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What is Family Studies?

Family Studies is a field of study often associated with the abbreviation HDFS within academic circles.  HDFS stands for Human Development and Family Studies and exists within social science focused on development, lifespan, and research topics of social significance within the context of family, community, and society dynamics.  Within the broad nature of human development and family studies, several institutions provide learning tracks that may include specialties such as:

  • Interpersonal Relationships
  • Health and Well-Being Across the Lifespan
  • Intimate Relations
  • Child and Adolescent Development
  • Social Justice
  • Stress and Depression
  • Family Diversity
  • Poverty
  • Inequality

HDFS students are taught to invest quality time to recognize the importance of personal influences to understand people.  Factors such as gender, diversity, culture, beliefs, and social constructs help students grapple with local and global perspectives during an individual’s maturation process.  This evaluative process is important to place in context from childhood through the end of a person’s time on earth.  Guiding principles of HDFS students should include an ethical mindset coupled with social responsibility and compassion for others.

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Family Studies Degree

MA in Human Development and Family Studies in Cornell University’s Graduate School prepares their students for careers in academic life. They primarily emphasize human development, psychology and sociology. A Special Committee will be provided to help students develop an individual program of study and research. The special committee consists of faculty members not only in the field of Human Development but also on the other fields.

Acceptance Rate

10.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of Southern California offers a Master of Science in Family Studies Therapy.  The mission of the MFT program is to prepare students to lead as a culturally competent therapist that can critique and transform systems in public mental health clinics and private practice. They will provide training that addresses a spectrum of challenges like relationship stressors, parenting concerns and behavioral difficulties that families, couples, adults, and children are facing. Completion of this program and fulfillment of other state-mandated requirements will make one eligible for the State of California’s Marriage and Family Therapy license.

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The MS in Family Studies Therapy is offered at the University of Rochester. The clinical training that they provide is done with a diverse client population. They make sure that each student participates in live family therapy supervision. They conduct team approach wherein all families are seen by students under the supportive eye of the Approved Supervisor. 

Acceptance Rate

29.71

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The Human Developmental Sciences degree at UCSD is structured to instill fundamental skills in critical thinking, research analysis and written expression. It provides training of special interest to those considering admission to professional schools, career in law, counseling, public policy or social work. The Bachelor of Science will require their students to complete rigorous preparatory course work that can be taken through specialization. Students can request assistance in choosing a curriculum that will best suit their academic interest. 

Acceptance Rate

31.48

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

The University of Texas at Austin offers a Family, Consumer and Human Sciences degree. Under that program is where Human Development and Family Studies major lies. The Human Development and Family Studies that are available at UT Austin are the BA in Human Development, MA in Human Development and PhD in Human development. UT Austin was ranked #27 in the 2018-2019 academic year out of all colleges and universities that offer this degree, that was because they were able to have 148 bachelor’s degrees.

Acceptance Rate

31.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Center for Child and Family Studies is offered at the University of California-Davis as part of the Human Development and Family Studies degree. This Center have Early childhood lab, faculty research labs and Eichhorn Family House. Students will always receive a 15-minute “briefing” time right before young children arrive. Master teachers will discuss about the needs and interests of individual children as well as the specific behaviors that they are to observe.

Acceptance Rate

38.87

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Parent and Family Studies is what California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo provide. This program offers support, resources and programming for the parents, family members or even supporters of Cal Poly students. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a highly regarded college with dozens of degree programs to consider.  Qualified students can elect to pursue programs from the humanities to science to math to healthcare.  Learn more about the programs offered at CalPoly SLO today.

Acceptance Rate

28.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

21:1

Florida State University offers a PhD in Human Sciences. In this program, students are trained to be a successful future generation of scholars and researchers. Those who wish to be a university faculty are also welcome in this PhD program. Graduates of PhD in Human sciences at Florida State University have successfully obtained positions of their choice and enjoy their career.

Acceptance Rate

35.97

Student to Faculty Ratio

21:1

The Department of Family Studies and Human Development at Connecticut College provides a Child Development Lab School. This Lab School is a family-focused preschool for children with diverse backgrounds and abilities and serves as the centerpiece of their department. This program is an example for early-childhood education. While students are exposed to the school lab, they will develop hands-on skills and be able to bring their coursework to life. 

