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Undergraduate
- Major in Human Development and Family Studies
- Associate Degree in Human Development and Family Studies
- Minor in Human Development and Family Studies
- Honors Study in Human Development and Family Studies
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Research
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Research Expertise
- Areas of Specialization
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Cross Cutting Themes of Research
- Adolescence and Young Adulthood
- Child Maltreatment
- Cognitive Health
- Computational Methods for Developmental Systems Models
- Determinants and Promotion of Well-Being
- Development and Family Processes in International Contexts
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Family Systems and Processes
- Gender and Development
- Health and Family Processes
- Healthy Aging
- Influences of Stress on Development and Aging
- Longitudinal Methodologies/Designs for Studying Change and Variability
- Parenting, Parent-Child Relations, and Child Outcomes
- Socio-Cultural and Economic Diversity
- Substance Use
- Work and Family
- Opportunities for Students
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Research Labs and Initiatives
- Facilities
- Methodology Consulting Center
- Quantitative Developmental Systems
- Study of Healthy Aging and Applied Research Programs
- Child Brain Development Lab
- Infant and Child Temperament Lab
- PA Twin Registry
- Project SIESTA
- Family Relationships Project
- Daily Stress and Health Study
- University Life Study
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Cognitive Health
Cognitive health refers to how well the brain supports numerous functions--such as memory, judgment, language, attention, and the ability learn. Our faculty and students study how our biology, lifestyle, and social conditions impact cognitive health in the context of human development. Specific topics include the impact of early life adversity on brain health, how self-regulation influences risky behaviors, the role that stress plays in cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease, and interventions to promote cognitive health in youth and older adults.
HDFS faculty who study Cognitive Health include: