The Bachelor of Arts degree in Family Science and Human Development prepares students for careers working with individuals, children, youth, and families as practitioners and educators in a multitude of community, school, and workplace settings. Our unique, interdisciplinary approach provides students with both theoretical foundations and their applications for working with people. Students examine the various cultural, community, and socioeconomic contexts in which families function and study interventions used to support individuals and families across the life span, from infancy to old age. They learn approaches grounded in social justice, diversity, and
equity, and have opportunities to practice new skills with community engagement experiences.
The Children and Lifespan Development concentration prepares students to pursue certification for teaching at the early childhood (P-3) or elementary (K-6) level. Admission to the Teacher Education program is a separate process that students complete sophomore to junior year. Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required professional sequence of courses and other important program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
Admission to the Teacher Education Program version of this major requires admission to the Teacher Education Program. Students typically apply for admission in sophomore or junior year after completing the prerequisite courses. There are GPA, testing, and course completion requirements.
Degree Requirements Overview
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| 1 |
| 24-28 |
| 33-48 |
| 62-43 |
| Total Credits | 120 |
Program Requirements
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| FSHD 101 | Introduction to the Content Areas in Family Science and Human Development | 3 |
| FSHD 114 | Introduction to Human Development | 3 |
| FSHD 141 | Interpersonal Relations | 3 |
| FSHD 248 | Family Life | 3 |
| FSHD 304 | Research Methods for Studying Families and Human Development | 3 |
| FSHD 315 | Community Engagement | 3 |
| FSHD 418 | Working with Diverse Families and Children | 3 |
| FSHD 445 | Poverty and Families | 3 |
| FSHD 202 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| FSHD 214 | Child Development I | 3 |
| FSHD 314 | Child Development II: Adolescence | 3 |
| 0-15 |
| Total Credits | 33-48 |
Electives
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| FSHD 100 | Professional Development in the Field of Family Science and Human Development | 3 |
| FSHD 120 | Mindfulness: Theory, Research and Practice across the Life Course | 3 |
| FSHD 123 | Navigating Adult Life | 3 |
| FSHD 140 | Family in Society | 3 |
| FSHD 201 | Social Gerontology: The Study of Aging | 3 |
| FSHD 205 | Women in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| FSHD 208 | Special Topics in Family Science and Human Development | 1-3 |
| FSHD 210 | Essential Skills for Human Services | 3 |
| FSHD 215 | Infant Development | 3 |
| FSHD 216 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| FSHD 217 | Family Stress and Coping | 3 |
| FSHD 225 | Exploring Family Diversity | 3 |
| FSHD 226 | Introduction to Non-Profit Management | 3 |
| FSHD 230 | Dynamics of One-To-One Communication | 3 |
| FSHD 231 | The Family in the Economic System | 3 |
| FSHD 240 | Volunteer in the Community | 3 |
| FSHD 241 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| FSHD 270 | Individual and Professional Development in Family Science and Human Development | 3 |
| FSHD 275 | Comparative Studies of Global Families | 3 |
| FSHD 280 | Case Management in Human Services | 3 |
| FSHD 300 | Field Trip Experiences in Family Science and Human Development | 1 |
| FSHD 305 | Death and Bereavement in the Family | 3 |
| FSHD 308 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| FSHD 310 | Teaching Daily Living Skills to Special Needs Populations | 3 |
| FSHD 313 | Organization and Management of Child Care Centers | 3 |
| FSHD 316 | Service-Learning Experiences with Families and Children | 3 |
| FSHD 317 | Fieldwork Experience in Family Science and Human Development: The Hospitalized Child | 3 |
| FSHD 318 | Gender Development Across the Life Course | 3 |
| FSHD 320 | Parenting Skills and Resources | 3 |
| FSHD 322 | Play Techniques in Working with Children | 3 |
| FSHD 328 | Peer Counseling | 3 |
| FSHD 329 | Theories and Techniques of Group Processes | 3 |
| FSHD 331 | Money Management | 3 |
| FSHD 332 | Action Approaches to Personal Awareness | 3 |
| FSHD 340 | Aging and Social Policy | 3 |
| FSHD 342 | Family Sociology | 3 |
| FSHD 344 | Challenge of Aging | 3 |
| FSHD 345 | Gender in a Changing World | 3 |
| FSHD 350 | Immigrant Families | 3 |
| FSHD 360 | Families in Later Life | 3 |
| FSHD 370 | Mastering Mental Toughness and Managing Anxiety | 3 |
| FSHD 380 | Asian American Families and Youth | 3 |
| FSHD 400 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| FSHD 408 | Workshop in Family Science and Human Development | 1-3 |
| FSHD 409 | Internship | 6-12 |
| FSHD 411 | Sibling Relationships | 3 |
| FSHD 415 | Child in the Community | 3 |
| FSHD 419 | Crisis Intervention Strategies | 3 |
| FSHD 430 | Evidence-Based Family Policy and Analysis | 3 |
| FSHD 448 | Family Counseling | 3 |
New Student Seminar
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| |
| 1 |
| Pathways to Success | |
| Freshman Seminar in Chemistry | |
| First Year Seminar | |
| Adult Academic Success Seminar | |
| New Student Seminar | |
| Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education | |
| Pathways to Adult Learning | |
| New Student Seminar | |
| New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences | |
| Freshman Seminar for Music Majors | |
| Introduction to Nursing | |
| Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law | |
SEEDS General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| |
| 3-4 |
| 3 |
| 3-6 |
| 9 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Total Credits | 24-28 |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.
| First Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| FSHD 101 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration – Analyzing Cultures and Societies) | 3 | FSHD 214 | 3 |
| FSHD 114 | 3 | FSHD 248 | 3 |
| FSHD 141 (Fulfills SEEDS: Interactive Communication) | 3 | Effective Writing II | 3 |
| New Student Seminar | 1 | SEEDS: Exploration 3 | 3 |
| SEEDS: Exploration 2 | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| SEEDS: Effective Writing I | 3 | |
| | 16 | | 15 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| FSHD 314 | 3 | SEEDS: Exploration 4 | 3 |
| FSHD 304 | 3 | FSHD 202 | 3 |
| SEEDS: Political and Civic Life | 3 | FSHD 315 | 3 |
| SEEDS: World Language 1 | 3 | SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | SEEDS: World Language 2 or Free Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| FSHD 418 | 3 | FSHD 445 | 3 |
| Major Elective 1 | 3 | Major Elective 2 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Major Elective 3 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Major Elective 4 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| Major Elective 5 | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 2 |
| | 15 | | 14 |
| Total Credits 120 |