Skip navigation links

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies

A therapist draws a gingerbread feelings person.

Human Development is an applied field that applies complex theories to multifaceted, real-world issues affecting children and families. Using a social justice lens, HDFS practitioners and scholars seek to understand and work with the contexts in which individuals find themselves embedded. Graduates will be committed to improving the health and well-being of diverse individuals and families across the lifespan through research, teaching, and professional practice.

A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) provides rich, broad-based training and can lead to a wide range of career paths including business, counseling, couple and family therapy, healthcare, human services, policy, and resource management. Many HDFS graduates go on to graduate school where they study diverse topics and disciplines.

The HDFS degrees are approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Upon graduation, students may apply for provisional certification as a Family Life Educator, and with the additional work experience, they can earn full certification.

 

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Development and Family Studies

The University requirements for the bachelor’s degree as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Studies.

The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Human Development and Family Studies major is met by completing Human Development and Family Studies 345. This course is referenced in item 3. below.

The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.

The following requirements for the major.

                                                                                                                 

a.            All of the following courses (46 credits):            

HDFS   145        The Individual, Marriage, and the Family      3

HDFS   225        Lifespan Human Development in the Family   3

HDFS   270        Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies         4

HDFS   345        Principles of Family Studies (W)             3

HDFS   414        Parenting                           3

HDFS   442        Ethnic Families in America       3

HDFS   444        Interpersonal Relationships in the Family         3

HDFS   445        Human Sexuality           3

HDFS   447        Management of Human Service Programs        3

HDFS   448        Child and Family Policy              3

HDFS   454        Family Financial Management 3

HDFS   472        Evaluation of Human Service Programs             3

HDFS   481        Research and Quantitative Methods in HDFS  3            

HDFS   493        Internship                          6

Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies

The University requirements for the bachelor’s degree as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies.

The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Human Development and Family Studies major is met by completing Human Development and Family Studies 345. This course is referenced in item 3. below.

The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.

The following requirements for the major:

a.            All of the following courses (46 credits):            

HDFS   145        The Individual, Couples and Families  3

HDFS   225        Lifespan Human Development in the Family   3

HDFS   270        Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies         4

HDFS   345        Principles of Family Studies     3

HDFS   414        Parenting           3

HDFS   442        Ethnic Families in America       3

HDFS   444        Interpersonal Relationships in the Family         3

HDFS   445        Human Sexuality           3

HDFS   447        Management of Human Service Programs        3

HDFS   448        Child and Family Policy              3

HDFS   454        Family Resource Management 3

HDFS   472        Evaluation of Human Service Programs             3

HDFS   481        Research and Quantitative Methods in Human Development and Family Studies        3

HDFS   493        Internship          6

Complete 12 credits in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses from the following list of courses: Fulfillment of this requirement also meets the College of Social Science STEM Graduation Requirement for Bachelor of Science Degree. Courses used to fulfill the STEM requirement may not be used to satisfy any other requirement.

ANP      206        Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3

ANTR    350        Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals  3

BMB      200        Introduction to Biochemistry   4

BS          161        Cell and Molecular Biology       3

CEM      141        General Chemistry        4

CEM      143        Survey of Organic Chemistry    3

CEM      251        Organic Chemistry I      3

CSUS   200        Introduction to Sustainability  3

ENT       205        Pests, Society and Environment             3

EPI         390        Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health   4

GEO      203        Introduction to Meteorology     3

GEO      206        Physical Geography      3

HNF      150        Introduction to Human Nutrition            3

LB           270        Medical Terminology    2

MMG     201        Fundamentals of Microbiology 3

MMG     301        Introductory Microbiology         3

MTH      124        Survey of Calculus I      3

MTH      132        Calculus I           3

NUR      300        Pathophysiology             4

PHM      350        Introduction to Human Pharmacology 3

PSL        250        Introductory Physiology              4

PSL        310        Physiology for Pre-Health Professionals            4

STT         200        Statistical Methods      3

Fields:

Business

Counseling

Couple and Family Therapy

Healthcare

Human Services

Policy

Resource Management 

Graduate school

Example careers:

Social worker

Policy aid

Medical receptionist

A therapist draws a gingerbread feelings person.

