Emphases

As a Human Development and Family Studies student at Penn State, you’ll have numerous career pathways to select from — and a robust variety of tools that will help you get where you want to go.

Tailor your coursework, activities, volunteer work, internships, and research opportunities will help you attain specific career goals and maximize the opportunities presented in HDFS and beyond.

Addressing Individual and Family Problems: Providing direct services to individuals and families facing a variety of problems, typically within community-based organizations or social service agencies.

Health, Wellness, and Prevention: Promoting positive cognitive, social-emotional and physical health, and development in individuals and families.

Advocacy and Policy: Providing leadership in non-profit or government settings focused on promoting better policies or services for specific individual, family, or community issues.

Business, Technology, and Service Innovation: Working in business or non-profit settings to manage human resources or volunteers or leverage technology to provide innovative services to individuals and families.

Need help? Your HDFS adviser can help you explore career goals and develop and academic plan that aligns with your career interests.