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Nov 25, 2024
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Human Development and Family Studies Major, B.A.
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About the Program
The major in Human Development and Family Studies provides students with in-depth knowledge about theory, research, and application in human development across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on the family as a developmental context. Through coursework and applied assignments, students make connections between theory, research, and practice. The major emphasizes developmentally appropriate and best practices in working with children, adolescents, adults, and their families to enhance positive developmental outcomes in a variety of career settings, including hospitals, counseling, child-care, schools and other social institutions.
Student Outcomes
- Explain human development across the lifespan in contexts such as families, hospitals, counseling, child care, schools, and other social institutions.
- Examine and apply principles of cognitive development and learning in a variety of contexts.
- Examine and apply principles of social development in a variety of contexts to best support the development of individuals, couples and families.
- Explain and identify biological influences on development across the lifespan.
- Identify, critique, and apply developmental research methodologies to solve real world problems.
- Evaluate cultural and individual differences and their impact on development.
- Identify and apply transferable workforce readiness skills to a variety of careers.
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General Degree Requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.
Program Requirements
- A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
- A grade of “D-” or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
- HDFS majors must have a GPA of 2.00 in their major and an overall GPA of 2.00 to graduate.
- All students must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours of upper-division in the HDFS major.
- In meeting the requirements for the HDFS major, transfer students must take a minimum of 15 semester hours of HDFS major coursework at MSU Denver, of which at least 9 must be upper-division credits.
- The Department of Psychological Sciences does not accept correspondence study courses toward the total number of semester hours required for a major or minor.
- Transfer students must have completed both semesters of a two-semester introductory psychology course for equivalence to exist. Three semester hours will count toward the major or minor; three semester hours will count as general electives (i.e., PSY8888) to graduate. If a student has taken only one semester of a two-semester introductory course and takes PSY 1001 at MSU Denver, the transfer introductory credits will not count toward the degree.
General Studies Requirements: 33 credits
Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.
- Written Communication (6 credits)
- Oral Communication (3 credits)
- Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
- Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
- Historical (3 credits)
- Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
- Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)
** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.
Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits
Core Courses: 18 Credits
Students must take all of the following core classes:
Developmental Specialization Courses (Choose two): 6 credits
Applied Developmental Courses (Choose three): 9 credits
Interdisciplinary Applications (Choose two): 6 credits
Senior Experience (Choose one): 3 credits
Summary of Requirements
| General Studies Requirements |
33 credits |
| ESSJ Requirement |
0-3 credits |
| Core Courses |
18 credits |
| Developmental Specialization Courses |
6 credits |
| Applied Developmental Courses |
9 credits |
| Interdisciplinary Applications |
6 credits |
| Senior Experience |
3 credits |
| Unrestricted Electives |
42-51 credits |
| Total for the Human Development and Family Studies Major, B.A. |
120 credits |
Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.
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