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As a Human Development and Family Studies major at Penn State, you will 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 choosing the Life Span Human Services Option take additional coursework on applied topics, plus a required one-semester field experience in a setting that serves children, adults, or the elderly.

Coursework focuses on:

  • Exploring the family structure and function

  • Understanding the biological, psychological, and social development of individuals across their life span

  • Examining basic theoretical and methodological issues

  • Developing applied skills in intervention, evaluation, prevention, and social policy creation

SEE ALSO

Life Span Developmental Science Option

Need help? Your HDFS adviser can help you select the option that meets your needs and matches your career goals.