grading system. A minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4 point scale) is required by the department for a student to remain in good standing in any of its graduate degree programs. Course substitutions and transfer credits from other graduate programs may be requested by petition and must be approved by the adviser and Director of Graduate Studies.
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is conferred in recognition of the breadth and depth of scholarly knowledge and of demonstrated ability to investigate problems independently, rather than simply completing specific courses within a stated period of time. The student's program of study must be rationally unified; that is, courses must contribute to an organized program of study and research. To attain doctoral level knowledge, a student must go far beyond coursework and credits and be committed to learning and researching independently and collaboratively, striving constantly for breadth, seeking the greatest depth of knowledge, and developing competencies in critical thinking.
