Four children playing in playground

Any student enrolled in a UW–Madison doctoral program can pursue a doctoral minor in Human Ecology. The graduate program within the School of Human Ecology (SoHE) provides rich interdisciplinary training and scholarship focused on exploring the human condition and well-being in relation to ecological settings—physical, social, community, and built surroundings. The school's philosophy is that individual development and well-being are promoted through interactions with ecological settings. Research, creativity, teaching, and outreach are directed toward a positive impact on these settings and the patterns of human behavior within them. Faculty members possess expertise in areas as diverse as longitudinal modeling, community-based research, interpretive interviewing, program evaluation, observational methods, survey methodology, action research, and ethnography. 

Graduate students interested in pursuing an Option A doctoral minor should complete the Minor Agreement Form and consult with the graduate program coordinator in Human Ecology who will help them identify a SoHE faculty member to serve as their faculty advisor.

The Human Ecology Doctoral Minor requires at least 9 credits taken through a combination of coursework in at least two different School of Human Ecology departments: Civil Society and Community Studies (CSCS); Consumer Science (CNSR SCI), Design Studies (DS), Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), and Interdisciplinary–Human Ecology (INTER-HE). No more than 3 credits can be taken below the 700 level. Human Ecology courses that are cross-listed with another department should be enrolled in through the respective Human Ecology department. Students must receive a grade of B or better in each course. 

Human Ecology Directory: listing of all faculty, staff, and graduate students; searchable by association, department, and name 

Department of Civil Society & Community Studies (Civil Society & Community Research: CSCR graduate program) 

CSCS Faculty/Staff

CSCR Graduate Students

Department of Consumer Science (Consumer Behavior & Family Economics: CBFE graduate program) 

CS Faculty/Staff

CBFE Graduate Students

Department of Design Studies (Design Studies: DS graduate programs) 

DS Faculty/Staff

DS Graduate Students

Department of Human Development & Family Studies (Human Development & Family Studies: HDFS graduate program) 

HDFS Faculty/Staff

HDFS Graduate Students