Department of Human Sciences

The Department of Human Sciences is advancing human experiences through several multidisciplinary programs designed so you can shape social behaviors and improve health, wellness and consumer experiences for individuals and communities.

Degrees and Programs

Doctoral

Masters

Undergraduate

Sport, Fitness and Health Program

Outreach Initiatives

Faculty and Staff Fitness Program

A staple of health, wellness and research at Ohio State, the Faculty and Staff Fitness Program offers Ohio State employees exercise programs prescribed based on stress testing and evaluation of cardiovascular fitness, strength and body fat.

Historic Costume and Textiles Collection

An educational, scholarly and artistic resource for The Ohio State University as well as the Columbus-area fashion industry, established in the 1940s as a teaching tool.

Exercise Science Laboratory

A fully equipped laboratory providing physical fitness services to the Central Ohio community and heavily used for teaching and research.

young couple having marriage counselling

Couple and Family Therapy Clinic

A teaching clinic providing therapy to couples, individuals, children and adolescents examining relational strengths and concerns as well as individual strengths and concerns.

Tonya Orchard and Anna Maria Bittoni wearing masks sitting at a desk and looking at a laptop computer

Foods to lessen No. 1 cancer treatment side effect: fatigue

Nutrition researchers test new dietary approach to improve quality of life for cancer survivors

Convinience store shelves full of snack foods

Nearby food stores affect results after weight-loss surgery

Study in Ohio finds limited-selection food stores may not help

Dean’s ‘Big Idea II’ Research Grants awarded to four faculty

Interdisciplinary projects address challenging societal problems

Department and Program Chairs

Erik Porfeli

Human Sciences Department Chair, Professor

porfeli.1@osu.edu

Brian Focht

Vice Chair, Professor

focht.10@osu.edu

Richard Bruno

Professor, Human Nutrition program chair

bruno.27@osu.edu

Jackie Goodway

Professor, Kinesiology Program Chair

goodway.1@osu.edu

Caezilia Loibl

Professor, Consumer Sciences Program Chair

loibl.3@osu.edu

Sue Sutherland

Professor, Curriculum Chair

sutherland.43@osu.edu

Beverly Vandiver

Director of Quantitative Methodology Center, Professor, Program Leader of Human Development and Family Sciences

vandiver.10@osu.edu

Department Diversity Statement

We acknowledge that power differentials in our society, our university, and our department shape experiences and opportunities differently for people with diverse social identities.

Our goal is to create a community that is inclusive of diverse social identities, perspectives, and experiences, where all members of the DHS community are empowered to conduct impactful and fulfilling work promoting equity and justice in the human experience.

We commit to creating an inclusive, safe, and just space by actively addressing racial and social injustice internally and externally, developing cultural humility, and remaining continuously accountable to our values and mission

An exclusive exercise facility and program available to all OSU employees and their spouses or domestic partners