Graduate Program in Demography at the Center for Family and Demographic Research
The Center for Family and Demographic Research (CFDR) is an NIH-funded population research center dedicated to research, training, and service in demography. The CFDR integrates demographic methods, data, and perspectives with other social scientific approaches to understand the well-being of children and families. A special focus of research by CFDR affiliates addresses the public health and social problems facing at-risk children, adolescents, and families.The CFDR is dedicated to training, research, and service in demography. A unique feature of the CFDR is its mission to integrate demographic methods, data, and perspectives with other social scientific approaches, such as social psychology and criminology. The CFDR hosts a seminar series, skill-based workshops, and an annual symposium that brings to campus top scholars with research on a targeted theme. Every year, CFDR organizes a graduate student-based population research conference.The CFDR maintains an affiliation with an NIH-funded population research center and is home to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research – the first federally supported center to improve our understanding of how marriage and family structure affect the health and well-being of individuals, families, children and communities.
The Graduate Program in Demography is a fully funded M.A. and Ph.D. program offered at the CFDR. Graduate students in the program have numerous opportunities to participate in activities arranged through the CFDR. The CFDR is dedicated to training, research, and service in demography with a focus on family, children, and adolescents. A unique feature of the CFDR is its mission to integrate demographic methods, data, and perspectives with other social scientific approaches, such as social psychology and criminology. The CFDR hosts a seminar series, skill-based workshops, and an annual symposium that brings to campus top scholars with research on a targeted theme. Every year, the school organizes a graduate student-based population research conference. Full funding for graduate students in the program includes tuition waivers, competitive research and teaching assistantships, and research fellowships. Financial support through research and teaching assistantships includes full tuition waivers and stipends. Funding is guaranteed for two years for M.A. students and four years for Ph.D. students, provided satisfactory academic progress is maintained. Generous travel allowances to attend national conferences are also available.
Professor and sociologist Wendy Manning gives a brief overview of graduate opportunities in sociology and demography at Bowling Green State University and the Center for Family and Demographic Research at BGSU during the PIPS Graduate Programs in the Population Sciences webinar in November, 2017.
Pathways into Program
Applications for admission must be made to both the Graduate College and to the Department of Sociology. All applicants are considered for funding support. Applications for admission will be accepted throughout the year. It is typically required that students begin the program in the fall semester. Importantly, students seeking funding support should submit all application materials by January 31.
Admission to both the Ph.D. and M.A. programs are contingent on the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale.