Purdue University Calumet | Department of Behavioral Sciences

Human Development & Family Studies

The objective of the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) academic program is to educate students for a variety of vocational areas within the human services. These areas include entry-level positions within the areas of case management services, health management services, mental health services, child welfare services, and services to support the elderly.

Designed to fully articulate with both the existing Associate of Arts Degrees in Early Childhood Development, and Child and Family Services, the program provides expanded educational opportunities for those employed in the human services in such positions as public and private child care center directors, case managers and service coordinators.

The program is designed to expose students to best practices in their desired area of vocation. For those focusing on careers in the area of child and family studies, the program will provide students with the opportunity to understand human services from a “system-of-care” perspective and to develop best practice competencies as articulated by major accreditation organizations. For those pursuing careers in the field of gerontology, the program will provide students with exposure to best practices in service provision to older adults.

Students also will be provided with the theoretical knowledge in human development and family processes needed in practice and future graduate work. The statistical and research requirements of the program will further support a student seeking graduate work in early childhood, gerontology, family studies, social work, marriage and family studies and social policy. The practicum component of the program will expose the students to a structured learning experience within their chosen field.

Degree Requirements

The Faculty

The university’s faculty is engaged in a wide variety of activities related to the human services sector. Faculty members involved in this program have strong backgrounds in the area of child development and family studies as evidenced by their community-based service activities and ongoing research programs. Several of the faculty members serve as outside consultants to local childcare, human service organizations and agencies that serve an aging population on issues related to program development and evaluation.

Tamra Bottomlee, M.Ed. Patricia Rodda, M.Ed.

Anne Edwards, Ph.D. Sandra Singer, Ph.D.

Lorna Hecker, Ph.D. Elsa Weber, Ph.D.

Thomas Pavkov, Ph.D. Joe Wetchler, Ph.D.

Employment possibilities

Graduates of the program can expect excellent opportunities for employment in the human service sector. Given the growth in childcare programs, after-school youth services, and local growth in the area of mental health services provided to children and adolescents, employment is expected to increase at rates exceeding the supply of individuals trained for these services. The following list denotes possible employment locations for Human Development and Family Studies graduates:

Preschool Programs

Childcare Facilities

Youth and Family Centers

Head Start Programs

Family and Social Service Agencies

Women’s Clinics

Pregnancy Prevention Programs/

Planned Parenthood Associations

Military: Family Services/Family

Support Centers/Childcare

County Children or Family Services Agencies

County Extension Agencies

Hospitals

Residential Treatment Centers

Family Violence Centers

Child Abuse Shelters/Prevention Agencies

Consulting Firms

Children’s Justice Centers/Juvenile Court Systems

Behavioral Health Agencies

Counseling Agencies

Social Service Agencies

Girl Scout Councils

Boys and Girls Clubs

Park District Recreation Programs

Child Abuse Prevention Agencies

Family Life Education Programs

Rehabilitation Services Agencies

Parent Training Centers/Parent Instructor

Programs/Parent-Child Centers

School Districts

Special Education Cooperatives

Community Mental Health Centers

Health Care Centers

United Way Agencies

Child Placement Services

Assessment/Research Facilities

Long Term Care and Senior Centers

Fieldwork Opportunities

As a Human Development and Family Services major at Purdue Calumet, you will have the opportunity to work for college credit in your chosen area. This closely supervised experience will help you see how well the theories you have learned in the classroom relate to the differing areas of human services and child development. The practical work also will enable you to see if you will enjoy or feel comfortable with employment in this area and increase your chances for such employment after graduation.