The Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Life Span Human Services option, is a 120-credit program. A grade of C or better is required in any HD FS course taken to satisfy the degree requirements. To earn this degree, you must successfully complete:
- 27 credits prescribed courses
- 18 credits prescribed courses for the major
- 9 credits prescribed courses for the Life Span Human Services option
- 36 credits additional courses
- 13 credits for the major including Development, General Education GQ and US/IL cultures courses
- 9 credits in 300 to 400 level HD FS courses
- 14 credits in approved field practice
- 12 credits supporting courses as related to the major
- 45 credits general education (including 3 credits in electives)
Consultation with your World Campus academic adviser to help you navigate your completion of this degree is strongly recommended.
The curriculum can help you learn how people and families change over time — biologically, psychologically, economically, and socially. You will study how family relationships, peers, social institutions (e.g., schools, work environments), income, religion, cultural background, and government policies all affect an individual's development and how interventions in these settings can facilitate growth and reduce problems in development. You will also investigate moral, ethical, and legal issues you will face as a professional, and learn to evaluate alternative approaches to promoting optimal development.
The program also provides a great stepping-stone into graduate-level studies.
Course List - Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Life Span Human Services option, is a 120-credit program. Following is a summary list of the courses required for your successful completion of the bachelor's degree. A grade of C or better is required in any HD FS course taken to satisfy the degree requirements. Consultation with your World Campus academic adviser to help you navigate your completion of this degree is strongly recommended.
(The course list includes only courses offered by World Campus.)
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies | HD FS 129 | Introduction to psychosocial and family development at all stages of the individual and family life cycle. | 3 credits |
| Values and Ethics in Health and Human Development Professions | HD FS 301 | Examines bases for choices among values in personal and professional relations in human development processes and supporting services. | 3 credits |
| Human Development and Family Studies Interventions | HD FS 311 | Survey of individual and family formal and informal intervention efforts; historical and current perspectives and approaches. Prerequisite: HD FS 129 |
3 credits |
| Empirical Inquiry in Human Development | HD FS 312W | Introduction to the skills involved in critical thinking in general and the methods of empirical inquiry in particular. Prerequisite: a grade of C or better required in EDPSY 101 or STAT 200 |
3 credits |
| Family Development | HD FS 315Y | Family functions over the life course; family from a multidisciplinary perspective, emphasizing adaptation and change. Prerequisite: HD FS 129; 3 credits of social behavioral or human biological sciences |
3 credits |
| The Helping Relationship | HD FS 411 | Theory and research related to interpersonal conditions which facilitate personal growth; intensive interpersonal competency training. Prerequisite: HD FS 311; HD FS 312W; or 6 credits in human development and family studies or psychology |
3 credits |
| Resolving Human Development and Family Problems | HD FS 414 | Strategies for, and roles of professional specialists in, the solution of problems in human development and family functioning. Prerequisite: HD FS 312W; 6 credits in human development and family studies or psychology |
3 credits |
| Family Relationships | HD FS 418 | Dynamics of family interaction; effects of parenthood, sibling and intergeneration relationships on family solidarity. Prerequisite: HD FS 312W; HD FS 315Y or HD FS 315W |
3 credits |
| Development and Administration of Human Services Programs | HD FS 455 | Fundamentals of program development and administration of human service programs in community settings; emphasis given to program content, strategies, and the overall planning process. Prerequisite: HD FS 311 |
3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant and Child Development | HD FS 229 | Theory, research, and methods of social/behavioral/biological sciences related to developmental processes and intervention during infancy and childhood. | 3 credits |
| Adolescent Development | HD FS 239 | Social, behavioral, and biological development and intervention throughout adolescence. | 3 credits |
| Adult Development and Aging | HD FS 249 | Physiological, psychological, and social development and intervention from young adulthood through old age. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Statistics | STAT 200 | Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, binomial and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation. Prerequisite: 2 units in algebra |
4 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant Development | HD FS 428 | Conceptual analysis, assessment, and empirical investigation of normal and deviant development, prenatal through first two years of life. Prerequisites: HD FS 229 or PSYCH 212; HD FS 312W |
3 credits |
| Advanced Child Development | HD FS 429 | Processes of development during childhood from birth to adolescence. Emphasis on theory, method, and empirical research. Prerequisites: HD FS 229 or PSYCH 212; HD FS 312W |
3 credits |
| Developmental Transition to Adulthood | HD FS 433 | Conceptual analysis and empirical investigation of interrelationships between developmental processes during the period of pubertal growth. Prerequisite: HD FS 239; HD FS 312W |
3 credits |
| Development throughout Adulthood | HD FS 445 | Processes of development and change of behavior from early adulthood through old age, emphasizing theory, method, and empirical research. Prerequisite: HD FS 249 or PSYCH 100; HD FS 312W or PSYCH 301W; PSYCH 200, STAT 200 or 3 credits of statistics; 6 credits in HD FS PSYCH or SOC. |
3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Internship Experience | HD FS 490 | Planning and preparation for field experience in human service setting. Analysis of human service system and arrangement of site. Prerequisite: HD FS 312W; approval by internship coordinator. Prerequisite or concurrent: HD FS 411 |
2 credits |
| Internship: Advanced Experience | HD FS 495A | Full-time, one semester experiential training in human service settings. Prerequisite: HD FS 490; permission of internship coordinator |
9 credits |
| Internship: Advanced Project | HD FS 495B | Implementation of internship projects or scholarly paper. Prerequisite: or concurrent: HD FS 495A |
3 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education (including 3 credits in electives) |
45 credits |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas in consultation with an adviser (minimum of 6 credits at the 400 level) |
12 credits |
| 300- or 400-level HD FS courses | 6 credits |
| United States Cultures | 3 credits |
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.