"Substance Use and the Transition to Adulthood: Becoming an Adult, Becoming a Scientist"
Jennifer Maggs, professor of human development and family studies, will present the 2026 Pauline Schmitt Russell Research Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 28, discussing the insights she has gleaned from her career studying the developmental impacts of adolescent substance and mentoring the next generation of developmental scientists.
HHD Leadership EDGE Program Info Session
The HHD Leadership EDGE Program is a semester-long leadership development experience designed to help students identify their personal philosophy of leadership while learning from and collaborating with industry leaders and alumni. Join the info session to learn more and get involved!
New major in Public Health
The college has launched a new undergraduate degree program — the Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Learn how to improve the health of populations and communities — especially in rural settings — through disease prevention, promoting healthy behaviors, creating safe environments, and addressing factors that influence health at local, national, and global levels.
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Explore student success stories, groundbreaking research, alumni achievements, and college news from the College of Health and Human Development through our weekly LinkedIn newsletter.
Undergraduate Majors
Undergraduate Majors
With majors are rooted in business, health, and science. No matter which direction you choose to go, what remains unchanged is that what we do here and what you learn here is personal.
Learn about our Majors
Graduate Programs
Graduate Programs
The college offers a wide range of graduate degree programs across eight robust interdisciplinary fields of study to train the next generation of leaders in their fields.
Learn about our Graduate Programs
Departments
Departments
Sharing one common goal of enriching the lives of others, the college's departments examine issues people face and develop leading solutions to addressing them.
Explore our Departments
HHD Discovery: Magazine for Alumni and Friends
HHD Discovery: Magazine for Alumni and Friends
This issue showcases Health and Human Development's support of entrepreneurship, the college's new initiative on Health and the Environment, and features research that improves daily life.
Explore the summer 2022 magazine
Frank Ahern, teaching professor emeritus of biobehavioral health, recently passed away. He came to Penn State in 1983 as a senior research associate in the Department of Health Policy and Administration and later, helped co-found the Department of Biobehavioral Health, which initially offered a graduate program of study. He was a pivotal member of the curriculum development committee that expanded the department to include a bachelor of science degree in 1996.
