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Gain skills to help individuals and families throughout different stages of life with this online human development degree.
Regardless if you are a first-time freshman, transfer student, or you are interested in pursuing a second bachelor's degree, this highly customizable program can help you achieve your educational and career goals. Through coursework and field experience focused on individual and family development across the lifespan, you will discover how people develop and change, and how family, community, and society affect human development.
In addition to the core courses in the HDFS degree curriculum, you have five degree concentration choices. You may choose to specialize in one or two of the following concentrations, depending on your career goals:
Gain a better understanding of the aging process, including the biological, psychological, and social aspects of adult development and aging with an optional gerontology minor. View the degree minors section of this page to learn more.
You can also choose to pursue Director Qualifications for early childhood centers as part of this degree program. In choosing this option, you will work with your advisor to select electives that help you meet state requirements and prepare you to seek early childhood education credentials upon completion of the coursework.
HDFS graduates are also strong candidates for application to become Certified Family Life Educators, who focus on healthy family functioning within a family systems perspective. They utilize a primarily preventive approach to address societal issues within the context of family.
Regardless of which direction you choose, CSU's online human development and family studies degree will equip you with skills in:
This degree uses research and insight from multiple disciplines to provide you with a broad foundation of knowledge. Understanding key concepts in biology, psychology, sociology, and social work allows you to apply your skills to a variety of human service fields. This human development and family studies (HDFS) program's core curriculum covers topics like:
Find out how CSU’s research is making an impact by tuning into the CHHS Health and Human Science Matters Podcast, a collection of lively, engaging conversations with members of the college community.
Human development and family studies is a broad field that can lead to a number of different career opportunities, depending on your interests. Regardless if you are seeking a first-time career or are interested in switching to a new field, this program can help you reach your goals. Potential careers for human development majors include:
This bachelor's degree will also provide you with the necessary foundation to pursue further education and credentials. Many people who are interested in pursuing careers in counseling first start out with a HDFS bachelor's degree before going on to graduate programs.
To prepare for your specific career aspirations, you will select one or two degree concentrations. This allows you to lay the groundwork for working in specific areas, including early childhood professions, healthcare, counseling and social services, and more.
You also have the option to minor in gerontology. This option prepares you to meet the needs of our aging population and sets you apart as someone with the skills necessary to enter this rewarding, in-demand career field.
If your interests lie in early childhood, you may also consider taking additional coursework to prepare to apply for Director Qualifications upon graduation, opening the door to director or substitute director opportunities in child care centers.
Using skills learned through our core curriculum and personalization options, graduates of the HDFS program work in a variety of human service settings. Early childhood care and education programs, youth services organizations, long-term care centers, and Head Start programs have hired past graduates.
Hear what students say about this human development and family studies bachelor's degree, and see how CSU's online programs help them attain their educational goals in the midst of their busy lives.
Hear about Austin's experience working in an orphanage in Honduras while studying online, and how his HDFS degree has given him knowledge to draw from to enhance his career.
Find out how participating in the HDFS program provided Chelsee the opportunity to help families and give back to her local community.
Hear Jessica describe the way her human development and family studies degree sets her apart, and establishes her as a professional nanny who has the ability to co-parent.
Hear Bethany describe how her HDFS degree has not only helped her professionally as a family care provider, but also as a mother of a child with autism.
Degree concentrations allow you to customize your curriculum based on your career aspirations. As a student in this program*, you must declare a minimum of one concentration, and no more than two. Each concentration, except the HDFS general concentration, will be listed on your transcript as indication of specialized training within the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) program. You may choose from the following degree concentrations:
Learn to work with children in a variety of settings, including special needs and early childhood careers. This concentration is ideal for first- and second-year students who plan to apply to the competitive early childhood education major during their sophomore year. Coursework features child development classes, and incorporates approaches from several disciplines that focus on education, diversity, and professional skills.
Gain valuable skills and knowledge for careers in businesses that promote individual and family development. This concentration is best suited for those interested in working as directors, managers, or business owners, as well as in legal services. The curriculum provides a comprehensive entrepreneurship education, with coursework in finance, management, marketing, public policy, professional communication, and leadership.
Launch your medical career with pre-health coursework that prepares you to work with individuals with disabilities and mental and physical illness, as well as those experiencing death or grief. Students in this pre-health program have gone on to pursue careers as allied health practitioners, occupational therapist, physical therapists, anesthesiologist assistants, child life specialists, chiropractors, dentists, medical doctors, music therapists, podiatrists, speech and language pathologists, and veterinarians, among others.
Previously known as Prevention and Intervention Sciences, this concentration will prepare students for careers in human services. This is a great choice if you are interested in careers requiring either a bachelor’s degree or additional credentials.
Broaden your education with the human development and family studies concentration. This general option is available to HDFS majors who are interested in learning about the entire individual or family life cycle rather than specializing in a certain area. The curriculum features psychology and social work courses in addition to HDFS credits, providing a well-rounded and robust education. As part of this concentration, you also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of experiential learning courses and internship opportunities to help you explore your career path and credentialing options.
*All students entering the program in Fall 2015 or later must select at least one (and may add up to two) concentrations.
A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this degree. This includes:
The number of courses needed to complete the program depends on:
Through the coursework and supervised field experience in this program, you learn to identify factors that influence an individual's development through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, within the contexts of culture and family. This comprehensive curriculum is immediately career-applicable as it covers a range of topics such as early childhood development, marriage and family relationships, and emotional and language development. You also gain skills in observation, program development and implementation, grant writing, and social policy as these relate to diverse populations of people.
