B.S. IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
EXPLORING FAMILY DYNAMICS
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?
You want to help others understand themselves and their relationships.
You’re looking for a broad educational experience that draws from
psychology, biology, and sociology.
Human development and family studies explores human behavior from the perspective of lifespan development and within the context of the intimate environment of the family. The Human Development and Family Studies Program focuses on how developmental stages bring growth and challenges. Specialty areas include stress in the family, the effect of divorce, coping with aging, diversity in the family, and human sexuality, among others. From social work to marriage and family therapy to human resources, this degree offers numerous career possibilities.
“The HDFS background at IU is very valuable in my role as a child life specialist
at Riley Hospital for Children. The broad range of education I received fully
prepared me for my career choice and continues to further my personal
development.”
—Brooke Massey May, ’06
About the Program
The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) Program explores human capabilities and characteristics at each stage of our lives from infancy through adolescence to later adulthood. From this developmental perspective, students also learn about families—how they can infl uence our work, school experiences, and relationships with others, and how these parts of our lives can affect our families. The course work is multidisciplinary, drawing from psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology, gerontology, thanatology, education, history, and economics.
Open to Opportunity
Combining so many disciplines with personal experience gives the HDFS Program a special edge—and gives students special opportunities.
- Prepare yourself for graduate school by working with faculty on research projects—for example, a study on the effects of loss and grief on families, the effect of media on family dynamics, or a study of violence in relationships.
- Take advantage of the program’s fl exibility and earn a minor in an additional field or spend a semester overseas.
- Develop interpersonal and client-related skills—skills that employers appreciate—from our well-rounded program.
Educational and Professional Requirements
Students must complete 26 credit hours and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be admitted to the HDFS Program. A minimum of 124 credit hours is required to complete the program.
Once admitted, students take courses from the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation as well as natural and mathematical sciences, social and historical studies, and arts and the humanities. The fl exibility of the program allows students to earn a minor in an additional field, such as sociology, psychology, business, public health, gerontology, or human sexuality.
The HDFS Program prepares students for careers and for graduate school. A required professional preparation course allows students to explore career options and learn job search skills, including resume writing and interviewing. Students also complete a required 6 credit hour internship, in the career and geographic area of the student’s choice. Students have completed internships working across the lifespan with various agencies, such as Planned Parenthood, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, domestic violence shelters, the Youth Services Bureau, long-term care facilities, and the YMCA.
Tab sheet for major or Tab sheet for minor (PDF)
Professional Electives (PDF)
Job Outlook and Salaries
A career in human development and family studies offers a chance to make a difference, to support individual growth, and to help people function in society. With a master’s degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, or counseling, HDFS students can counsel people in a variety of settings: public schools, private practices, colleges, hospitals, retirement communities, HMOs, mental health services, or disability services.
Sample of Early Critical Courses
| HPER-F | 150 | Introduction to Lifespan Development |
| HPER-F | 255 | Human Sexuality |
| HPER-F | 258 | Marriage and Family Interaction |
| PSY-P | 101 | Introduction to Psychology |
Sample of Upper-Division Core Courses
| HPER-F | 346 | Human Development I: Infancy and Early Childhood |
| HPER-F | 457 | Stress and Resilience in the Family |
| HPER-F | 442 | Internship in Human Development and Family Studies |
| SOC-S | 316 | Sociology of the Family |
Career Opportunities
- Case Manager for mental health, foster care, youth, elder care, substance
abuse, and family services - Child Life Specialist
- Family Life Educator
- Developmental Therapist
- Social Worker (medical, community, school)
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Women’s Advocate
- Youth Counselor
According to a survey of recent graduates, entry-level annual salaries for our graduates holding a bachelor’s degree are between $25,000–$30,000; for those holding a master’s degree, salaries fall between $28,000–$48,000. As with any profession, salaries vary by geographic region, employment setting, and job responsibilities.
For More Information
For more information about this program or the Department of Applied Health Science, please contact:
Department of Applied Health Science
Indiana University
HPER Building 116
1025 E. Seventh Street
Bloomington, IN 47405-7109
Telephone: (812) 855-3627
E-mail: ahsinfo@indiana.edu
If you want to know more about careers or issues in human development/family
studies, check out:
- Child Life Council, www.childlife.org
- National Council on Family Relations, www.ncfr.com
- Society for Research in Child Development, www.srcd.org
- National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, www.aamft.org
- National Association of Social Workers, www.socialworkers.org
Program Brochure (PDF)

