PHD, Financial Planning, Housing & Consumer Economics

Degree Program Summary:

The Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics (FHCE) offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science, the Master of Science Non-Thesis and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The graduate program provides in-depth study in consumer economics, family financial planning, or housing within a broader, interdisciplinary context. Course work is centered in the department, but draws upon offerings from across the college and throughout the university. The interdisciplinary nature of the materials makes these related offerings essential.

The past several decades have witnessed dramatic changes in the family economic system, the consumer’s orientation to the marketplace and the issue of family shelter. The tremendous increase in female labor force participation, for example, has made management within the family more important and has redefined many traditional consumer roles. Technological changes have transformed the marketplace and, in the case of housing, opened new options to consumers.

All of this means that the subject areas contained in the department are more important than ever. There is an increasing need for individuals who understand these changes and can relate them to situations in education, the business world and the public sector. It is the objective of this program to prepare specialists to meet that need.

The Ph.D. program provides students with the opportunity to pursue scholarly activities by providing a thorough understanding of Consumer Economics, Family Financial Planning, Housing Policy, quantitative methods in applied economics, research methods and statistics. Students take core courses in the department courses outside the department in statistics and their concentration and supporting area. Each student’s program of study is tailored to his or her own interests and the number of courses necessary are, in part, dependent upon the student’s previous course of study. Students work closely with their selected Advisory Committee in planning their program of study. A dissertation is required of all Ph.D. students.