Frequently Asked Questions

What is a graduate group?

The Human Development Graduate Group is a unique approach to graduate study offered only at UC Davis. Courses are organized across departmental lines to offer a graduate degree and students are given opportunities to conduct research in many different departments and settings. This allows students to focus on human and child development issues from a variety of perspectives.

Currently, faculty members who have primary responsibility for the core coursework and advising of the HDGG are located in Human Development and Family Studies.  Other HDGG faculty are located in other departments/units of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, the College of Letters and Science, the School of Medicine, and the School of Education in the areas of Education, Human Development, Nutrition, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Psychology.  HDGG faculty members also have memberships in a number of research centers on the UC Davis campus, including the M.I.N.D. Institute, Center for Mind and Brain, and Center for Neuroscience.

We offer a two year Master of Science program and a five year PhD program. These programs offer students an in-depth, interdisciplinary examination of cognitive and socio-emotional development from infancy through adolescence (MS) and all the way through adulthood (PhD). Please look at our website for additional information – we hope you will consider our program!