Image
Human Development and Family Sciences
Human Development and Family Sciences
Empower people, strengthen families, change lives.
Degree Type
- Bachelor of Science
- Honors Bachelor of Science
- Minor: Early Childhood Development and Education
- Minor: Human Development and Family Sciences
Embark on a journey of self-discovery while gaining the skills needed to help individuals and families lead better lives. You’ll immerse yourself in various disciplines, including psychology, biology, sociology, genetics, education, anthropology, public health and social policy. This deep engagement across these areas will give you a broad understanding of what it means to be human.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be prepared to make a positive and lasting impact in fields such as education, early intervention, prevention science, psychology, counseling, social services or public health.
Image
Image
Become a changemaker
You'll build skills applicable to a wide range of careers.
Image
Image
Employers seek HDFS graduates
We've built relationships with over 60 nonprofits and agencies in the community and across the state.
Image
Image
Help others thrive
Through OSU-Cascades' Human Thrive Research Lab, you'll develop skills for nurturing resilience, reducing adversity and helping children and families flourish.
Program Details
In addition to the HDFS major, you may choose one of two options:
Early Childhood
Promote lifelong development, learning and well-being from prenatal through age eight, with a focus on dynamics among children, families, schools, communities and cultures.
Human Services
Learn how to improve lives through crisis intervention, providing access to resources and advocating for those in need.
MINORS
- Early Childhood Development and Education
- Human Development and Family Sciences
MICROCREDENTIALS
- Children and Youth with Disabilities
- Child and Youth Development
A total of 180 quarter credits are required to graduate, including 60 upper-division credits. Requirements include:
- OSU Core Education
- Human Development and Family Sciences major
- Option
Early Childhood
Human Services
General Option - Electives if needed to meet the 180 credits, 60 must be upper division
Planning and Resources
HDFS Sample Graduation Plan
Early Childhood Program Description
Human Services Program Description
COCC Transfer Guides (OSU-Cascades)
College of Public Health and Human Sciences - HDFS Transfer Guides
Petition a transfer course for an HDFS major requirement
Using the following course forecast information students will plan ahead and work with their advisor to create and update academic plans.
Once you complete this program, discover all the learning outcomes you'll achieve.
Human Development and Family Sciences Minor (28-31 credits)
Students minoring in Human Development and Family Sciences will learn how people change across the life course within the contexts of families, schools, and communities. This minor complements other academic degrees such as elementary education, liberal studies, psychology, and social science.
Human Development and Family Sciences Minor Curriculum
Early Childhood Development and Education Minor (30 credits)
The early childhood development and education minor curriculum is offered through the human development and family sciences program. If you enjoy working with children, families, schools and communities, and want to see children progress in development in positive environments, then our ECDE minor may be for you. For non-HDFS majors only.
Careers
Image
What comes after graduation?
With 16% projected job growth, opportunities in human development and family sciences are expanding faster than average, offering pathways in education, health care, social services and community development. Your work will help solve complex social challenges, support families and strengthen communities.
- Advocate
- Adoption Counselor
- Career Counselor
- Case Worker
- Child Care Worker
- Client Relations
- Community Educator
- Community Service Director
- Counselor
- Curriculum Director
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Human Resources Specialist
- Insurance Agent
- Loan Officer
- Manager
- Market Research Analyst
- Mortgage Loan Officer
- Operations Manager
- Owner/Entrepreneur
- Promotions Manager
- Public Relations Director
- Public Administrator
- Purchasing Agent
- Real Estate Agent
- Recreation Manager
- Recruiter
- Restaurant Manager
- Sales Manager
- Social Media Manager
- Supervisor
- Transportation Logistics
- Wholesale Sales Representative
Human Services Field and Nonprofits: Our communities need people who understand the needs of others, and can help them lead successful lives. You’ll find HDFS graduates working in state and county agencies that help those in need, and leading nonprofit organizations that fill gaps where others can’t.
