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Social Public Health
Grover Center W324
Hearing, speech and language clinic
Human Development and Family Science Major (B.S.)
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Human Development and Family Science Major (B.S.)

The Human Development and Family Science major prepares students to work with children, adults and families throughout their lifespan in a broad range of settings. 

The program provides a thorough understanding of every major developmental period in life in multiple contexts from birth to adolescence, to working with mid-life and older adults.

The program provides a strong foundation for students who plan to go on to graduate school.

4
Concentrations to choose from
400
A 400-hour internship is the final requirement of the degree.
75
A 75-hour practicum provides real-life experience.

Choose Your Concentration

  • Family and Community Services Concentration

    This concentration prepares students to work with individuals and families in diverse settings, including human and social service agencies, as well as programs for children, adolescents, and young, mid-life, and older adults. Students learn about the nature of individual and family interactions, family dynamics, how individuals within the family contribute to and are shaped by these dynamics, and how broad societal contexts (e.g., schools, peers, gender, poverty) influence individual development and family functioning.

    Careers: By studying varied developmental pathways, including those pathways characterized by stress and trauma, students will have the opportunity to acquire the professional skills necessary to work with individuals, couples, and families in a broad range of human service settings.

  • Aging and Gerontology Studies Concentration

    This concentration focuses on aging within the context of families, more specifically the implications, support needs, and outcomes for adults and their family members as they age and the quality of their relationships across the life course. Child and family studies students who choose this concentration will also receive an undergraduate gerontology certificate to help them better prepare for careers advocating for and helping older adults and their family members.

    Careers: With this concentration, students typically seek employment working with mid-to-later life adults and their family members or pursue graduate work in such areas as marriage and family therapy, social work, human development and family studies, rehabilitation services, and public/community health.

  • Child Life Specialist Clinical

    This concentration prepares students to become a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), as designated by the Association of Child Life Professionals. The CCLS helps normalize the hospitalization experience for children and families and provides specific services that include preparations for medical procedures, coping skills for children during stressful health care experiences, support for siblings and parents, therapeutic medical play, planning and implementing activities to enhance growth and development, and interdisciplinary team involvement. In addition to core courses in the HDFS program, students in this concentration take courses that focus on helping pediatric patients and families navigate the stressors involved with a health care diagnosis.

  • Pediatric Healthcare Community Settings Concentration

    Careers: This concentration prepares students for careers working with children and families in pediatric health care settings, including the Ronald McDonald House, national wish organizations (Make-A-Wish), pediatric hospice/palliative care, bereavement centers, centers for special needs children, autism clinics, behavioral health clinics, and other community-based programs focused on strengthening lives for children and families as they navigate health care related stressors and trauma.

Admission Requirements

This program has no requirements beyond University admission and transfer requirements.

OHIO Admissions

Courses, Practicum and Internship

Child, adult and family development classes in the Department of Social and Public Health have a lifespan emphasis, as well as those that include diversity in families, family ties and aging, human sexualities, the impact of stress and trauma, and death and dying. Professional skill development is an essential part of the program and is intended to give students the practical skill set needed by human services specialists.

Required courses from other departments or programs include early childhood and elementary education, health, psychology, sociology and social work. 

Also required are a 75-hour practicum and a 400-hour full-time internship. These provide practical experience and the opportunity to integrate theory and course content into real-life situations. Majors must complete all other university and major course requirements before enrolling in CFS 4910 - Child and Family Studies Internship. The 400-hour internship is the final requirement of the degree.

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