Undergraduate Program

*Please note: ALL students wishing to complete a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies will need to complete and pass a CCIC and NCIC background check! If you have questions, please contact Anne Van Arsdall at 970-491-7423 or annevan@cahs.colostate.edu. Thank you.

Is The HDFS Major For You?

  • Are you curious about the way human beings grow and develop?
  • Have you ever wondered how environmental and social factors affect physical, cognitive, and emotional development?
  • Are you interested in learning more about specific stages of human development such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging?
  • Does the study of family dynamics or the aging process intrigue you?
  • Have you ever thought about a career in early childhood education, in family counseling, or working with youth in various settings?
  • Would like to work with hospitalized children to help reduce the stress of medical treatment on them and their families?

If your answer to any of these questions is "yes" then a major in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) may be for you.

Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the development of families and individuals across the life span. Students learn to identify factors that influence cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and later adulthood in the contexts of culture and family.

Graduates from the program work in a variety of human service settings. These include youth services organizations; early childhood, elementary and parent education programs; health care settings; juvenile and adult corrections; family and community services; and long-term care facilities. Graduates are also well prepared to pursue an advanced degree in the behavioral and social sciences, or other professional programs.