Careers

What is HDFS?

Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) is the science of people and relationships. We study how humans grow, learn, and connect across every stage of life — and how we can strengthen families and communities.

If you care about helping people and creating positive change, this is your major.

You’ll graduate ready to make a real-world difference in the lives of others.

What skills will I gain?

• Communication & active listening
• Apply child and lifespan development principles
• Data collection & program evaluation
• Cultural competence & inclusive practice
• Crisis intervention & problem-solving
• Teamwork in health, education, and human services settings

What can I do with an HDFS degree?

There are career paths you can enter right after graduation and career paths that require or benefit from further training, degrees or licensing. Nearly half of HDFS grads pursue graduate or professional school within three years. Explore both below:

HDFS Careers Podcast

What do students say?

“What immediately stood out to me about the discipline is how it bridges two levels of understanding that are often treated separately in other fields. Sociology helps us understand institutions and social structures, while psychology focuses on the individual. HDFS connects those perspectives by examining how people develop within networks of relationships and environments. It emphasizes that individuals are not shaped in isolation, but through continuous interaction with the families, communities, and systems around them.”

“My HDFS background has helped my law school applications stand out… HDFS has given me a different lens, one that emphasizes understanding relationships, social systems, and the human dimensions of policy decisions. That perspective allows me to approach legal questions with a holistic understanding of how laws ultimately affect individuals and communities.”

What should I do next?

Explore your interests. Attend HDFS Connects career sessions and make sure you’re receiving HDFS Career Highlights and Undergraduate YOU messages.

Get experience. Volunteer or intern in a school, community center, or health setting.

Build your resume. Add a minor (like Human Behavior and Social Services, Youth & Society, Financial Literacy, or Leadership of Organizations).

Connect with others. Meet with an HDFS advisor and Career Services to start mapping your path.