The Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) program focuses to educate students through quality instruction and experiential learning in lifespan human development and family science by fostering critical thinking and the research, communication, and career-ready skills that prepare them to become professionals in service to individuals and families.
Human Development & Family Science (HDFS) prepares graduates to use family-centered and strengths-based approaches to support the health and well-being of individuals and families in diverse communities. HDFS students learn to engage with families across the lifespan and in a variety of service settings and professions, from early childhood education and care to family law and policy advocacy.
The Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) curriculum prepares students to effectively engage with families in a variety of service settings, including: childhood development, education and services; adolescent development and services; adult development and aging; and family health and well being.
Our family research, policy, and advocacy program also prepares students to critically analyze complex family issues, advocate for families in schools, communities, and in the policy arena, and address social factors contributing to and influencing family functioning, health, and well-being (e.g., poverty, immigration, family homelessness, family violence). Students are required to complete a 6-credit internship and integrate research training with service fieldwork. Such an experience is a critical component of HDFS student development and will further prepare our students for diverse careers in the human development and family science field.
The HDFS program is a joint academic degree program sponsored by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) and College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
Internships are vital. Not only does participation in an internship make a student more career ready, but it can also be an avenue to a job.
Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) students complete a 6-credit internship and integrate research training with service fieldwork. Such an experience is a critical component of each of the HDFS concentrations and further prepares our students for graduate education and diverse careers in the human development and family science field.
Students have participated in internships at the following locations.
Formed Families Forward - FFF https://formedfamiliesforward.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness - NAMI https://nami.org/Home
Hopecam https://www.hopecam.org/
Just Neighbors https://www.justneighbors.org/
Inclusion Consultants, LLC https://inclusionconsultants.com/
SPARC Solutions https://sparcsolutions.org/
Supervised Visitation & Exchange (Stronger Together) Fairfax County https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/juveniledomesticrelations/domestic-relations/supervisedvisitation
Internship Application Deadlines:
Semester |
Application Submission Closes |
Internship must begin on or after |
Internship must end by |
Fall 2022 |
August 1, 2022 |
August 22, 2022 |
December 3, 2022 |
Spring 2023 |
January 3, 2023 *Applications will be accepted during winter break; however, the university is CLOSED Dec 23 - Jan 2) |
January 23, 2023 |
May 6, 2023 |
Summer 2023 |
April 28, 2023 |
May 22, 2023 |
August 9, 2023 |
Quotes from Site Supervisors:
HDFS interns have helped me grow both professionally and personally. They are passionate about helping people and that passion is seen in their work. I am proud to host such kind and dedicated students at NAMI.
It starts out as an internship and soon becomes a “way of life” as interns learn to see the world from different point of views. We have benefited from the energy, talents and life experience each of the HDFS interns have brought to our programs over the years. –Inclusion Consultants and SPARC Solutions
HDFS interns have helped us elevate our messaging and launch products specifically designed for foster, adoptive and kinship families raising children and youth with special needs. - Formed Families Forward
Students select Human Development and Family Science careers that focus on a particular stage of family life, such as working with young children, at-risk adolescents, new parents, or families with aging members.
While career guidance tends to be organized around what people do in their jobs (e.g. teach, manage), many students pursue an HDFS major because they want to work with families during particular stages of family life, such as working with young children, at-risk adolescents, new parents, or families with aging members. But students may not know what kinds of jobs exist that would allow for such work with families across the lifespan.
Please visit the National Council on Family Relations website for a comprehensive list of career options.
Child Life Specialist
Child life specialists are trained professionals who promote child well-being by:
To become certified as a Child Life Specialist, you must take HDFS 301 - The Hospitalized Child and Family. This fully online course is offered by the Human Development and Family Science program and is taught by Jamie Gentille, a Certified Child Life Specialist. This course is required for those students seeking Certification as a Child Life Specialist by the Association of Child Life Professionals and is now pre-approved by the association.
Register Today!
HDFS 301 - The Hospitalized Child and Family
Prerequisite(s): HDFS 200 or permission from instructor
All students have opportunities to