Human Ecology PhD - Consumer Behavior and Family Economics

This is a named option within the Human Ecology, Ph.D.

The Department of Consumer Science develops and disseminates information on the ways in which the interactions among consumers, business, and government can enhance the interests and well-being of consumers, families, and communities. The program focuses on various dimensions of well-being including economic/financial security, consumer empowerment, health, food security, housing security, sustainability, and the public policy that affects those dimensions of well-being. The program is interdisciplinary; current faculty have degrees in diverse fields including economics, marketing, sociology, retailing, social work, and consumer science. Some faculty have joint appointments with Cooperative Extension, providing students with opportunities for training in outreach and applied research. Ph.D. students work closely with faculty members, often collaborating on research and outreach programs. All Ph.D. students must complete core courses in consumer behavior, family economics, and research methods.

This is a multi-disciplinary degree program. Students will undertake research on consumer decision-making affecting the social and economic well-being of individuals and families. The goal of this program is to prepare students for the following types of job placements:

1. Tenure-track academic faculty positions, primarily in other schools of human ecology, consumer science or related units;
2. Research administration positions in government, non-tenure academic units, nonprofit organizations, think tanks and related entities; and,
3. Applied consumer research in the public and private sector, including market research, policy research and consulting.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school.

A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by paper.  Our office address is: UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions, 232 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.  Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if: