Welcome to the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) at Michigan State University! Our mission is to engage in world-class translational research and inspired teaching to improve the health and well-being of diverse individuals, families, and communities around the globe. We are a vibrant community of scholars who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. Our instructors prepare students for meaningful careers in education, couple and family therapy, social services, healthcare, policy, and more. Our graduates are highly sought after by employers and are difference-makers in their communities.
I encourage you to explore the exciting undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates we offer. HDFS provides advanced training in two settings that offer a context for applied research and practice and an opportunity to serve our local community: 1) the Child Development Laboratory (CDL), and 2) the Couple and Family Therapy Clinic (CFTC). The CDL offers full-day programs for children ages six weeks through five years, and it serves as a student teaching site for undergraduate and graduate education in early childhood teaching and administration. The CFTC offers clinical services to individuals, couples, and families from the university and surrounding community, and serves as a teaching site for advanced doctoral training in the highly acclaimed, accredited Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) Ph.D. program.
In HDFS, we value diversity, equity, inclusivity, and justice, and we aim to reflect these values in all we do. We strive to create a climate in which people from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed, represented, respected, and valued.
Finally, please stay up to date with the many activities of the department by following us on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Go Green!
Andrea K. Wittenborn, Ph.D., LMFT
Department Chair and Professor