Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Science
Concentration: Individual and Family Services (BA)
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Individual and Family Services Concentration Overview
Purdue University Northwest’s human development and family science (HDFS) major with a concentration in individual and family services is designed for an aspiring human services professional who wants to work with adolescents or adults (or in all-age settings) along with their families.
Department of Behavioral Sciences
HDFS courses prepare you for work with individuals and their families by focusing on cultural understanding, strategies for helping and securing the best possible resources for their needs. You’ll benefit from a program that emphasizes communication skills, critical thinking and professional ethics, as well as experiential learning and strong connections with community partners.
Individual and Family Services Concentration Curriculum
The HDFS curriculum includes courses on family dynamics, stages of human development, law and ethics, human services skills/practice, research methods and diversity.
Begin your studies with a first-year experience seminar for behavioral science students, as well as introductory sociology and human development courses.
Individual and Family Services Concentration Course of Study
Sample Courses
- BHS 10300 – First-Year Experience in Behavioral Sciences
- HDFS 10100 – Working with Parents
- HDFS 21000 – Introduction to Human Development
- SOC 1000 – Introductory Sociology
Continue building your knowledge with courses that focus on stages of development and family dynamics.
Individual and Family Services Concentration Course of Study
Sample Courses
- HDFS 34101 – Infants and Young Children in Family and Community
- HDFS 20500 – Introduction to Family Dynamics
- HDFS 34200 – Adolescence in Family and Community
Complete remaining HDFS requirements and any other required courses, as well as a field experience.
Individual and Family Services Concentration Course of Study
Sample Courses
- SOC 35000 – Sociology of Family
- SOC 30600 – Methods In Human Services
- SOC 31501 – Gender in Society
Extend your knowledge with specialized courses and hands-on field experiences.
Individual and Family Services Concentration Course of Study
Sample Courses
- SOC 30700 – Field Experience in Human Services
- HDFS 41300 – Diversity in Families
- HDFS 45200 – Family Resource Management
Individual and Family Services Concentration Highlights
This interdisciplinary program blends the study of sociology with courses that focus on individuals and their relationships to the family unit. HDFS degrees prepare you to pursue a professional certification from the National Council on Family Relations.
Individual and Family Services Concentration Outcomes
As an individual and family services concentration student, you’ll take a balance of general education courses, College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences core courses and Human Development and Family Science courses.
As a HDFS graduate, you’ll have a broad set of skills that will facilitate your professional work with families, helping them through systems and enhancing their relationships. You will be prepared to obtain a Certified Family Life Educator certification.
Individual and Family Services Concentration Career Paths
An individual and family services concentration from PNW prepares you for a number of careers in the field, including:
- Case Worker
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Special Needs Center Specialist
- Developmental Specialist
- Assisted Living Activity Director
Individual and Family Services Concentration Beyond the Classroom
You’ll have many opportunities to get involved in on- and off-campus activities, including:
- HDFS Student Group
- National Council on Family Relations
Individual and Family Services Concentration Employers
Graduates of this program are employed in organizations and companies like:
- Head start
- Mental Health America
- First Steps
- Northwest Indiana Community Action
Individual and Family Services Concentration Scholarships
In addition to the scholarships available to all PNW applicants, students seeking an individual and family services concentration may also apply for program-specific scholarship awards, such as:
- Michael and Geraldine Macenski Behavioral Scholarship
Individual and Family Services Concentration Accreditation
Our BA degrees in Human Development and Family Science feature the “Certificated Family Life Educator” designation from the National Council on Family Relations. This designation strengthens your resume and professional opportunities.
The faculty in the department took the time to build a rapport with students and displayed a genuine concern about the quality of education we received. I am proud to have chosen HDFS as a major.
It’s nice to be in a more intimate, smaller setting. It makes me feel like I’m actually a student, not a number.
Meet the Faculty
Professor of Human Development and Family Science Coordinator
Anne Edwards is an associate professor of human development and family science (HDFS) and the coordinator of the HDFS program. She is also the co-director of the Institute for Social Policy Research.
Lecturer, Human Development and Family Science
Patricia Rodda is a lecturer in the BHS Department and has worked there since 1992. She has worked at various child cares and was also a child life specialist at the U of C Children’s Hospital. She teaches courses in HDFS.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Sciencewith a Concentration in Individual and Family Services at PNW
Purdue University Northwest’s individual and family services concentration is designed for an aspiring human services professional who wants to work with adolescents or adults along with their families.
To see how a bachelor’s degree in human development and family science with a concentration in individual and family services from PNW opens doors, from schools to non-profit leadership, take the next step today!
