The HDFS major offers students applied experience in a helping profession, while grounding them in research and evidence-based practices that support professional skill development. The HDFS major requires 48 credit hours and does not lead to teacher licensure, though many graduates go on to pursue the School of Education’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, which does.
Program of Study
The program of study, i.e., the courses and curriculum for the Human Development and Family Science major, is made up of 5 parts, totaling 48 credit hours:
- 18 credit hours in required HDFS core classes
- 3 credit hours in leadership classes
- 3 credit hours in diversity classes
- 12 credit hours in elective or concentration classes
- 12 credit hours in semester-long internship during senior year
- EDUC 583: Career and Professional Development (3hrs)
- EDUC 698: Capstone/Internship in HDFS (9hrs)
Note: School of Education students are not permitted to have a double major in both Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) and Human and Organizational Leadership Development (HOLD).
Concentrations
Though not required, students may choose to pursue a concentration within the HDFS program to prepare for specific careers or to pursue specific interests. If a student chooses to add a concentration, they do so after being accepted into the program, generally during the fall and spring orientation sessions. Concentrations include:
Child and Family Health
The Child and Family Health (CFH) concentration prepares students for graduate study in health-related professions. Students study communication, allied health, sociology of health, child development, biology, and related courses. They learn about emotional, mental, and physical health factors affecting children and families. Students interested in occupational therapy, medicine, speech language pathology, or public health may wish to pursue this concentration.
Family Life Education
Family Life Education (FLE) helps students examine broader societal factors — such as economics, poverty, domestic violence, adult care, work-family issues, parenting, sexuality, gender, and more — within the context of the family. The concentration focuses on building skills that help individuals and families thrive. While social work and counseling focus on intervention, FLE emphasizes prevention and education. Students graduate prepared to work with children, youth, parents, and families in settings such as mental health facilities (entry level), adult care facilities, social service agencies, home visiting programs, infant/toddler programs, and domestic violence and homeless shelters.
Learn More About the Program
Internship
A student’s culminating experience in the HDFS program includes a semester-long internship, offering valuable, real-life experience in a professional setting aligned with their career interests.
Honors Program
Students in the HDFS program may apply to the School of Education Honors Program, which offers participants the opportunity to sharpen their skills in analysis, synthesis, and research while engaging in a thesis project alongside faculty mentors.
Become a Certified Family Life Educator
The Human Development & Family Science undergraduate program has been recognized by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as a program offering coursework that fulfills the requirements for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential. Family Life Educators work in a variety of settings, including health care, community education, faith communities, junior and senior high schools, colleges and universities, social service agencies, corporate settings, government agencies, corrections, retirement communities, and the military, and more.