Teaching: HDFS students make natural teachers, and many of our alumni have been accepted into the OSU-Cascades graduate teaching program and now teach in elementary, middle and high schools.
Counseling: Many HDFS graduates have gone on to the OSU-Cascades graduate counseling program and embarked on careers as clinical counselors or school counselors.
Teacher, Bend-La Pine School District
Events Manager, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Site Coordinator, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Oregon
Program Coordinator, Crook County Court Appointed Advocates
Victims’ Assistance Coordinator, Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office
Case Manager, DHS Aging and People with Disabilities
Program Logistics Coordinator, Family Resource Center
Teacher, Jefferson County School District
Developmental & Behavioral Specialist, Juniper Ridge Clinic
Community Health Worker, Mosaic Medical
Development Associate, Volunteers in Medicine Clinic
Early Intervention/Special Education Specialist, Warm Springs Early Childhood Education Center
Many graduates also pursue Master of Arts in Teaching or Master of Counseling (Clinical Mental Health and School) at OSU-Cascades
Human Services Option
- Abilitree
- After School Buddies
- Bend Community Center
- Bend Park & Recreation
- BestCare Treatment Services
- Bethlehem Inn
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Boys and Girls Club
- CASA
- Council on Aging of Central Oregon
- Department of Human Services
- Deschutes County Health Services
- Footprints Behavioral Interventions
- Friends of The Children
- Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center
- Healthy Beginnings
- Healthy Families of the High Desert
- Heart of Oregon Corps
- J Bar J Youth Services
- KIDS Center
- Latino Community Association
- NeighborImpact
- New Priorities Family Services
- Northwest Youth Discovery
- Opportunity Foundation
- Planned Parenthood of Bend
- Pregnancy Resource Center
- Saving Grace
- Thrive Central Oregon
- Touchmark at Mount Bachelor Village
- Trillium Family Services
- Victims' Assistance Program
Early Childhood Option
- A Child's Garden
- Alyce Hatch
- Bend La Pine School District
- HeadStart
- High Desert Educational School District
- MountainStar Family Relief Nursery
- Mudpies and Lullabies Preschool
- NeighborImpact HeadStart
- OSU-Cascades Little Beavs Childcare
- Redmond School District
$
85
k
average annual salary
Nutritionist, Bureau of Labor Statistics
16
%
projected growth
Nutritionist, Bureau of Labor Statistics
91
%
employed or in graduate school or military within 6 mo.
OSU-Cascades-wide
Courses
Image
What types of classes will I attend?
- Contemporary Families in the U.S.
- Human Sexuality
- Infant and Child Development
- Families and Poverty
- General Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- Applied Research Methods
- Family Violence and Neglect
- Introduction to Sociology
- Principles of Statistics
- Adult Development and Aging
- Technical Writing
Internship Spotlight
Image
Latino Community Association is a key connector with the immigrant community in navigating their new life. As a client services assistant, Marlene Peraza Murguia, Human Development and Family Sciences major, was the first person non-English speakers saw when they walked through the doors of LCA in Redmond. “I feel honored they trusted me to help solve problems.”
Preparing for future
Image
Early Childhood career development program
- Save up to $12,000 in tuition
- Get up to 45 academic credits toward your HDFS degree at no cost.
- Work part-time with children while taking classes.
- Learn from a faculty mentor.
- Receive valuable career placement advising for a regional teaching position.
- Build experience to meet Oregon qualifications to be an early learning child care teacher.
Find Early Childhood Career Development program deadlines and application here
Real experience
Image
Nothing brings your classroom studies to life better than an internship, practicum or research experience. With expert faculty researchers, and relationships with more than 60 nonprofit organizations and agencies in the community and around the state, we help you find right-fit experiences where you’ll make meaningful contributions and grow professionally.
See yourself here
Take a virtual tour of campus
Request More Info
Loading...
Contact Us
We're here to help! Future students can connect with an OSU-Cascades admissions advisor for admission and program questions.