Does this apply to me?
- Fall 2022 and later: All students admitted in Fall 2022 and later should follow the program of study outlined below.
- Before Fall 2022: All students admitted before Fall 2022 should follow the 2021-2022 program requirements or the catalog under which they entered the program.
Current Program of Study
The program of studies, 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 for Culminating Experience (semester-long internship during senior year)
- EDUC 583: Career and Professional Development (3hrs)
- EDUC 698: Capstone/Internship in HDFS (9hrs)
*School of Education students are not permitted to have a double major in both HDFS and HOLD.
Concentrations
You have the option to select a concentration within the HDFS program. Concentrations are not required, but provide students with an opportunity to prepare for specific careers or pursue specific interests.
If you choose to add a concentration, you will be able to declare that concentration after you have been accepted into the program, generally during the fall and spring orientation sessions.
Child and Family Health
The Child and Family Health (CFH) concentration will prepare you for graduate study in the health-related professions. You will study communication, allied health, sociology of health, child development, biology and related courses. You will learn about emotional, mental and physical health issues affecting children and families. If you are interested in occupational therapy, medicine, speech language pathology, or public health, you may want to concentrate in Child and Family Health.
Family Life Education
Family Life Education (FLE) allows students to consider larger societal issues — economics, poverty, domestic violence, adult care, work-family issues, parenting, sexuality, gender and more — within the context of the family. The goal of family life education is to teach and foster skills to enable individuals and families to function optimally. Whereas Social Work and Counseling provide intervention, the goal of FLE is prevention and education. The Family Life Education concentration prepares you for 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, domestic violence and homeless shelters, and social services agencies.