Application deadline
Credits and costs
Nationally Recognized
Achieve Your Career Goals with an Online Degree in Human Development and Family Studies
The nation's population of older adults is growing. Family dynamics are changing with increased need for child care and family services. Social problems are affecting more and more people. Additional stress on children and adults is leading to school, work, and relationship issues. There is a strong and growing demand for professionals with the training and expertise to help improve people's lives.
The online Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies (HD FS) degree with an option in Life Span Human Services from Penn State can help you learn how individuals change from birth to old age, how families and communities influence these processes, and how to apply this knowledge in order to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions designed to improve people's lives.
Why a Human Development and Family Studies Degree Online at Penn State?
Education with Purpose — Pursue a degree that interests you and allows you to help make lives better along the way. Learn how to make a difference by advocating for new social policies and programs or developing new models to prevent and treat social, emotional, and behavioral problems. In addition, you can gain practical, transferable skills that will prepare you to interact with a wide variety of people throughout your career.
Flexibility — The online courses provide the flexibility and convenience to study around your schedule. Skip the lengthy commute time without sacrificing beneficial interactions with your knowledgeable, caring faculty. Learn from the experiences of your fellow classmates without leaving the comfort of your home.
Comprehensive Curriculum — You will have the opportunity to study a wide range of human services and diverse populations while gaining an understanding of human development across the life span and the influences of the family and the community on development. You can learn how people change in response to their surroundings — within families, schools, communities, and the work place. And you can explore how evidence-based interventions improve lives.
Solid Foundation — You have the option of starting the bachelor's program immediately, or you can choose to earn the Associate in Science in Human Development and Family Studies first. The credits earned in the associate degree may be applied toward the Bachelor of Science in HD FS at Penn State. Use this credential to set yourself apart on the career ladder as you pursue your education goals.
Applied Learning — This may be an online degree program, but preparing for a human services career requires experience working in the field with real people. HD FS students complete an internship at a human service organization in their community. Real-world experience will help you build professional networks, establish references, and reflect on what you have learned in the classroom.
Who Should Apply?
If you are looking for a way to achieve your career goals while helping to improve the well-being and health of individuals and communities, then this degree program is for you. It is an ideal choice if you are just beginning to earn a degree in the human-service field — or if you already have academic credits or an associate degree in the field.
Online Education at Penn State
Penn State has a history of 100+ years of distance education and more than two decades of experience in online learning. We create an online learning environment that offers you the same quality education our residential students experience in a face-to-face setting. Learn more about Penn State World Campus.
Courses
The Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Life Span Human Services option, is a 120-credit program. A grade of C or better is required in any HDFS course taken to satisfy the degree requirements. Consultation with your World Campus academic adviser to help you navigate your completion of this degree is strongly recommended.
The curriculum can help you learn how people and families change over time — biologically, psychologically, economically, and socially. You will study how family relationships, peers, social institutions (e.g., schools, work environments), income, religion, cultural background, and government policies all affect an individual's development and how interventions in these settings can facilitate growth and reduce problems in development. You will also investigate moral, ethical, and legal issues you will face as a professional, and learn to evaluate alternative approaches to promoting optimal development.
The program also provides a great stepping-stone into graduate-level studies.
Prescribed Courses for the Major (18 credits)
Additional Courses for the Major (13 credits)
Human Development Courses (select 6 credits)
United States Cultures and STAT 200 (7 credits)
Select 3 credits of United States Cultures.
Prescribed Courses for the Life Span Human Services Option (9 credits)
Additional Courses for the Life Span Human Services Option (35 credits)
Human Development Courses (9 credits)
Select 6 credits from 300- or 400-level HDFS courses and select 3 credits from the following list of courses:
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Field Practice in Human Service Setting (14 credits)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas (12 credits)
Select 12 credits (minimum of 6 credits at the 400 level) in consultation with your adviser from University-wide offerings that develop competency in the option (a grade of C or better is required in any HDFS course taken to satisfy this requirement).
