Human Development and Family Studies
Online
The Human Development and Family Studies degree is available online. This degree gives students the opportunity for knowledge and skills that prepare them for careers serving individuals and families across the lifespan. Courses are designed to help students deal with current issues confronting families and children in the nation and the world. Our online students have the option to complete certification options, such as our department-housed Gerontology Certificate and coursework that will lead towards the National Council on Family Relations Certified Family Life Educator designation.
Students are required to complete a practicum experience. There are multiple options for students to complete the practicum. Options include career preparation by working with agencies that provide hands-on experience, seeking out community teaching opportunities, or completing a research project. We work with students to complete the practicum experience from all geographic locations, and remote options for completing the practicum are also available. Our students are employed across the state and nation when they graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Students are also well prepared for graduate school.
Emphases
Family and Community Services
Students learn to work with families across the lifespan. They develop strong skills in family life education, ethics, professionalism, and family processes.
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Human Development Lifespan
Students learn about addressing the developmental needs of individuals and families. Through applied experiences students engage with individuals, families, social agencies and organizations.
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Contact Information
Sarah Tulane
Clinical Associate Professor - Online Coordinator
Career and Employment Resources
- USU Career Design Center:
- Design your career
- The HDFS Career Coach
- What can I do with this major?
- National Council on Family Relations:
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- Career Infographic
- Exploring Careers in Family Science
- How to Explain Family Science to Anyone
- Examples of Career and Employment Settings:
- Family Life Educator (teach community classes—parenting, abuse, finance, life skills)
- Caseworker (elderly, low-income families, at-risk youth and families, teen parents, unemployed, foster or adoption agencies)
- Program Director/Coordinator (after-school programs, senior citizen centers, community education, youth programs)
- Advocate (at-risk youth, families, elderly, victims)
- Crisis Intervention (work with abuse, neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault, natural disasters)
- Adoption Agencies
- Child Protective Services
- Youth Development Programs
- Drug Treatment Centers
- Gerontology Programs/Agencies
- Nonprofit Community Agencies
- Residential Treatment Programs
- Child Care Centers Family Service Agencies
- Government Agencies
- Recreation Centers
- Crisis Centers
- Child Development Consultant (helps families to improve social and psychological functioning)
- Preschool Teacher (Head Start, Montessori)
In addition to Utah State University’s admissions requirements, the Human Development and Family Studies program has additional requirements:
Freshmen: New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission as pre-majors.
Transfer Students: Transfer students and USU students transferring from other majors qualify for the pre-major if they meet USU's general admissions requirements.
1. 24 semester credits
2. Overall cumulative 2.0 GPA
3. HDFS 1500, HDFS 2000, HDFS 2400, and STAT 1040/1045 with a C grade or better
International students have additional admissions requirements.