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Are you interested in transferring to Human Development and Family Science?

Intra-University Transfers

Students who meet the following criteria will be considered for Intra-University Transfer and/or Declaration of Major in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) on a rolling basis.

Intra-University Transfer into HDFS

Students currently enrolled in programs outside the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics (Falk College) must meet the following requirements:

  1. have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above;
  2. have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of academic coursework at Syracuse University;
  3. be making satisfactory academic progress; and
  4. have expressed academic and career interests in the area of human development and family science.
Declaring a major in HDFS

Students currently enrolled in Falk College interested in declaring HDFS as a major or those currently enrolled in other programs who are interested in declaring HDFS as a second major must meet the following requirements:

  1. have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above;
  2. have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of academic coursework at Syracuse University;
  3. be making satisfactory academic progress; and
  4. have expressed academic and career interests in the area of human development and family science.

Interested undergraduate students should contact the HDFS Department to schedule an appointment with the Department Chair or the Director of Undergraduate Studies by emailing Kathy Rainone, kbrainon@syr.edu. The HDFS Director of Undergraduate Program will decide whether or not to approve the student’s request.

Upon approval, students should complete the appropriate form (IUT or Declaration of Major).

Students who are not accepted into the major may appeal the decision to the HDFS Undergraduate Committee. The decision of the HDFS Undergraduate Committee is final.

Are you a current Syracuse University graduate student?

If you are already pursuing a graduate degree at Syracuse University or have received a graduate degree from Syracuse University within the past 12 months you can apply for an HDFS graduate degree using the Internal Admissions Process.

You must be a graduate student who:

  • is currently enrolled or has completed a degree from another program within Syracuse University and would like to pursue a M.A./M.S./Ph.D. degree in HDFS;
  • has completed an M.S. in HDFS and wishes to be admitted to the Ph.D. program in HDFS;
  • is currently enrolled in a M.A. or M.S. program in HDFS at Syracuse University but would like to enroll in the Ph.D. program.

Graduate students who are in one of the above-mentioned categories should complete the Graduate Enrollment Internal Admission Application form.

Along with obtaining the necessary signatures, graduate students must also:

  • provide all official degree transcript(s)*,
  • provide a statement of research interests,
  • provide three letters of recommendation (external or internal)*
  • complete and return forms and required documents by January 15th to Kathy Rainone (kbrainon@syr.edu), 144 White Hall.

*Graduate students who have recommendations on file in the HDFS department from having applied for and/or obtained an HDFS degree need only two letters of recommendation from HDFS faculty who are familiar with their work. If official transcripts are on file in the HDFS department, they do not need to be resubmitted.

Graduate students who received a graduate degree from Syracuse University more than 12 months ago and are not currently pursuing a graduate degree at Syracuse University should not use the Graduate Enrollment Internal Admission Application form but should apply online instead.