Acceptance Rate

37.41

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of Georgia’s Human Development and Family Science is offering unparalleled education. Their students can’t deny that they have positive experience in this University in all regards. The professors that students meet here inspires them with their knowledge and expertise. The professors may use their personal experiences to convey conceptual foundations of the field. If students eagerly do their part, they will receive genuine interest from their instructors and help them reach their personal goals. 

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

The Human Development and Family Science degree at Syracuse University teaches their students effective ways in helping children and their families overcome challenging events in life. They maintain hands-on training that builds the skills of their students which strengthens family experience. The foundations needed to help young children be successful will be taught to students. Students will be motivated to guide children so they’ll be able to improve their ability to learn and develop.  

Acceptance Rate

44.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

The Human Development and Family Sciences at Ohio State University teaches their students the origin of human development and learning. They will receive hands-on training to learn the best way to foster human adaptation through intervention efforts. Students will fully understand people by considering their social environments. Students will gain accurate knowledge on how people develop and adapt to multiple connected factors. 

Acceptance Rate

53.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

The Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the University of Connecticut have a multidisciplinary understanding of individuals and families in societal contexts. They also focus on research and teaching interactions and processes within families. They promote healthy wellbeing of individuals as well as families over the lifespan. They foster public engagement with their students.

Acceptance Rate

49.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

North Carolina State University is devoted to creating leaders that will support youth and families. They offer a MS degree in Youth, Family, and Community Sciences. Their graduate programs can guarantee that it is effective in preparing current and future professionals in working with youth and families in community-based settings. On their website, you can see their featured former students saying that she still contacts her YFCS’s professors to seek professional guidance. 

Acceptance Rate

45.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

The mission of Child and Family Studies degree at Baylor University was designed to improve the quality of Children’s and Families lives. Their studies program uses a preventive educational approach in helping their students develop the desire to support holistic development. Within a systems theory framework, students will be prepared for applied practice with children and families. Child and Family Studies have four concentrations, Child Life, Child Development, Family Life Education and Pre-Occupational Theory.

Acceptance Rate

45.33

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

The Child Development and Family Studies degree at CSU Long Beach is devoted in improving the lives of both children and families. Their students will be involved in community and professional activities, as a result, they gain hands-on experiences. This study incorporates information from a variety of disciplines. They also give emphasis on utilizing the prevention approach in assisting individuals and families.  

Acceptance Rate

39.27

Student to Faculty Ratio

23:1

Sarah Lawrence College’s MA in Child Development has a unique program which takes a progressive approach in studying child development. They explore the lives of children as the interaction of intellectual and imaginative streams. They paired in-depth study of theoretical perspectives with practical fieldwork. With this combination, they are able to prepare their students in supporting the complex needs of children and their families.

Acceptance Rate

53.1

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The MA in Family Studies at Fairfield University is a non-clinical program within the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. Their students are provided with an advanced educational track in early childhood and family studies. They are also proud that the faculty that teaches their students are both nationally and internationally recognized for their excellence in their field. These faculty members are dedicated to giving everything that the students will need.

Acceptance Rate

57.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Human Development and Family Studies degree at University of Illinois at Urbana creates a diverse and multicultural environment intent to improve the lives of children and families. They do that through exceptional teaching, outreach and research. They can effectively train their students to become ready in addressing real-world problems in communities worldwide. They are also taught how to resolve contemporary social issues which affect the well-being of children and families.

Acceptance Rate

59.03

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

BA in Family Studies at Berea College is a concentration that is designed for students who want to have a deeper understanding of the interaction of the family with society. Students in this study gain deeper knowledge about the dynamics of family relations. They will also explore parent-child relations and how it affects young children. They will be familiar with families with diverse cultures, contemporary issues and family violence and how to help them.

Acceptance Rate

30.26

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University contributes greatly to the well-being of individuals and families. They strive to generate knowledge especially across the life course of those with diverse backgrounds. Their students are trained to be a good specialist for research and exemplary in professional practice. They strengthen the interconnections of these three aspects, practice, policy and research.

Acceptance Rate

59.83

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Students at SUNY’s Oneonta’s Human Development and Family Studies will focus on lifespan human development. They will be guided in working with children and families. The coursework that they will receive has emphasis on the dynamics of interpersonal relationships within diverse families. Aside from hands-on experience that they will gain while working at a Child development Center, they will also be exposed to the day-to-day workings of a human service agency since they will have required internships at a variety of sites.

