Human Development and Family Studies
Pre-major
Students must declare a pre-major in human development and family studies until they have earned minimum 2.50 GPA in the requirements outlined below, with minimum 3.00 GPA in the three HDFS courses. The purpose of the pre-major in human development and family studies requirement is to ensure that majors have adequate preparation necessary to successfully complete upper-division human development and family studies courses, including a senior-level practicum (HDFS 44092), which provides students with professional training in the field of human/social services.
| ENG | 11011 | College Writing I |
3 | |
| 21011 | College Writing II |
3 | ||
| HDFS | * | 14027 | Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies |
2 |
| * | 24011 | Interpersonal Relationships and Families |
3 | |
| * | 24012 | Child Development |
3 | |
| PSYC | 11762 | General Psychology |
3 | |
| SOC | 12050 | Introduction to Sociology |
3 | |
|
Total |
20 |
* Students must receive a cumulative 3.00 GPA or higher in the three HDFS courses.
- Pre-majors in human development and family studies who do not earn a cumulative 2.50 GPA or higher in the above courses, with a cumulative 3.00 GPA or higher in the three HDFS courses, must meet with their academic advisor to determine which required course(s) is/are to be retaken. Students for whom it appears a career in the human and family services is not a practical choice are counseled to pursue an alternative goal related to their interests.
- All human development and family studies pre-majors are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor at least once each semester to discuss scheduling, questions about the major and other issues and concerns.
- Students who have completed the pre-major courses with a cumulative 2.50 GPA or higher, including a cumulative 3.00 GPA or higher in HDFS 14027, 24011 and 24012, are eligible to apply for admission to the human development and family studies major. Students must complete an Undergraduate Change of Major Program form at the Office of Student Services, 304 White Hall. Students must be admitted into the human development and family studies major prior to enrollment in junior-level human development and family studies coursework.
- Human development and family studies faculty are available to answer questions about the human development and family studies pre-major, and can be reached at 330-672-2197.
Human Development and Family Studies Major (B.S.)
Case Management for Individuals and Families Concentration—2009-2010 Roadmap [Degree Requirements]
The case management for individuals and families concentration in the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) major provides training in needs assessment and the utilization of available public and private resources. Graduates of this concentration are eligible for securing positions in a wide array of social service agencies.
Family Life Education Concentration—2009-2010 Roadmap [Degree Requirements]
The family life education concentration in the HDFS major prepares graduates to develop and implement family life programs in a variety of education and human service settings. Graduates of this concentration are eligible to apply to be Certified Family Life Educators (CFLE), a credential granted by the National Council on Family Relations.
Human Services Technology Concentration
The human services technology curriculum leads to an associate of science degree and is offered only at the Ashtabula and Salem campuses. This program prepares graduates for entry-level positions in a variety of human service agencies, including child and family welfare agencies, mental health centers, mental retardation and developmental disability facilities, and substance abuse treatment centers. The coursework is fully applicable to the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies—Case Management of Individuals and Families.
This concentration is available only for students holding an associate degree.
Program requirements (121 credits)
| I. General University Requirement |
1 | |||
| US | 10097 | 1 | ||
| II. Liberal Education Requirements | 36-37 | |||
| A complete list of Liberal Education Requirements (LER) course can be found here. | ||||
| Composition | ||||
| ENG | 11011 | 3 | ||
| 21011 | 3 | |||
|
Mathematics and Critical Reasoning |
||||
| MATH | 11010 | 3 | ||
| Humanities and Fine Arts | ||||
| Minimum one course from humanities category and minimum one course from fine arts category. |
9 | |||
| Social Sciences | ||||
|
PSYC |
11762 | 3 | ||
| SOC | 12050 | 3 | ||
| Basic Sciences | ||||
| BSCI | 10001 | 3 | ||
| Basic sciences LER course and laboratory | 3-4 | |||
| Additional LER courses | ||||
| PSYC | 21211 | Psychology of Adjustment |
3 |
|
| Choose from the following: |
3 |
|||
| LER course from above categories, except Social Sciences (3) | ||||
| COMM | 15000 | Introduction to Human Communication (3) | ||
| PHIL | 11009 | Principles of Thinking (3) | ||
| Diversity Requirement | ||||
| Students must complete a two-course diversity requirement, consisting of one course with a domestic (U.S.) focus and one with a global focus. The domestic-focus course is fulfilled in this major with LER social sciences SOC 12050. A complete list of diversity courses can be found here. |
||||
| III. Writing-Intensive Requirement | ||||