Human Development is an applied field that applies complex theories to multifaceted, real-world issues affecting children and families. Using a social justice lens, HDFS practitioners and scholars seek to understand and work with the contexts in which individuals find themselves embedded. Graduates will be committed to improving the health and well-being of diverse individuals and families across the lifespan through research, teaching, and professional practice.

A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) provides rich, broad-based training and can lead to a wide range of career paths including business, counseling, couple and family therapy, healthcare, human services, policy, and resource management. Many HDFS graduates go on to graduate school where they study diverse topics and disciplines.

The HDFS degrees are approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Upon graduation, students may apply for provisional certification as a Family Life Educator, and with the additional work experience, they can earn full certification.

 

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Development and Family Studies

The University requirements for the bachelor’s degree as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Studies.

The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Human Development and Family Studies major is met by completing Human Development and Family Studies 345. This course is referenced in item 3. below.

The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.

The following requirements for the major.

                                                                                                                 

a.            All of the following courses (46 credits):            

HDFS   145        The Individual, Marriage, and the Family      3

HDFS   225        Lifespan Human Development in the Family   3

HDFS   270        Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies         4

HDFS   345        Principles of Family Studies (W)             3

HDFS   414        Parenting                           3

HDFS   442        Ethnic Families in America       3

HDFS   444        Interpersonal Relationships in the Family         3

HDFS   445        Human Sexuality           3

HDFS   447        Management of Human Service Programs        3

HDFS   448        Child and Family Policy              3

HDFS   454        Family Financial Management 3

HDFS   472        Evaluation of Human Service Programs             3

HDFS   481        Research and Quantitative Methods in HDFS  3            

HDFS   493        Internship                          6

Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies

The University requirements for the bachelor’s degree as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies.

The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Human Development and Family Studies major is met by completing Human Development and Family Studies 345. This course is referenced in item 3. below.

The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.

The following requirements for the major:

a.            All of the following courses (46 credits):            

HDFS   145        The Individual, Couples and Families  3

HDFS   225        Lifespan Human Development in the Family   3

HDFS   270        Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies         4

HDFS   345        Principles of Family Studies     3

HDFS   414        Parenting           3

HDFS   442        Ethnic Families in America       3

HDFS   444        Interpersonal Relationships in the Family         3

HDFS   445        Human Sexuality           3

HDFS   447        Management of Human Service Programs        3

HDFS   448        Child and Family Policy              3

HDFS   454        Family Resource Management 3

HDFS   472        Evaluation of Human Service Programs             3

HDFS   481        Research and Quantitative Methods in Human Development and Family Studies        3

HDFS   493        Internship          6

Complete 12 credits in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses from the following list of courses: Fulfillment of this requirement also meets the College of Social Science STEM Graduation Requirement for Bachelor of Science Degree. Courses used to fulfill the STEM requirement may not be used to satisfy any other requirement.

ANP      206        Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3

ANTR    350        Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals  3

BMB      200        Introduction to Biochemistry   4

BS          161        Cell and Molecular Biology       3

CEM      141        General Chemistry        4

CEM      143        Survey of Organic Chemistry    3

CEM      251        Organic Chemistry I      3

CSUS   200        Introduction to Sustainability  3

ENT       205        Pests, Society and Environment             3

EPI         390        Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health   4

GEO      203        Introduction to Meteorology     3

GEO      206        Physical Geography      3

HNF      150        Introduction to Human Nutrition            3

LB           270        Medical Terminology    2

MMG     201        Fundamentals of Microbiology 3

MMG     301        Introductory Microbiology         3

MTH      124        Survey of Calculus I      3

MTH      132        Calculus I           3

NUR      300        Pathophysiology             4

PHM      350        Introduction to Human Pharmacology 3

PSL        250        Introductory Physiology              4

PSL        310        Physiology for Pre-Health Professionals            4

STT         200        Statistical Methods      3

Fields:

Business

Counseling

Couple and Family Therapy

Healthcare

Human Services

Policy

Resource Management 

Graduate school

Example careers:

Social worker

Policy aid

Medical receptionist

Your Next Step

Advising