Curriculum
The Human Development and Family Studies program has two specialization options:
- Human Development and Family Science (HDFS)
- Developmental Science for Health Professions (DSHP)
Both options of the degree focus on the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge about development and family functioning across the life span for the purposes of enhancing personal and family development. Through course work and undergraduate internships or research projects, students develop skills relevant to career objectives, such as counseling, health care, education, support services, and program planning.
For the B.S. degree in Human Development and Family Studies, a minimum of 120 credits is required.
Internships that serve children, youth, adults, or older adults
This degree requires an approved internship in a setting that serves children, youth, adults, or the aged. Employment settings can include preschools, daycare centers, hospital programs for children, youth, and families, institutional and community mental health programs for individuals and families, programs for abused or neglected children and adolescents, women's resource centers, human resources programs, employee assistance programs, nursing homes, area agencies on aging and other community settings for older adults, and public welfare and family service agencies.
Graduate Study with a HDFS Degree
The Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) option will prepare students for graduate school in:
- Social work
- Counseling (e.g., mental health, school)
- Couple and family therapy
- Behavioral health
- Psychology
- Public administration
- Social policy and law
- Education (Early childhood, Special Ed.)
- Gerontology
- Applied Behavioral Analysis
The Developmental Science for Health Professions (DSHP) option will prepare students for graduate school in:
- Pediatrics
- Physician Assistant
- Occupational or Physical Therapy
- Public Health
- Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Nursing
- Healthcare Administration
- Genetic Counseling
- Midwife
- Doula
- Emergency Services
This page is not a part of the official Penn State University Bulletin.