| Students must complete a one-course writing-intensive requirement and ear minimum C (2.0) grade. This requirement is fulfilled in this major with GERO 44030. A complete list of writing-intensive courses can be found here. |
||||
| IV. Major Requirements |
41 | |||
| GERO | 44030 | Adult Development and Aging |
3 |
|
| HDFS | 14027 | Introduction to Human development and Family Studies |
2 |
|
| 24011 | Interpersonal Relationships and Families |
3 |
||
| 24012 | Child Development |
3 |
||
| 34031 | Cultural Diversity: Implication for the Helping Professions |
3 |
||
| 44018 | Professional Development in Human Development and Family Studies |
3 |
||
| 44020 | Adolescent Development |
3 |
||
| 44023 | Building Family Strengths |
3 |
||
| 44028 | Parent/Child Relationships |
3 |
||
| 44029 | Family Policy |
3 |
||
| NUTR | 23511 | Science of Human Nutrition |
3 |
|
| Choose from the following: |
6 |
|||
| GERO | 14029 | Introduction to Gerontology (3) | ||
| HDFS | 24013 | Early Adolescence (3) | ||
| 24095 | Special Topics (3) | |||
| 41093 | Workshop in Human Development and Family Studies (1-3) | |||
| 41095 | Special Topics: Human Development and Family Studies (1-4) | |||
| 41096 | Individual Investigation (1-3) | |||
| 44019 | Intergenerational Experiences (3) | |||
| 44021 | Family Intervention Across the Lifespan (3) | |||
| 44022 | Changing Roles of Men and Women (3) | |||
| 44031 | Intergenerational Family Caregiving (2) | |||
| 44092 | Practicum in Human Development and Family Studies (3-10) | |||
| V. General Requirements |
7 | |||
| SOC | 32210 | Researching Society |
3 |
|
| 32220 | Data Analysis |
3 |
||
| 32221 | Data Analysis Laboratory |
1 |
||
| VI. Electives |
13 | |||
| VII. Human Services Technology Concentration |
23 | |||
| HED | 11590 | Community Health | 3 | |
| HST | 11001 | Group Process | 2 | |
| 21000 | Dynamics of the Helping Relationship | 3 | ||
| 21001 | Assessment of Client Needs | 3 | ||
| 21002 | Client Advocacy and Case Management | 3 | ||
| 21092 | Human Services Technology Internship I | 3 | ||
| 21192 | Human Services Technology Internship II | 3 | ||
| Choose from the following: | 3 | |||
| PSYC | 40111 | Abnormal Psychology (3) | 3 | |
| SOC | 32762 | Deviant Behavior (3) | ||
|
Total |
121 | |||
| Youth Development Concentration—2009-2010 Roadmap [Degree Requirements] | |
The Youth Development concentration in the HDFS major prepares graduates to work with 10- to 18-year olds in school, community and residential programs. Graduates of this program will be able to design and deliver developmentally appropriate programs, preparing adolescents for productive adulthood by emphasizing skill and competency development.
Gerontology Concentration—2009-2010 Roadmap [Degree Requirements]
This multidisciplinary curriculum leads to a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in gerontology. (An option is available in nursing home administration.) This concentration prepares graduates for professional positions in the diverse field of aging, including health and wellness, community-based social services, retirement communities, adult-care centers and nursing homes. The curriculum provides students with a solid understanding of typical age-related changes and how these changes affect a person physiologically, psychologically and socially.
A minor is also offered. Through coursework, research experiences and practicum students develop expertise in gerontology while completing requirements in their selected major.
The concentration in gerontology prepares graduates for professional positions in the diverse field of aging, including health and wellness, community-based social services, retirement communities, adult-care centers and nursing homes. The gerontology curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid understanding of typical age-related changes and how these changes affect a person physiologically, psychologically and socially.
Graduates are prepared to secure social service positions within senior citizen centers and agencies that serve older adults, such as area offices on aging and assisted living facilities. The nursing home administration option qualifies students for employment as administrators in long-term care settings, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities and congregate living settings.
According to the U.S. Census, 20 percent of the total population will be 65 or older by 2030. Because of the increasing number of older persons and the fact that we are generally living longer, there is a growing need for people to work in the field of aging.
Both the four-year concentration and minor provide strong interdisciplinary knowledge base, research skills and preparation for graduate study in a wide variety of disciplines, such as human development and family studies, sociology, public administration, nursing and exercise science. Students are eligible to join Kappa Omicron Nu, a national honorary in gerontology.
Nursing Home Administration Option—2009-2010 Roadmap [Degree Requirements]
Students majoring in HDFS in the gerontology concentration and postbachelor's degree students may select this option, which prepares them for employment as administrators in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and retirement communities for independently living senior adults. Upon completion of this option, students are eligible to sit for the Nursing Homes Administrator's Licensure Examination offered by the Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA). The curriculum in this option is BENHA-approved.