About Us
WHAT IS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES?
Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) is the study of how people develop physically, emotionally and socially within the context of the family and society. HDFS offers an interdisciplinary approach to individual and family development across the lifespan. Kent State's program focuses on child and adolescent development, adult development and aging, biological aspects of human development, family studies, intervention research, and developmental research methods. Students in HDFS will learn about the stages of development from infancy to adulthood, how to promote healthy family development, diversity and many other skills!
CAREERS
Multiple Career Pathways: HDFS is one degree with many different career pathways, where students are prepared to work in a variety of diverse settings (e.g. family and community-based social services, prevention, nonprofit administration, family and community intervention).
- Family and Community Services: Family/parent education, violence prevention & intervention, daycare/preschool/Head Start, adult day services, senior centers
- Nonprofit Administration: Mentoring programs, after-school programs, youth organizations, advocacy, grantwriting/fundraising
- Government Agencies: Jobs and Family Services, Department of Aging
- Business & Industry: Employee assistance, human resources, employee wellness programs, vocational guidance, work/life balance
GRADUATE STUDY
HDFS is also excellent preparation for graduate study, particularly in fields like Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, School Counseling, School Psychology, and Early Intervention.
SUPPORT FOR CAREER EXPLORATION
Our program offers comprehensive guidance and support for career exploration and development, starting from the beginning of the program and continuing through graduation. This is achieved through an introductory course that acquaints students with the diverse career opportunities in HDFS, as well as a professional development course that assists students in transitioning from being a student to a professional.