At which campus can I study this program?
What is Human Development and Family Studies?
Students from many different majors benefit from the knowledge and experience they gain from HDFS courses. The minor in Human Development and Family Studies, one of the most popular minors at Penn State, helps students with a broad array of career aspirations understand human behavior. Students learn how people relate to one another and how to make a positive impact through the work they do. HDFS takes an interdisciplinary approach to helping students understand how individuals develop from birth to old age, how families, communities and workplaces influence individual development, and how they can apply this knowledge to develop, implement and evaluate programs designed to improve lives. The knowledge and skills gained through minoring in HDFS guides students to lead healthy, productive lives and excel in their careers. Whether you are studying business, education, nursing, communications, pre-health, pre-law, or a range of other fields, the HDFS minor has something to offer.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
You Might Like This Program If...
- You want to understand how individuals develop and change from birth to old age, how families and communities influence individual development, and how to apply this knowledge to improve the lives of individuals and families.
- You plan to pursue a career in which knowledge about individual and family development can be useful, such as human services, health professions (speech pathology, occupational therapy, nursing, medicine) education and business (marketing, human resources).
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY STUDENTS CHOOSE TO STUDY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| HDFS 129 | Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies  | 3 |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 9 credits of HDFS courses | 9 | |
| Select 6 credits of 400-level HDFS courses | 6 | |
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Melissa Wetzel, M.A., LPC, NCC
Academic Adviser
119 Health and Human Development Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8000
mup874@psu.edu
Altoona
Lauren P. Jacobson
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Hawthorn Building 123
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5333
lpj100@psu.edu
DuBois
Jessica Clontz, M.Ed., CRC
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
1 College Place
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4833
jlb5810@psu.edu
Fayette
Elaine S. Barry, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of HDFS and Program Coordinator for HDFS and Psyc
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4284
esb12@psu.edu
Harrisburg
Hannah Mudrick, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building W314
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6404
hxm99@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Robin Yaure
Teaching Professor in HDFS
112 Wiestling Hall
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6210
r2y@psu.edu
Scranton
Janet Melnick
Teaching Professor
111B Dawson Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2674
jam81@psu.edu
Shenango
Roxanne Atterholt
Assistant Teaching Professor, Program Coordinator, and Adviser
147 Sharon Ave.
102 McDowell Hall
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2953
rxa32@psu.edu
World Campus
Undergraduate Academic Advising
301 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3283
advising@outreach.psu.edu
York
Amber Majeske, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
13 John J. Romano Administrative Building
York, PA 17403
717-771-4029
ajs49@psu.edu
Career Paths
Students from many different majors benefit from the knowledge and experience they gain from HDFS courses. The working knowledge and skillset one gains through minoring in HDFS is helpful for all kinds of students by guiding them to lead healthy and productive lives, to work well with others, and excel in their careers. A minor in HDFS is especially helpful if you are interested and passionate about improving the lives of individuals, families, and/or communities through the work you aspire to do.
Careers
HDFS is a great minor if you plan to pursue work in:
- Health and human service professions
- Early Childhood Development/Education settings
- Program Administration and advocacy
- Counseling, social work, or other direct service work
- Program Administration, management, and other business careers
- Human resources and organizational leadership
- Public policy, equity, and advocacy
- Research
Students minoring in HDFS are encouraged to customize their HDFS course selection to align with their specific interests.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
The HDFS minor, when combined with an appropriate major field of study, can provide useful preparation for graduate school in the social, behavioral, and health sciences. In recent years, HDFS students have pursued graduate studies in:
- Counseling (e.g., school counseling, counseling psychology)
- Social work
- Health professions (e.g., nursing, occupational therapy, medicine)
- Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies
- Elementary and Secondary Education
- Law and business
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
119 Health and Human Development Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8000
mup874@psu.edu
Altoona
DIVISION OF EDUCATION, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Hawthorn Building 123
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
914-949-5333
lpj100@psu.edu
https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/minor-programs/human-development-family-studies
DuBois
1 College Place
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4833
jlb5810@psu.edu
Fayette
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4284
esb12@psu.edu
Harrisburg
SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
Olmsted Building, W314
717-948-6059
dlk33@psu.edu
https://harrisburg.psu.edu/behavioral-sciences-education/human-development-family-studies-minor
Mont Alto
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES PROGRAM
112 Wiestling Hall
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6210
r2y@psu.edu
https://montalto.psu.edu/academics/bachelors/minors
Scranton
111B Dawson Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2674
jam81@psu.edu
Shenango
147 Shenango Avenue
101 McDowell Hall
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2979
cmb2@psu.edu
https://shenango.psu.edu/academics/degrees/human-development-family-studies
World Campus
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
119 Health and Human Development Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8000
sac301@psu.edu
York
13 John J. Romano Administrative Building
York, PA 17403
717-771-4029
ajs49@psu.edu