General Education Requirements
Some General Education requirements may be satisfied by courses required for the major. Students should work with an adviser to select courses.
- Arts (GA): 6 credits
- Humanities (GH): 6 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 9 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
A student must receive a grade of C or better in GWS courses. - Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
A student must receive a grade of C or better in GQ courses. - Integrative Studies: 6 credits
This requirement only applies to students starting in summer 2018 or later. Learn more about the Integrative Studies options and consult your academic adviser when choosing courses to fulfill these requirements. Integrative Studies credits may be completed within the thirty Knowledge Domain credits and must be completed with either Inter-domain or Linked courses, not a combination of both.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Undergraduate Tuition
Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | If you have 59 or fewer credits | If you have 60 or more credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $620 per credit | $664 per credit |
| 12 or more | $7,527 per semester | $8,125 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete.
New students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA by March 1. Please visit the Office of Student Aid website for more information about applying for financial aid and recommended deadlines.
Admissions Help
Thank you for your interest in applying to this program. Contact an admissions counselor to discuss your educational goals, financial aid options, and application deadlines.
Admission Requirements
To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate, or have completed your GED.
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need the following items to complete your application:
High school transcripts or GED transcript - First-year applicants are required to submit Self-Reported Academic Records (SRAR). Official high school transcripts will only be required at the time a student accepts an offer of admission to Penn State.
Official college or university transcripts, if you attended another institution, and/or official military transcripts (if applicable). (All college or university transcripts are required regardless of the length of time that has passed, the grades earned, or the accreditation of the institutions attended. Acceptance of transfer credit toward your degree is subject to final approval by the academic department. For detailed information, see the Transfer Students page.)
Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Please send your transcripts by mail or electronically through Parchment, eScrip-Safe, or the National Student Clearinghouse directly to Penn State from the college/university where coursework was attempted.
Submit official documents by mail to:
Undergraduate Admissions Office
The Pennsylvania State University
201 Shields Building
University Park PA 16802
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Language Proficiency section on the Undergraduate Admissions International Requirements page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Start Your Application
Former Penn State students may not need to complete the admissions application. Please visit our Returning Students page for instructions.
If this is your first time applying to Penn State, you'll need to complete the following steps:
- Review the application instructions before beginning.
- Complete the online application and submit all official documents.
- Pay the application fee.
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form and choosing "MyPennState — Check Application Status." Your decision letter (confirming your acceptance or denial) will be mailed four to six weeks after receipt of all application materials. An admissions counselor will contact you if additional information is required.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
This program's well-rounded curriculum can give you the basis you need to become a leader in human services. You can use the knowledge you gain and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
Faculty
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Shannon A. Corkery
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DegreePh.D., Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona
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DegreeM.S., Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona
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DegreeB.S., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Psychology, Penn State
Dr. Shannon A. Corkery is the director of the human development and family studies program for Penn State World Campus. In this role, she manages staffing, curriculum, student communications, and more. She instructs and has authored and co-authored numerous HDFS World Campus courses, including HDFS 301, 312w, 411, 433, and 455. Dr. Corkery coordinates with the resident HDFS program at Penn State University Park to uphold programmatic standards and plan strategic initiatives.
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Megan Baril
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DegreePh.D., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeB.A., Psychology, Wake Forest University
Dr. Megan Baril is co-author and instructor of HDFS 129: Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies. Since receiving her doctorate, she has taught both online and in the classroom. Her research interests include exploring dynamics and processes within the context of families with adolescent offspring, the development of parental knowledge over middle childhood and adolescence, and associations between religiosity family processes, parenting, and parent-child relationship quality.
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Joanna Bissell-Havran
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DegreePh.D., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeGraduate Minor, Statistics, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeB.A., Psychology, Spanish, Lebanon Valley College
Dr. Joanna Bissell-Havran is an assistant teaching professor of human development and family studies. She primarily teaches courses on research methods and child and adolescent development. Previously, she taught graduate-level courses on statistics and lifespan development and mentored dissertation students for Walden University. She also conducted research on adolescents' achievement motivation and sexual development.
