Undergraduate Program

*Please note: ALL students wishing to complete a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies will need to complete and pass a CCIC and NCIC background check! If you have questions, please contact Anne Van Arsdall at 970-491-7423 or annevan@cahs.colostate.edu. Thank you.

IS HDFS THE MAJOR FOR YOU?

• Are you curious about the way human beings grow and develop?
• Have you ever wondered how environmental and social factors affect physical, cognitive, and emotional development?
• Are you interested in learning more about specific stages of human development such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging?
• Does the study of family dynamics or the aging process intrigue you?
• Have you ever thought about a career in early childhood education, in family counseling, or working with youth in various settings?
• Would like to work with hospitalized children to help reduce the stress of medical treatment on them and their families?

If your answer to any of these questions is "yes" then a major in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) may be for you.

OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR

Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) is an interdisciplinary department focusing on the development of families and individuals across the life span. Students learn to identify factors that influence cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and later adulthood in the contexts of culture and family.

Graduates from the program work in a variety of human service settings. These include youth services organizations; early childhood, elementary and parent education programs; health care settings; juvenile and adult corrections; family and community services; and long-term care facilities. Graduates are also well prepared to pursue an advanced degree in the behavioral and social sciences, or other professional programs.

HDFS CURRICULUM

In addition to courses in general education, students complete the human development and family studies foundational requirements and, with the assistance of an academic advisor, completes a block of courses more individually related to his or her life span and career interests. Additionally, students choose support courses and electives that reflect their future career aspirations. Through this course work and supervised field experience, students gain skills in observation, needs assessment, program development and implementation, and social policy information as these related to diverse populations. In accordance with University guidelines regarding the outcome assessment of all students, seniors complete a capstone seminar. This is designed to allow students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in oral and written communication, principles of human development and family studies, research methodology, and the professional skills necessary in human services settings.

The curriculum prepares students to work with individuals and families in a broad range of contexts. While HDFS students are exposed to the principles of development across the life span, each student also chooses courses from the Career Interest Option in order to gain additional knowledge specific to future individual career aspirations.

For example, students interested in pursuing careers working with Children and Families can choose courses that focus on the typical and/or atypical development of children; while those students interested in pursuing careers working with Adolescents and Families can choose courses that address the unique developmental issues of adolescents and their families.

Students can also select coursework designed to help meet professional requirements for certification as a Child Life Specialist. A Child Life Specialist is a member of pediatric health care team that helps hospitalized children and their families deal with the stress of the health care experience.

Students interested in preparing for careers in the Health Professions can choose courses that help them to pursue advanced degrees or additional studies for careers as an occupational therapist, physician's assistant, or certified nurse-midwife.

Students who are interested in Adulthood and Aging can complete a series of courses that will prepare them to work with the older adult population. This option works well for students who are interested in a Gerontology Interdisciplinary Certificate: http://www.cahs.colostate.edu/fyi/GISP/GISP.htm.

EARLY CHILDHOOD LICENSURE PROGRAM

Many students majoring in Human Development and Family Studies have an expressed career interest in childhood education. Some of these students apply to the Early Childhood Teacher Licensure Program administered jointly by the HDFS Department and the School of Education. Annually, approximately 30 applicants are admitted - as a cohort - to the licensure program, which takes two years to complete. HDFS majors who are interested in this program should carefully review the information available on the Teacher Licensure website. They should also visit with Dr. Nancy Rowe in the HDFS Undergraduate Advising Office. Her appointment schedule is posted on the door of Room 100 in the Gifford Building. Her email address is nnrowe@cahs.colostate.edu.