Inspiring Healthy Families, Empowering Human Potential

Welcome to the department of Human Development and Family Science. The major emphasis in HDFS programs is family and human development over the life span. Students gain an understanding of the development of children and adults and their interaction in the family within society.

Students majoring in HDFS have three options: adult development and aging; child and adolescent development; and family science. Each of these options can be completed by itself or can be paired with another degree in one of our dual degree programs.

Child development can be paired with elementary education, and family science and adult development and aging can be paired with social work. Each of these options can also be combined with a master’s degree program in one of our combined/accelerated master’s programs. Child and adolescent development can be combined with the master’s program in youth development; family science can be combined with the master’s program in family financial planning; and adult development and aging can be combined with the master’s program in gerontology. 

Courses in the program include:

• Adolescent Development
• Adult Development and Aging
• Child Development
• Diversity and Multiculturalism in Individual and Family Life
• Children, Families, and Public Policy
• Personal and Family Finance
• Issues in Human Sexuality
• Life Span Human Development
• Parent-Child Relations
• Family Dynamics of Aging
• Couples, Marriages, and Families

Students majoring in HDFS enroll for credit in field experience as a critical part of their program of study. The department offers opportunities to work with children, youth, adolescents, older adults and families in various settings.