Bachelor of Arts - Family and Consumer Sciences - Human Development Family Studies

This program is for students interested in working with families and children in such settings as social services, child and family service agencies, foster care agencies, family service departments of hospitals and clinics, nursing homes, adolescents’ and children’s residencies, day care centers, departments of social welfare, etc.

It is also designed for students who plan to enter the consumer economics fields in positions with consumer protection agencies, financial counseling agencies, etc. This specialization is recommended for those wishing to obtain an advanced degree in human development and family science, child development, social work, marriage and family counseling, mental health counseling.

This program is for students interested in working with consumers, families, and children in such settings as consumer agencies, family service agencies, family service departments of hospitals and clinics, financial institutes, financial counseling agencies, nursing homes for the aged, adolescents’ and children’s residences, day care centers, departments of social welfare, etc.

It is also designed for students who plan to enter the consumer economics fields in positions with consumer protection agencies, consumer relations departments of business and industry, etc. This specialization is recommended for those wishing to obtain an advanced degree in family studies, consumer studies, social work, marriage and family counseling, or management. 

The Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) Specialization at Queens College is part of the Family and Consumer Sciences Program in the Department of Family Nutrition and Exercise Sciences (FNES). The program offers a Bachelors of Arts degree in Family and Consumer Sciences which requires the completion of 120-credits, including general college curriculum and courses specific to the program and specialization of Human Development and Family Science. There are 55-credits of requirements for the HDFS curriculum.

The Human Development and Family Science Specialization has been approved for the Family Life Education Certification (CFLE) by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The certification attests that the curriculum includes appropriate course work for each of the 10 family life substance areas required for the CFLE designation.

The mission of the Human Development and Family Science Specialization is to prepare students to have knowledge of human development and family science concepts and theories, and to apply current and emerging knowledge to enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.

Strong families are the foundation for healthy communities and societies. Families today are confronted with different challenges (e.g., divorce, illness, poverty, death). Human Development and Family Science professionals help families use resources to promote optimal development and find solutions to their problems using a multi-disciplinary approach (e.g., human development, family relations, family economics and resource management).

Given the applied nature and coursework of this program, Queen's College graduates are well equipped to find employment. They have jobs in areas such as social service agencies for children, and elderly, mental health services, or parenting programs.

Students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to help families successfully manage challenges they may encounter across the lifespan and they work in settings such as: State Department of Family and Child Services, Health and Human/Family Services agencies, Day care centers, Family life education centers, Family Service Departments of Hospitals and Clinics, Adolescents’ and children’s residencies, Cooperative Extension services, Consumer Relations Departments of Business and Industry, Non-profit agencies.

Many of Queen's College's students decide to continue their studies and go for graduate degrees in Social Work, Family Counseling/Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, Child and Family Science, Human Resources, Child Life, School Counseling, and other fields.