Acceptance Rate

56.04

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Temple University offers a program for Human Development and Community Engagement Major. This program is structured to prepare students in making a change in people’s lives by influencing policies, practices, and programs of organizations. Students here build the skills needed in facilitating physical, social, and cognitive development of individuals, specially in urban communities. The yearlong practicum and internship that students will receive will give them practical, hands-on experience that will be useful in serving people in the local community.

Acceptance Rate

60.04

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

A robust academic program in degree in Family Studies is available at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. This small program enables students to receive individualized attention from the award-winning and research active faculty. Graduate students are motivated to lead research projects and publish it in scholarly journals. This program maintains a systematic approach to observing, analyzing, and understanding close relationships and families.

Acceptance Rate

70.04

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

B.S. degree in Family Studies and Human Development are both available at the University of Vermont. Some of the courses taken by the students majoring in HDFS are humanities, multicultural education, and behavioral and social sciences. University of Vermont possesses an interdisciplinary perspective which makes HDFS a distinctive major. The minor program requires a minimum of 18 credit hours.

Acceptance Rate

67.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Top Degrees in Family Studies

The predominant focus of a HDFS degree program is to understand the span of human development within the nexus of an individual’s family system, work, community, school, economic environment, and social constructs.  By creating an acute awareness and understanding about the internal and external influences on a person, students will learn how environments can limit, enhance, and influence the development of an individual.

Degree programs in HDFS include undergraduate and graduate programs.  To help prospective students better understand the options at most accredited colleges and universities, we have summarized the most common degree programs below.  To learn more about each degree program, simply connect with top college programs below that fit your academic objectives and career goals.

Human Development & Family Studies Bachelor Degrees

Online bachelor degrees in HDFS are designed to be four-year programs based on full-time matriculation.  Part-time students will take longer to complete a bachelor’s degree as a function of course load and program pace.  A bachelor degree can be earned in one of three ways: online, in a classroom, and a hybrid model blending both online and on-site.

Bachelor degrees meld core HDFS curriculum with general education courses.  An example of liberal arts classes you may see in a course catalog include creative writing, English composition, economics, sociology, and psychology.  A sample of core classes you will likely see in a typical HDFS degree program include the following courses:

  • Public Health
  • Human Sexuality
  • Family Studies
  • Adult Development and Aging
  • Critical Thinking
  • Applied Research in HDFS
  • Nutrition
  • Technical Writing
  • Family, School, & Community
  • Parenting Research & Applications
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Family Violence and Neglect
  • Infant and Child Development
  • Contemporary Families

Human Development & Family Studies Master’s Degree

Master’s degrees in HDFS require students to qualify by successfully completing all relevant lower level classes plus any requisite work requirements.  Graduate students pursing a master’s degree with either leverage the degree and move directly into the work-force or continue towards earning a PhD in the field of study.  Degrees at this level are most frequently conferred as a MS or Master of Science.  MS graduate degree programs will take one to two-years to complete for most full-time students.  Classes you may take in an HDFS program include: structural equation modeling, social gerontology, longitudinal data analysis, social policy, qualitative data analysis, human development, and special needs analysis.  The culmination of most MS degree programs is a thesis project that leverages lower-level classes into a singular project.

Human Development & Family Studies Doctorate Degree

Doctorate degrees in HDFS are known in the world of academia as terminal degrees.  By definition, a terminal degree is named as such as there are no additional degrees beyond it within the field of study.  Doctoral degrees in HDFS are most frequently conferred as a PhD and can take one to four years to complete as a function of the curricular design and course load.  Students will typically spend substantive time performing research, dissecting case studies, interacting with others, and working on a board-approved dissertation project.  A dissertation is an intensive research paper intended to substantially add to the HDFS field of study.

Employment Information & Development Specializations

For students that earn a college degree in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS), there are several fields of specialization that one can pursue. The options range from middle school teachers, high school teachers, postsecondary teachers, researcher, curriculum designer, counselor, psychologist, sociologist, social worker, and community service manager to name a few possible career tracks.

HDFS Job Growth, Salary, and Related Careers

The job growth in the greater Human Development & Family Studies domain are well above average. For example, the rate of job growth for social worker and community service managers are expected to rise 10% through 2024 and mental health counselors 19% growth rate is expected during the same period. Given the broad nature of the Human Development & Family Studies degree, compensation after graduation can vary greatly from career field to career field given prior experience and geographic location. Related fields include teaching, counselors, social worker, substance abuse counselor, family counselor, probation officer, and mental health counselor. The Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) is an organization in the field that focuses on advancing HDFS. Investigate the merits of their association if you are serious about making an impact in this field.

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