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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
- Current 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
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- 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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Life Span Developmental Science Option
As a Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) major at Penn State, you’ll choose between two options: Life Span Human Services or Life Span Developmental Science.
Both options build upon a core set of HDFS courses that address basic individual and family development, research methods, and approaches to individual and family interventions.
Students who pursue the Life Span Developmental Science Option focus on the theory and research process upon which the HDFS field is grounded. A multi-semester research practicum that includes a research paper is an integral component of this option.
Coursework focuses on:
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Understanding family and developmental theories
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Learning contemporary methods of generating scientific knowledge about individual and family development
SEE ALSO
Life Span Human Services Option
Need help? Your HDFS adviser can help you select the option that meets your needs and matches your career goals.