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Elizabeth Cipriano Essel
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DegreePh.D., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeB.A., Psychology, University of Michigan
Dr. Elizabeth Cipriano Essel is author and instructor of HDFS 428: Infant Development and co-author and instructor of HDFS 229: Infant and Child Development. Prior to becoming a Penn State World Campus instructor for HDFS, she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State, where she conducted research on the effects of maltreatment, parenting, and individual differences (i.e., temperament, physiology) on preschool children's self-regulation development.
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Jennifer Crissman Ishler
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DegreeD.Ed., Higher Education Administration, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Counseling and Student Affairs, Shippensburg University
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DegreeB.S., Elementary Education, Millersville University
Dr. Jennifer Crissman Ishler, associate professor of teaching in HDFS, instructs first-year seminars and HDFS 311, 411, and 414 at Penn State University Park, where she also advises the College of Health and Human Development's Women's Leadership Initiative Program. Dr. Crissman Ishler also instructs HDFS 311 and HDFS 414 for Penn State World Campus. Additionally, she is the creator, author, and instructor of upper-level HDFS offerings available through Penn State and Penn State World Campus on adoption — practice, policy, and experience.
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Teresa (Terry) Cummins
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DegreeMaster of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Recreation and Park Management, Concentration in Commercial Recreation and Tourism, Penn State
Teresa (Terry) Cummins is director of HDFS Penn State World Campus internships and an instructor for the associate and bachelor's degrees' internship sequence: HDFS 395.1 and 395.2 and HDFS 490, 495A, and 495B. She works with students to identify internship experiences that help support their career goals and to apply their academic knowledge to hands-on learning experiences. Before joining HDFS, she was the director for diversity at the Smeal College of Business, where she mentored underrepresented students in their development of professionalism skills to obtain internships and full-time employment.
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Meghan Sinton Miller
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DegreePh.D., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
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DegreeB.A., Psychology, Biological Psychology Concentration, College of the Holy Cross
Dr. Meghan Sinton Miller is the author and instructor of HD FS 429: Advanced Child Development. She has experience teaching a range of courses on child and adolescent development, and research interests that examine individual, family, peer, and cultural influences on child and adolescent body image and eating behavior.
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Joel A. Muraco
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DegreePh.D., Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona
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DegreeM.S., Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona
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DegreeB.S., Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona
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DegreeB.A., English and Creative Writing, University of Arizona
Dr. Joel A. Muraco teaches the Penn State World Campus course HDFS 250: Sexual Identity over the Lifespan. He also teaches online courses in family development, adolescent development, family policy, and human sexuality for the Human Development Department at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, where he was formerly assistant professor. He works full-time as a career educator at the University of Arizona.
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Julie A. States
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DegreePh.D., Counseling Psychology, West Virginia University
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DegreeM.A., Community Counseling, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeB.S., Rehabilitation Counseling, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Julie A. States is instructor for the Penn State World Campus course HDFS 301: Values and Ethics in the Human Development Professions. She has also taught resident courses that include HDFS 301; HDFS 239: Adolescent Development; and HDFS 414: Resolving Human Development and Family Problems. Dr. States is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania and maintains a private psychotherapy practice in State College. She was previously a staff psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services at Penn State where she instructed the doctoral practicum class and coordinated the group program and the graduate assistant program.
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Lester (Les) Weiss
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DegreeM.S.W., Social Work, University of Pittsburgh
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DegreeB.S.W., Social Work, University of Pittsburgh
Lester (Les) Weiss is a social worker for the Veterans Administration in Bay Pines, Florida, and an instructor for HDFS 411: The Helping Relationship. He provides cognitive behavioral therapies for military veterans who have post-traumatic stress and trains clinicians in the VA system. He has also taught courses in adolescence, aging, and chemical dependency for Penn State World Campus. Prior to the working in the VA system, he was director of social work at UPMC Altoona for many years and served on numerous Blair County boards.
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