Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) named to 5 Best Colleges for Human Development Majors

Program earns No. 2 Ranking for HDFS Majors in Texas

The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) program was recently named to Zippia.com's 5 Best Colleges for Human Development Majors in Texas.

Zippia ranked the top programs in the state by analyzing the student career results, graduating class size, and overall school performance. Texas Tech's unique HDFS program grabbed the No. 2 ranking.

"I am pleased that the excellence of the department has been recognized and rewarded through this ranking," said College of Human Sciences Dean Linda Hoover, Ph.D. "Our faculty truly care about student success and work hard to provide a quality educational experience that will give our graduates a solid foundation and every opportunity to succeed."

Texas Tech's HDFS program thrives in its opportunities that are available to students. Students are introduced to the science of development across the life span with a focus on relationships.

Students who major in HDFS are equipped with the tools to navigate family and peer dynamics with an emphasis on the biological, cognitive, social, emotional, environmental, and cultural aspects of development. After graduation, students are well-prepared for careers that will make a positive difference in the lives and relationships across the human life span. From family and adoption services to early childhood careers, the opportunities are endless.

Unique to the College of Human Sciences (COHS) at Texas Tech is the Christine DeVitt and Helen DeVitt Jones Child Development Research Center (CDRC), which serves as an experiential learning site for instructional experiences offered for those who wish to work directly with children. The CDRC offers a one-of-a-kind laboratory that is a perfect learning environment for student teaching and practicum courses.

Excelling in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, HDFS houses many human-centered research laboratories led by faculty field experts that conduct cutting-edge research. Students are encouraged to join HDFS in its research spanning the life course, with many opportunities to advocate for others.

Just off campus, the Early Head Start (EHS) program offers year-round comprehensive child development and family support services to over 100 Lubbock families. By extension, the HDFS program offers its Center for Adolescent Resiliency (CAR), providing a caring environment for local middle-school and high-school students.

Students majoring in HDFS will enjoy the advanced opportunities that are at their disposal. HDFS majors will graduate from the program having completed a community practicum, which requires students to acquire 150 hours of service learning in a variety of settings.

Graduates in the Human Development and Family Studies program often land esteemed positions in areas of social service, educational settings, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.