Department of Human Development & Family Studies
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
MISSION: To improve the quality of life by discovering, integrating, applying, and disseminating knowledge about lifespan human development, relationships, families, and communities, all in their larger social contexts.
VISION: HDFS will become globally prominent and locally relevant in the conduct and application of high-quality research on development, relationships, and families; program evaluation, and policy studies to solve societal problems and to strengthen the well-being of children, adults, and families. We are dedicated to training the next generation of responsible leaders and committed, productive citizens who contribute to a sound economy and a strong democracy.
About Us
The department of Human Development and Family Studies (formerly Child and Family Studies) at the UW--Madison provides outstanding undergraduate, masters and doctoral level education in family studies and human development across the lifespan.
The program is served by a faculty of thirteen, five of whom hold integrated appointments with UW-Extension. We have over 200 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate students. Departmental resources for training and research include a Preschool Laboratory and the Frances and Elliot Lehman Family Research Lab, as well as the resources of the entire Madison campus.
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Surrounded by a sea of flowering bluebells, undergraduate Sydney Rearick works on her laptop while studying under a historic bur oak tree near Nancy Nicholas Hall at the University of Wisconsin on May 13, 2013. A major in Human Development and Family Studies, Rearick was finishing writing a paper for a class on family stress and coping during final-exams week of the spring semester. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)
Photo: Jeff Miller