Most courses are offered every semester, including summer, although summer courses are not required. Throughout the program, you are allowed to repeat courses if necessary.
Prerequisites for this program are strictly enforced. Prerequisites must be completed or consent from the instructor must be given prior to registration.
Students are strongly encouraged to select
In this program, you'll participate in a hands-on, intensive work experience in a setting closely aligned with your career plan and chosen concentration. Your academic advisor will help you determine how many credits you need and the section that will correlate with your concentration.
Your field placement must be taken in conjunction with HDFS 477 and permission is required to enroll. Once you have determined when you will participate with the help of your academic advisor, you can begin the internship application process. The field placement coordinator will contact you after you have completed the internship application to provide placement procurement and registration instructions.
Students must choose at least one, and no more than two, concentrations based on interest and career aspirations. Of the required 15 credits, a minimum of 9 must be HDFS courses. A minimum of 12 credits must be upper-division (300- to 400- level). Courses from one concentration cannot be applied to a second concentration.
You can also choose to pursue a gerontology minor and/or early childhood Director Qualifications. If you are transferring courses into the program or find other CSU courses that are more appropriate to your career goals, please speak to your advisor about substituting courses. Keep in mind that 30 upper division credits must be completed through CSU coursework.
Earning a degree in human development and family studies can prepare you for a variety of careers in fields including education, research, social services, counseling, and healthcare. By concentrating on a particular area of study, such as early childhood development or gerontology, for example, you can customize your learning experience based on your specific career goals. Our program has a uniquely applied focus – through experiential learning opportunities (e.g., practicum; internship; research, teaching and advising), students can apply the knowledge they have gained in academic classes to real-life settings.
There are several potential career opportunities for professionals with a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies, including:
A bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies sets a foundation if you wish to pursue a career as a counselor or therapist. However, if you’d like a career in those fields, you may need to pursue a graduate degree or special certification. You can speak with an academic advisor to get more insight about this.
Yes, this program can give you the foundation you need to pursue a graduate degree.
The online HDFS program does not prepare you to take the teacher's licensing exam in Colorado, although it will provide some of the necessary coursework. To become licensed, you can:
The difference between psychology and human development and family studies becomes clear when examining the coursework for each program. Psychology students primarily study human behavior, thought, cognition, and brain function. HDFS students focus primarily on how individuals and families develop (physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially) within the broader environmental context. HDFS is an interdisciplinary program that examines the social context of human development over the lifespan of a person. The HDFS bachelor’s program also gives students the opportunity to customize their area of concentration and earn a specialized certificate. A unique aspect of HDFS is the internship to engage students in applied, practical experiences in professional settings that complement students’ academic and career goals related to human development across the lifespan.
When comparing a psychology bachelor’s degree to an HDFS bachelor’s degree, consider your career goals and how the coursework can provide a relevant foundation of knowledge and skills. In general, an HDFS degree will likely be more valuable to anyone pursuing a career that focuses on the development and well-being of individuals and families during different stages of the lifespan, e.g. early childhood development or gerontology. A benefit of an HDFS degree is the internship that is part of the curriculum and that provides real-life experience in a professional setting. A psychology degree will likely be more valuable to anyone pursuing a career that focuses primarily on the principles of behavior, cognition, and mental health.
Students can apply to this program with no previous college credit or experience.
The amount of time it will take you to complete the degree depends on how many credits you choose to take each semester. Courses are offered in fall, spring, and summer to offer accessibility and flexibility to students. Students commonly take two to three courses each semester.
The amount of time you will spend weekly will depend on the amount of coursework you commit to each semester, as well as your learning and studying style. It is recommended to spend at least nine to twelve hours per week on a three-credit course. With the asynchronous nature of courses, you can work at your pace and during your desired schedule each week while you meet the scheduled deadlines.
Though HDFS courses are asynchronous, faculty are very present in these courses and will provide ongoing support and interactions through announcements, email, audio or video messages, and online office hours. You can expect to exchange ideas with fellow classmates most commonly through email and discussion board postings, and, in a few classes, collaboration on select assignments.
Online courses are delivered through Canvas and require a computer and internet access. Learn more about accessing online courses.
As a student in CSU’s online human development and family studies bachelor’s program, you will receive the same education, learn from the same faculty, and earn the same regionally accredited degree as students on campus. Additionally, you can expect a program that offers:
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Broaden your degree by adding a minor that deepens your interests and builds valuable, career-ready skills. A minor helps you explore new ideas, gain focused expertise, and strengthen your education without significantly changing your degree plan. Many courses can count toward both your major and minor, including courses you’ve already completed, as long as all requirements are finished before graduation.
| Fall semester | June 1 |
| Spring semester | November 1 |
| Summer semester | May 1 |
Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.
Apply NowPlanning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.
Refer to admissions.colostate.edu/apply/ for details about who we look for in our individual review process
Call or email our student success team to find out if the program is a good fit for your goals. Our coaches are available Monday-Friday to help you find the right program and navigate the application process.
Student Success Coach: Kyle Yates
Phone: (970) 682-7252
Email: kc.yates@colostate.edu
Complete Colorado State University's online undergraduate application and pay any associated nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online) or waiver (if eligible).
Online applications must be submitted before 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on the deadline date. If you miss the application deadline, you may still register for courses to begin your program of study as a non-degree student. Students seeking Federal financial aid must be admitted prior to enrolling.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Use FAFSA code 001350. Additional financial aid information is also available.
View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis and may take up to six weeks during high volume application periods.
Questions? Call (970) 682-7252 or email kc.yates@colostate.edu.
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