Patrick Nickoletti, Ph.D.
Dr. Nickoletti believes knowledge is socially constructed; a tradition of sharing ideas that's as old as humanity. He comments, "We all have the potential to learn from and contribute to this sharing."
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Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)
Welcome to the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
This Department combines several undergraduate and graduate programs which focus on understanding development over the life span, from childhood to old age, within the context of family, culture and society. View our Mission Statement.
Programs of Study include:
- An undergraduate major and minor in Child Study
- An undergraduate major and minor in Family Studies
- An undergraduate minor in Youth Services
- An undergraduate minor and certificate in Gerontology
Employment Trends
Jobs opportunities for graduates in the field of Human Services are expected to increase by 48% through the year 2018, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S.
Personalized Course of Study
Students in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) benefit from interdisciplinary cooperative relationships with the Departments of Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Nutrition, Management and others.
Accelerated Master's Degree Programs
- Bachelor's to Master's in Counseling
- Bachelor's to Master's in Early Childhood Special Education
Qualified students can take graduate level courses in their senior year toward completion of their undergraduate degree, then transfer those credits into the master's program, resulting in significant financial and time savings.
What our Graduates Tell Us...
"All of the courses I took at Saint Joseph College forced me to find the real-world applications between my education and future work through field studies, meaningful research, internships, and independent study. I left college knowing not only the theories, frameworks, and research of my field, but how to apply that knowledge to my work with individuals and families." Kari-Lyn Osborn (Family Studies '09)
For more information contact:
Vivian Carlson, Ph.D.
Department Chair
860.231.5341
vcarlson@sjc.edu
Courtney Burns '11"SJC has given me the faith to believe in myself, the hope that I will succeed as a leader, and the love and compassion to become a nurse."
