Transfer-Friendly Program
Our transfer-friendly program lets you bring in up to 60 transfer credits from prior coursework or professional experience. This means you can graduate faster without sacrificing the quality of your education.
Broadening Human Horizons
UW-Stout's online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) is an interdisciplinary major focusing on the development of individuals across the lifespan, within the context of family and culture. If you're committed to living or working away from campus the program's multidisciplinary approach will provide you with both a broad perspective and specialized knowledge.
UW-Stout's B.S. Human Development & Family Studies has been reviewed by the National Council on Family Relations and is recognized as a NCFR CFLE-approved program offering coursework covering the content required for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Graduates of NCFR CFLE-approved programs qualify to apply for the CFLE designation via an abbreviated application process.
100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.
Career-Defining Curriculum
Designed to enhance the professional portfolio of a wide range of students, including individuals with an associate’s degree or equivalent, UW-Stout's Human Development & Family Studies has a strong, established reputation of preparing graduates for success in a variety of human service-related areas. Our experienced full-time faculty have created an enhanced, flexible online learning environment. Offering full-time and part-time options, the program prepares graduates to address familial needs through the lenses of age, culture, gender, life stage, relationships and more.
Program Overview
Earn a Professional Certificate While Fulfilling Your Degree Requirements
Program Highlights
- Established and highly reputable program
- Award-winning instructors
- Applied learning opportunities
- Professional networking opportunities
- Excellent employment in the field
- Proven preparation for graduate school
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the B.S. Human Development & Family Studies.
Request Information
"I was undeclared my freshmen year and then stumbled upon Human Development and Family Studies. I couldn't believe I had the opportunity to study familial relations, child development, and policies regarding families. I met so many amazing people and learned information that directly relates to my personal life. And we applied theories to situations in the working world."
-- Cyan BowerB.S. Human Development & Family Studies
Enhanced Online Learning & Customized Instruction
Our flexible customized instruction is designed for adult learners who are beginning their professional journey and transfer students who are wishing to advance their professional opportunities. The excellent transferability of credits assists you in completing your degree in a timely manner.
- Courses delivered 100% online by award-winning faculty
- Consistent Fall, Spring, and Summer program course offerings
- Support from Adult Student Services Coordinators and Distance Librarians
- Efficient transferability of credits
Customized Tuition & Fees
UW-Stout degree programs using the customized instruction model are designed with the adult learner in mind. If you're comparing UW-Stout's online degree customized instruction (CI) tuition to our competitors, keep in mind:
- Customized instruction tuition rate includes the textbook rental fee.
- There are no additional or hidden university-based semester or technology fees.
- Students in customized instruction programs pay the same rate of tuition regardless of where you live--Wisconsin, California, Texas, or in a foreign country.
More Value for Your Money
Customized Instruction also provides:
- Program Director/Coordinator: Faculty with academic and industry expertise.
- Student Services Advisor: One point of contact, providing dedicated support throughout your degree program.
- Course Sequences & Matrices: Plan ahead with clear program outlines so you know what courses are offered when.
- Stackable Courses & Programs: Many of our courses and certificates can be applied to our degree programs.
- Flexibility: Courses are designed to offer the flexibility and convenience working professionals need to get ahead in their careers without sacrificing their current income and responsibilities.
Other universities will present costs and value differently, so make sure you're comparing apples to apples.
APPLICATION & TRANSFER INFORMATION
Application
To apply for the on-campus and online Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies, you need to apply to UW-Stout.
Financial Aid
Students who are attending another institution, but are planning to receive their degree from UW-Stout, may be eligible to receive aid from UW‐Stout. In these cases, UW‐Stout is considered the Home Institution and the other campus is considered the Visiting Institution.Transfer Students
Note: When filling out the application form, be sure to make a note in the student comment section that you intend to apply to the "online program."
Program Objectives
Upon completing the B.S. HDFS program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate professional competence in educational, civic, and career settings.
- Integrate knowledge of family dynamics to enhance relational functioning.
- Demonstrate cultural competence, inclusive of multiple aspects and intersections of diversity within a historical and social context.
- Integrate understanding of the developmental processes in individuals across the lifespan, based on physical, social, emotional, cognitive, moral, and personality aspects within an ecological framework.
- Critique social scientific knowledge as applied to families and human development.
- Evaluate the impacts among and between societal institutions and families.
- Demonstrate personal and interpersonal growth.
- Demonstrate competent communication skills.
Our program is designed for students ranging from incoming freshmen who are beginning their professional journey to transfer students who are wishing to advance their professional opportunities. The excellent transferability of credits assists transfer students in completing their degree in a timely manner.
Career Opportunities
An academic study, service learning opportunities, and experiential learning with a senior internship prepare graduates for positions in a number of areas, such as:
- Human service agencies
- Residential treatment programs and group homes
- Afterschool/youth mentoring programs
- Probation and corrections facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Older adult activity and living centers
- Aging and disability services
- Human resources management
- Family resource centers
- Youth summer camps
- Child care facilities
- Public/family policy and advocacy
- Research
The program also serves as an excellent foundation for graduate school in disciplines including:
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Social Work
- Alcohol and Drug Counseling
- Mental Health Counseling
- School Counseling
- Student Personnel
- Health and Wellness
- Family Science
Program Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee Members
| James | Arenz | First-Year Advisor, Advisement Center | UW-Stout |
| Amanda | Behm | Stout Online | UW-Stout |
| Laura | Clark | Professional in the Field | Positive Alternatives |
| Kevin | Doll | Professor; Program Director, B.S. Human Development & Family Studies | UW-Stout |
| Kevin | Drzakowski | Associate Dean | UW-Stout |
| Karen | Duncansion | Alumna | UW-Stout |
| Lorraine | Garland | Professional in the Field | Arbor Place |
| Jeremy | Hernandez | Professional in the Field | Positive Alternatives |
| Daniel | Kelsey | Professor; Chair, Counseling, Rehabilitation & Human Services Department; Program Director, M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling | UW-Stout |
| Tina | Lee | Professor | UW-Stout |
| Jason | Lynn | Professional in the Field | Dunn County Human Services |
| Rylee | Madey | Student | UW-Stout |
| Candice | Maier | Associate Professor | UW-Stout |
| Brittany | Olson | Professional in the Field | Bridge to Hope |
| Jason | Schmitt | Dean, CAHS | UW-Stout |
| Bethanne | Shriner | Professor; Program Director, B.S. Human Development & Family Studies Online | UW-Stout |
| Abby | Tengwall | Career Services Specialist | UW-Stout |
