BA in Human Development and Family Science

This 120-credit degree prepares its graduates to use family-centered and strengths-based approaches to develop, implement, evaluate, and manage services for individuals and families across the lifespan. Graduates will have a strong trans-disciplinary foundation in the HDFS field and competencies in 10 areas as established by the National Council on Family Relations, including: internal dynamics of relationships and families; human growth and development; family- and community-based program planning, implementation, and evaluation; social policies and laws affecting families; family diversity; research methodology; and professional ethics as they relate to the HDFS field. The HDFS curriculum prepares students to effectively engage with families in a variety of service settings, including: early childhood education and services; youth, adult and aging services; human and community-based services and programs; and health care settings. Our program also prepares students to critically analyze complex family issues, advocate for families in schools, communities, and in the policy arena, and address social factors contributing to and influencing family functioning, health, and well-being (e.g., poverty, immigration, family homelessness, and family violence). Students are required to complete a 6-credit internship and integrate research training with service fieldwork. Such an experience is a critical component of HDFS student development and will further prepare our students for diverse careers in the human development and family science field. The HDFS program is a joint academic degree program sponsored by the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).