Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Human Development and Family Science (B.S.)


The Human Development and Family Science degree program offers a broad range of classes and opportunities for students who want to help people live successful lives. Courses are designed to help students understand human behavior and development of individuals across the life span in a family context. Students gain knowledge and skills to strengthen and enhance individual and family well-being in a variety of settings at local, state, national and international levels.

Students select an area of concentration or an internship as they build knowledge and experience for a career of service and helping others.

A wide variety of career opportunities are open to FSHS graduates in such areas as youth and 4-H development, family services, mental health, elder care, student affairs, nonprofit administration, faith-based organizations, the judicial system, and public health. FSHS graduates are well prepared for graduate and professional school.

Graduates who have completed all of the degree requirements including the internship series are qualified to apply for the Provisional Certified Family Life Education (CFLE) designation administered by the National Council on Family Relations.

Bachelor’s degree requirements

General requirements (40-41 credit hours)


Communications (8–9 credit hours)


Humanities electives (6 credit hours)


Only a course of 3 credits or more will apply.

Select from college approved list

Natural and physical sciences (7 credit hours)


Life science elective and physical science elective (One course must be taken from each area; one course must include a laboratory.)

Quantitative studies (6 credit hours)


  • Any introductory 300-level statistics course Credits: 3

Integrative Human Ecology Course (1 credit hour)


Professional studies (64 credit hours)


(Grades of C or higher and credit in FSHS 102 required.)

Professional Electives (24 credit hours)


Select 12 credit hours in courses numbered 100 or higher from the following content areas: FSHS, HDFS, GNHE, Political Science, Psychology, Women’s Studies, American Ethnic Studies, Gerontology, Leadership Studies, and courses from the Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work.

  • Courses numbered 300 or higher from one content area listed above Credits: 9

Unrestricted electives (15-16 credit hours)


Total hours required for graduation (120)