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Undergraduate Minor in
Human Development and Family Studies
In This Section

Courses

To earn a minor in HDFS, you must complete 18 credits of HDFS course work with a grade of "C" or better.

As a student who minors in HDFS, you are encouraged to tailor the focus of your minor by selecting courses that fit your interests and complement your major area of study.

Requirements of the minor include:

  • HDFS 129: Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies  (3 credits)
  • 9 credits of HDFS courses from any level
  • 6 credits of 400-level HDFS courses

Core Courses (3 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    Introduction to psychosocial and family development at all stages of the individual and family life cycle.

Elective Courses (select 15 credits)

At least 6 credits must be at the 400 level.

  • 3
    credits

    Theory, research, and methods of social/behavioral/biological sciences related to developmental processes and intervention during infancy and childhood.

  • 3
    credits

    Social, behavioral, and biological development and intervention throughout adolescence.

  • 3
    credits

    Physiological, psychological, and social development and intervention from young adulthood through old age.

  • 3
    credits

    Examines bases for choices among values in personal and professional relations in human development processes and supporting services.

  • 3
    credits

    Survey of individual and family formal and informal intervention efforts; historical and current perspectives and approaches.

    • Prerequisite

      HDFS 129

  • 3
    credits

    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 functions over the life course; family from a multidisciplinary perspective, emphasizing adaptation and change.

    • Prerequisite

      HDFS 129 or 3 credits in social, behavioral, or human biological sciences

  • 3
    credits

    Theory and research related to interpersonal conditions which facilitate personal growth; intensive interpersonal competency training.

    • Prerequisite

      (HDFS 311 and HDFS 312W) or 6 credits in human development and family studies or psychology

  • 3
    credits

    Strategies for, and roles of professional specialists in, the solution of problems in human development and family functioning.

    • Prerequisite

      HDFS 312W and 6 credits in human development and family studies or psychology

  • 3
    credits

    Dynamics of family interaction; effects of parenthood, sibling and intergeneration relationships on family solidarity.

    • Prerequisite

      HDFS 312W and (HDFS 315Y or HDFS 315W)

  • 3
    credits

    Conceptual analysis, assessment, and empirical investigation of normal and deviant development, prenatal through first two years of life.

    • Prerequisite

      (HDFS 229 or PSYCH 212) and HDFS 312W

  • 3
    credits

    Processes of development during childhood from birth to adolescence. Emphasis on theory, method, and empirical research.

    • Prerequisite

      (HDFS 229 or PSYCH 212) and HDFS 312W

  • 3
    credits

    Conceptual analysis and empirical investigation of interrelationships between developmental processes during the period of pubertal growth.

    • Prerequisite

      HDFS 239 and HDFS 312W

  • 3
    credits

    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

      HDFS 311

Note: As part of the course planning process, consult with an adviser as early as possible to be sure you will meet the prerequisites for courses you plan to use toward completion of the minor. For instance, with proper planning, completing HDFS 229 (which is a prerequisite of HDFS 428) can count toward the 9-credit block of HDFS courses from any level. Then, you will be eligible to take HDFS 428, which would count toward the 6-credit block of 400-level HDFS courses.

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.