The Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Rhode Island is committed to promoting healthy development across the lifespan through prevention, education, and collaboration. Our undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to emphasize experiential learning, offering a variety of real-world opportunities in the human services, working with children, adolescents, older adults, families, and communities.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science with concentrations in:
- Counseling and Social Services
- Child and Family Development
- Health and Aging Services
Master of Science in Human Development and Family Science,
with two degree options:
Outreach Centers/Services
- Child Development Centers (Kingston and Providence)
- Couple and Family Therapy Clinic
- Early Intervention Recruitment and Retention Office
- Cyber Seniors
- Community Partners
Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Human Development and Family Science (HDF) department seeks to advance understanding of human development across contexts, with an emphasis on helping students and others explore the effects of diverse perspectives and social marginalization on individual and family development over time.
HDF believes diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are foundational values inextricably linked to achieving our core educational mission and embrace the many characteristics of our community members that make them uniquely themselves.
HDF is committed to creating and sustaining an environment of inclusive excellence where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive. We strive to foster mutual respect, understanding, cultural awareness and cultural humility by embracing the qualities that make each member of our community unique. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are foundational to HDF’s core educational mission of teaching, research, and service.
We have established the following goals to achieve this vision:
- Develop recruitment and retention programs for students from diverse backgrounds and underserved and marginalized groups;
- Grow the base of HDF faculty and staff who bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds that inform their teaching, research, and service;
- Expand HDF teaching, research, and service efforts focused on inclusion, equity, accessibility, social justice, and diversity.