Requirements for HDFS Bachelor of Science Degree

New students and students transferring into the HDFS major should contact Vanessa Wade for more information. Students who are changing majors will need to complete a Change of Major form.

HDFS Program Description

This major is a multidisciplinary program that examines the development of individuals and families across the life span. It enables students to prepare for professional, managerial, or scientific roles in health and human services professions, in public and nonprofit agencies, and in business and industry, as well as for advanced professional or graduate study. Students obtain a broad background in individual and family development across the life span. Courses emphasize biological psychological, social/cultural, and economic aspects of development. Through coursework and undergraduate internships or research projects, students develop skills relevant to career objectives, such as counseling, human assessment, program planning and evaluation, and research.

Two options are available within the major:

Life Span Human Services Option
This option focuses on the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge about development and family functioning across the life span for the purposes of enhancing personal and family development. Courses emphasize:
  1. understanding the biological, psychological, and social development across the life span, and the structuring and functioning of families;
  2. understanding basic theoretical and methodological issues; and
  3. the development of applied skills in intervention and evaluation, prevention, and in the formulation of social policy.
An approved field experience in a setting that serves children, youth, adults, or the aged is required for this option. Typical employment settings include preschools, daycare centers, hospital programs for children, youth, and families, institutional and community mental health programs for individuals and families, programs for abused or neglected children and adolescents, women's resource centers, human resources programs, employee assistance programs, nursing homes, area agencies on aging and other community settings for older adults, and public welfare and family service agencies. Typical postgraduate pursuits of students completing this option include graduate study in human development, family studies, psychology, or sociology, or advanced professional training in psychology, law, behavioral health, counseling or social work.
Life Span Developmental Science Option
This option focuses on the understanding of contemporary methodological approaches to the acquisition of scientific knowledge about individual development over the life span and about family development. This opinion provides preparation for advanced training in careers in developmental or family research, teaching at a college or university, or for professional careers that require graduate training. Courses within this option emphasize a thorough understanding of the theory and methods of developmental and family theory and research. An approved, multi-semester research practicum is an integral component of this option. Typical postgraduate pursuits of students completing this option include graduate study in human development, family studies, psychology, or sociology, or advanced professional training in psychology, law, behavioral health, social work, or in other programs related to services for individuals and families.

The Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin (bluebook) contains the details regarding HDFS major and option requirements. For information on General Education requirements, please refer to General Education page of the Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin. For information on major requirements which also fulfill general education requirements, please consult the General Education Requirements chart for the College of Health and Human Development.

Helpful links for students entering the major on or after Summer 2006: