M.S. in Human Ecology: Consumer Behavior and Family Economics
The M.S. degree in Consumer Behavior and Family Economics is designed for completion in four semesters of full-time study. Graduate courses are taken both in the Consumer Science department and elsewhere on campus, and students have considerable flexibility to tailor their course selection to individual career interests.
Requirements:
The M.S. degree requires a minimum of 30 credits including credit for thesis research. Required course work includes core departmental courses, economics, statistics, research methods, and elective courses in students' area of interest. Please see the Master’s Check Sheet for a detailed list of course requirements.
Ph.D. in Human Ecology: Consumer Behavior and Family Economics
The Ph.D. program in Consumer Behavior and Family Economics seeks to develop scholars who will be able to apply social science theories and principles to the understanding of how the interactions among consumers, business, and government can enhance the interests and wellbeing of consumers, families, and communities. Students will undertake research on the issues that are relevant to consumer choices affecting the social and economic well being of individuals and families. Students have the option of concentrating in the field of Consumer Behavior or Family Economics.
Faculty members are trained in a variety of disciplines including economics, marketing, finance, sociology, retailing, history of medicine, and family ecology. These backgrounds contribute to the strong interdisciplinary research and training program involving all aspects of consumer behavior and family economics. Graduate students work closely with faculty members throughout their study. Research opportunities are fostered through faculty affiliations with: the Center for Cooperatives, Center for Demography and Ecology, Center for Demography of Health and Aging, Center for Financial Security, Center for Retailing Excellence, Development Studies, the Institute on Aging, Institute for Research on Poverty, Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies, and UW-Extension.
Requirements:
The Ph.D. degree in Consumer Behavior and Family Economics is designed for completion in four semesters of full-time study plus dissertation work. A minimum of 40 credits of graduate work is required. Required credits come from Consumer Science departmental courses, advanced statistics and research methods, concentration courses in either Consumer Behavior or Family Economics, a 10-credit minor, electives in the student's area of interest, and a minimum of 3 research and dissertation credits. Please see the Ph.D. Checksheet for a detailed list of course requirements.
Following the completion of the first year’s core courses, the student must sit for a preliminary examination offered annually in May. Should the student fail to pass the exam on the first try, they will be given one more opportunity to pass the preliminary examination the following May.
A dissertation is required for the Ph.D. Prior to advancement to Ph.D. candidacy students must prepare and defend a dissertation proposal. The purpose of the dissertation is to provide a firm grounding in empirical research through which students answer a question or resolve a problem with empirical data. Students develop a dissertation proposal under the supervision of the major professor.
