Program Overview

Human Development and Family Science

The Human Development and Family Science program is offered through the College of Health Sciences.

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (ABM) Curriculum

The Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (ABM) curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in Human Development and Family Science.

Senior Year / 1st Master's Year (400-Level Courses)

Students complete three 400-level HDF courses (3 credits each) during their senior year. Courses that students may choose from include:

• HDF 400
• HDF 418
• HDF 421
• HDF 430
• HDF 431
• HDF 432
• HDF 434
• HDF 437
• HDF 440
• HDF 450
• HDF 451
• HDF 460
• HDF 472

Second Master's Year – Required Graduate Courses (500-Level)

All students take the following graduate courses:

• HDF 536 Family Health and Prevention Across the Lifespan (3 cr.) — Fall: Students will learn to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families through evidence-based approaches to prevention and intervention.
• HDF 511 Child and Adolescent Development (3 cr.) — Fall: Students will learn about the biopsychosocial development of children and adolescents, the contexts in which they develop, and the implications for intervention and prevention science.
• HDF 513 Promotion of Healthy Adulthood and Aging (3 cr.) — Spring: Covers the relationship between biopsychosocial factors and healthy aging, and risk, resilience, and protective factors for physical and mental health in adulthood and later life.
• HDF 533 Family Policy for Problem Prevention (3 cr.) — Spring: Examines the political, socio-economic, and cultural forces influencing development and implementation of national and local policies that impact families in the United States.
• HDF 570 Preventive Research Methods (3 cr.) — Spring (also offered Fall): Students learn how to analyze and write about research and develop a research strategy in prevention science.

Elective Courses

In addition to the above required courses, students must complete one elective (3 cr.) from:

• HLT 501–505
• HLT 506
• HLT 507
• HLT 508
• HDF 598 Advanced Research Study in HDF
• Any PSC/MPA course

Capstone Experience (3 cr.)

Students complete one of the following:

• HDF 595 Master's Project: Action Research
• HLT 602 Integrative Learning Experience

This capstone is typically completed in Spring (or Summer if preferred). HDF 595 Master's Project: Action Research (3 crs.): Under the supervision of a graduate faculty member, students will design a research study using an existing dataset. Students will develop a research question and conduct preliminary analyses to address this question.

Notes

• Some courses may be rotated to include summer offerings.
• Students may enroll in Fall or Spring semesters; summer will be included in the future.
• This example reflects a student beginning the 5th year in the fall.