Human Development and Family Studies

Overview

The Human Development and Family Studies major at Pennsylvania State University enables students to prepare for professional, managerial, or scientific roles in health and human services professions, in public and nonprofit agencies, and in business and industry, as well as for advanced professional or graduate study. Students obtain a broad background in individual and family development across the life span. 

Courses emphasize biological, psychological, social/cultural, and economic aspects of development. Through coursework and undergraduate internships or research projects, students develop skills relevant to career objectives, such as counseling, human assessment, program planning and evaluation, and research.

Careers

Many HDFS graduates go directly to the workplace based on their understanding of people, their knowledge of group dynamics, and their skills in training and in program development and evaluation. Many positions are in human services and health care settings while others are in business and industry: assisted living, adult day services and nursing homes, day-care centers and preschools, drug and alcohol treatment centers and hospitals, child and domestic abuse centers and runaway shelters, human resources or marketing departments of large companies, development/fundraising for educational or nonprofit organizations.