Human Development & Family Studies
The objective of the Human Development and Family Studies major is to provide students with an integrated knowledge and interdisciplinary understanding of family relationships and individual development over the life course. The curriculum in the major is organized into two conceptual domains: human development and family studies. Students then choose from several focus courses that expand their knowledge of particular life stage, family process, or family -institution interface within each block of human development courses and family studies courses. Majors are expected to acquire the following skills/knowledge:
Human Development
- Mastery of the principles of human development, and an understanding of the key developmental task of each stage of life.
- Depth of understanding in one or more of the following developmental stages, with particular emphasis on the family as a context for human development.
Family Studies
- Understanding of intra-family processes such as power, decision-making, and communication; mastery of family theories and conceptual frameworks, such as the systems perspective, constructivist, functional and conflict theories.
- Depth of understanding on the ability to analyze the internal workings of the family.
- Mastery of family ecological models, including principles of reciprocity and interdependence between larger contextual environments and the family, and an understanding of family policy.
- Depth of understanding on comprehensive examination of the interface between the family and various social/political/cultural environments.
Methods
- Understanding of the principles research methods, including issues of internal and external validity, correlation versus causation, and operationalization: ability to critique and evaluate written research reports.
- Ability to perform basic statistical tests, and understanding of the application of statistical tests, and understanding of the application of statistics in the research process.
What can I do with this degree?
With these skills in hand, graduates are prepared to work with, and for, a variety of private and public organizations. Examples include the following professions:
- Social services capacities within the government.
- Working with programs for people at risk: elderly, children, adolescents.
- Director of pre-school programs.
- Early childhood education.
- Child Life Specialist.
HDFS
Major Requirements
HDFS Major Requirements for SLCC Transfer
Students
HDFS
Minor Requirements
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