Contact
Eunjoo Jung, Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director, 144 H White Hall, 315-443-5778, ejung@syr.edu
Faculty
Colleen Baish Cameron, D. Bruce Carter, Joseph P. Fanelli, Eunjoo Jung, Irene Kehres, Ambika Krishnakumar, Teresa MacDonald, Matthew Mulvaney, Kamala Ramadoss, Rachel Razza, Jaipaul L. Roopnarine, Merril Silverstein
Staff
Chandice Haste-Jackson, Internship Coordinator
Arlene Johnston, Office Coordinator
Kathy Rainone, Administrative Assistant
Description
The Department of Human Development and Family Science is an interdisciplinary program that draws from the areas of psychology, sociology, and education. We focus on children’s, youth, and families’ well-being in the context of everyday life. Specifically, Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) concentrates on individuals’ social, emotional, and behavioral development in “real world” settings (e.g., families, schools, work, and hospitals) within the United States and internationally. HDFS graduates are prepared to pursue careers working with children and families in a variety of areas including education, social service, health services, counseling programs, child and youth programs, schools, parent and family services. HDFS provides numerous opportunities for diverse career paths and advanced degree options, and is a popular major for students interested in a pre-med or pre-health major.
Students enrolled in the B.S. in Human Development and Family Science not only learn in the classroom, they receive first-hand experience in the community as well. Students complete a 180-hour community practicum that allows them to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to real life settings. As a result, students have a comprehensive understanding of children and families in theory and in practice.
The 124 credit B.S. degree program provides students with a broad foundation covering a range of issues focusing on the healthy development of children and families. In addition to liberal arts courses, students are expected to complete 15 credits of Program Requirements and 18-24 credits in a specialty track (decided on in the second semester of the sophomore year). Each track prepares students to work in specific settings:
- Child Development students focus on development of typical and atypical children during childhood, their education, and service needs in other areas.
- Youth and Family Development students learn to work in a variety of settings that focus on youth and family needs including social services, health, mental health and juvenile justice programs, counseling centers, parenting programs, recreation and athletic programs, afterschool programs and schools.
- Child Life Specialist prepares students to help children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events. Providing emotional support for families, Child Life Specialists encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenges particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. Additional requirements must be met to become Certified as a Child Life Specialist as designated by the Child Life Council. Please visit http://www.childlife.org/Certification/Getting%20Certified/index.cfm for information concerning additional requirements to become certified as a Child Life Specialist.
Intra-University Transfers
Human Development & Family Science (HDFS) accepts intra-university transfers into the Department on a rolling basis. Applicants outside of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics (Falk College) who are making satisfactory progress and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above will be considered for admission to the HDFS Department. Applicants inside the Falk College who are making satisfactory progress and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above will be considered for admission to the HDFS Department.
To apply for the Intra-University Transfer, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours at Syracuse University.
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