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A History of the University of Missouri-Columbia
Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Note to Researcher: The information about the Department of Human Development and Family Studies found on this page was originally compiled in 1999. More current information about the College of Human Environmental Sciences and its departments can be found at the following URL:

History

The University of Missouri-Columbia's Home Economics program has provided instruction in child rearing since the early 1900s when courses were taught by the department's first chair, Edna Day. In the 1920s, the department established a laboratory attended by young children to allow students to observe child behavior. During World War II, Home Economics provided a two-year course in child care to meet "the demand for young women to aid in caring for children of working mothers." In the early 1950s, a Child Care and Development major was established which was renamed Child Development and Family Life shortly thereafter. The Child Development Laboratory continued to provide observation as well as practicum experience. The Laboratory originally occupied quarters in Gwynn Hall, but was moved to Army barracks located east of Memorial Union as Home Economics programs expanded. A study of children's television viewing, the first graduate student research in the Child and Family Development section, was carried out in the old barracks. The Laboratory moved to Stanley Hall with its completion in 1960.

Child Development and Family Life was established as a section when Home Economics became a school in 1960. When Home Economics became a college in 1973, the section was given departmental status and became the Department of Child and Family Development with emphases in either human or family development. The first MS was granted in 1962 and the first PhD in 1972. In the late 1970s, an undergraduate emphasis in family and micro-environments was added and the department developed a cooperative degree program in Early Childhood Certification with the College of Education. A dual degree with Social Work was established in 1982. By 1983 the Department had five undergraduate emphasis areas: children in group settings, early childhood certification, human and community services, family studies, and medical child development. In 1989 the Department was renamed Human Development and Family Studies and in the late 1990s, the HES Education program was transferred from the College of Education to HDFS and became Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Today, degree options include children in group settings, family and consumer sciences education, family studies, child life, and a dual degree in HDFS and social work.

Leadership

Note to Researcher: Information on current administrators in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies can be found at the following URL:

• 1960-1969 Ruth Cooper Cook, Head
• 1969-1975 Virginia Lee Fisher, Chair
• 1975-1993 Marilyn Coleman, Chair
• 1994-present Mark Fine, Chair

Sources: University General Catalogs (C:0/51/1/); School of Home Economics Catalogs and Bulletins (C:5/12/1); HES Dean's Office - M. Mangel HE History Records (C:5/1/NP)

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