School of Human Development and Family Sciences

College of Health

Welcome to the School of Human Development and Family Sciences.

We explore how lives and relationships develop within the context of family, work, school and society, and we work to create compassionate, effective solutions for 21st century social problems.

We are consistently in the top 10 HDFS programs in the United States and are the No. 1 undergraduate HDFS program in Oregon.

Our faculty and degree programs were recently part of the School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences. Learn more about our college name change and restructuring.

Contacts

School head: Marilyn S. Thompson, PhD
Assistant to the school head: Annastazia Stoffell
School directory
Academic Program Directors

Our academic programs

Human Development and Family Sciences, BS
- Child Development
- Early Childhood (OSU-Cascades)
- General Option (Corvallis and online)
- Human Services
Human Development and Family Studies, PhD

Other programs of study

Program on Gerontology (minors and certificate)
HDFS minor (Corvallis and online)

Microcredentials

Microcredentials are high-quality educational opportunities that can help advance your career with less time and financial commitment than a formalized degree or certificate program.

Child and Youth Development (online)
Children and Youth with Disabilities (online)

Community engagement

Research and outreach

Recent publications

(This is not an exhaustive list. We are still rebuilding our database of faculty publications. Visit individual faculty profiles for more extensive lists of their publications.)

2026

Józefacka, N.M., Korucu, I., McClelland, M.M. (2026) The power of pretend: unveiling the role of play complexity in self-regulation among polish preschool children Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 268

Ahmadi, A., McClelland, M., Geldhof, J., Rothwell, D., Hatfield, B., Pourmohamadreza Tajrishi, M. (2026) Relations Between Executive Functions, Child Characteristics, Parental Education, and Academic Skills: A Cross-Cultural Study of Young Children in Iran and the United States Early Education and Development

Ni, Y., Geldhof, G.J., Chandler, K.D., Settersten, R.A. (2026) The multidimensional online civic engagement for youth (MOCE-Y) scale: development and validation Applied Developmental Science

Tsai, T.C., Segerstrom, S.C., Ginty, A.T., Carver, C.S., Kim, Y. (2026) The individual and dyadic roles of neuroticism and conscientiousness in cardiac autonomic functioning of patients with cancer and their spousal caregivers Biological Psychology 204

2025

Ni, Y., Geldhof, G.J., Settersten, R.A., Tominey, S.L. (2025) Civic Participation and Meaning in Life: Similarities and Differences Across Diverse Youth Youth & Society

HDFS news and stories

COH faculty present on work-life fit at PCOSW event
Kelly Chandler and Kathryn Stroppel presented research and insights on work-life fit and workplace flexibility at an OSU PCOSW supervisor empowerment event.
HDFS doctoral student Sara King selected for international summer school in the Netherlands
HDFS doctoral student Sara King is one of 24 scholars selected worldwide for the 2026 EADP-EARA-SRA International Summer School in the Netherlands.
College of Health team walks in Out of Darkness campus event for second year
Instructor Joe Leykam organized a College of Health team for the Out of Darkness Campus Walk on April 18, bringing together faculty and students for suicide prevention awareness.
David Rothwell receives Russell Sage Foundation grant to study paid family leave and economic security
David Rothwell has received a competitive Russell Sage Foundation grant to study how paid family leave policies affect mothers' employment and use of public assistance in Oregon.
Hallie E. Ford Center Director Megan McClelland and colleagues publish new research on early childhood development
Megan McClelland and colleagues published two new studies on early childhood self-regulation and executive function, including research spanning Poland, Iran and the United States.
Megan McClelland moderates national panel on self-regulation, joins PBS Kids school readiness webinar
Megan McClelland moderated a Children & Screens national panel on self-regulation and joined a PBS Kids school readiness webinar, sharing her expertise in human development and family sciences.