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PhD Child Development candidates studying together in a classroom.

PhD in Child and Family Studies

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Doctoral Program Overview

PhD in Child and Family Studies

Erikson Institute is proud to announce the launch of our new, independent PhD program.

Erikson Institute has been approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to be the sole conferrer of a PhD in Child and Family Studies.

  • The inaugural class will begin in the Fall Semester of 2027. Admissions applications will open late Fall 2026 and the deadline to apply will be January 15, 2027. No GRE required.
  • Applicants may enter at either the post-Bachelor’s or post-Master’s level. The number of credits required will vary based on the entering degree and the amount of transfer credits, but program length is 5-6 years for all.
  • The program cost is being finalized, with affordability for working professionals as our top priority. Substantial scholarships will be available for admitted students based on a holistic review of merit and need.
  • The program will be in-person, with residency within 100 miles of our Chicago campus required. Students must be able to come to campus at least twice per week for at least three years. Classes will be offered in the evenings.

Please note we still have an active program under the current partnership with Loyola. If you are interested in the great work of our current doctoral students, please connect with Dr. Amanda Moreno, Director, Doctoral Program.

Headshot of Tonya Bibbs, PhD 2014, Erikson Institute alumnus.
Tonya Bibbs
PhD 2014
“ So much of the work being done on children of color is about deviance or risk — how children are not fitting some particular model. I really wanted to look at normative development. ”
Headshot of Sabrina Mendes, PhD candidate.
Sabrina Mendez
PhD Candidate
“ There are so many different cultures that make up the American experience, and Erikson’s focus on diversity reflects that. We all learn from each other’s experience. ”
Headshot of Amanda Moreno, PhD Program Director.
Amanda Moreno
Director, Doctoral Program
“ We take applied developmental research seriously. Our doctoral program is focused on how scholarship can be used to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families. ”

Careers Opportunities With a Doctorate In Child Development

95% of our PhD graduates (from our joint program with Loyola) from the last ten years hold current positions as higher education faculty, researchers, or program directors in child and family-focused organizations.

 

Our graduates have built careers in:

  • Applied child development research
  • Program design and evaluation
  • College teaching
  • Program administration
  • Policy analysis

Our graduates are employed by:

  • Chapin Hall, University of Chicago
  • National Institute for Early Education Research
  • Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Fla.
  • University of Colorado Denver
  • DePaul University
  • James Bell Associates

Child and Family Studies PhD Program FAQs

Find answers to the biggest questions students ask about the PhD program.

Erikson Institute has been approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to be the sole conferrer of a PhD in Child and Family Studies.

The inaugural class will begin in the Fall Semester of 2027. Admissions applications will open in late Fall 2026 and the deadline to apply will be January 15, 2027. There is not a GRE requirement to apply.

The inaugural class for the Ph.D. in Child and Family Studies will begin in the Fall Semester of 2027, and we will accept a new cohort every other year thereafter.

If you are interested in a PhD program from Erikson Institute and wish to be among the first to hear about any news, please complete this form.

Erikson’s PhD Graduates Help Transform Research and Practice for Children & Families

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