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Child Development Major, B.A.; B.A.A.; B.S.

B.A. degree; B.S. degree; B.A.A. degree 

Child Development is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the growth and development of children in their social contexts. The Child Development major is a flexible plan of study designed to prepare students for a wide variety of careers in human service settings working with children and families. Some examples may include: early intervention, child protective services worker, after school activities director, and youth development specialist. It may also be used as preparatory training for graduate studies in child development and professional programs in health- and counseling-related fields.

Students who take this major cannot minor in Child Development or double major in Family Studies.

Students may only double count 9 credits when combining the Child Development Major with the Family Studies Minor.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

  1. Student must have completed or currently be enrolled in HDF 100 and must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in order to declare a major.
  2. Student must have a minimum program GPA of 2.5 in order to graduate with this major.
  3. Student must receive a grade of C+ or better in HDF 419 in order to graduate with this major.

Program Requirements

Core Courses (9 hours)

Core HDFS

HDF 100Lifespan Development

3(3-0)

HDF 211Marriage and Close Relationships

3(3-0)

HDF 307Parent-Child Relations

3(3-0)

Required Courses I (6 hours)

Development Content

HDF 308Theories of Child and Adolescent Development

3(3-0)

HDF 510Child Development Seminar: Promoting Resilience

3(3-0)

Required Courses II (6-7 hours)

Development Content

Select two classes from the following:

HDF 302Infant and Toddler Development

3(3-0)

HDF 303Early Childhood Development

4(Spec)

HDF 306Adolescent Development

3(3-0)

Required Courses III (3 hours)

Diversity

Select one of the following:

HDF 110Oppression: Roots and Impact on Human Development in the United States

3(3-0)

HDF 212Families in Cultural Perspective

3(3-0)

HDF 213/WGS 213Introduction to Human Sexuality

3(3-0)

HDF 320HDFS International Service Learning

3-6(Spec)

HDF 321International Reggio-Inspired Early Childhood Learning

3(Spec)

SPE 585Early Childhood Special Education

3(3-0)

Required Courses IV (12 hours)

Professional Skills and Methods

HDF 207Introduction to Research Methods in HDFS

3(3-0)

HDF 219Field Work

3(1-6)

HDF 317Child Development Skills and Methods

3(3-0)

HDF 419HDFS Internship

1-12(Spec)

Required Courses V (3 hours)

Professional Skills and Methods

Select one of the following:

HDF 301Infant Toddler Practicum Experience

1-3(Spec)

HDF 400Developmental Assessment of Children

3(3-0)

HDF 404Children and Hospitalization

3(3-0)

HDF 414Human Development and Family Studies Applied Quantitative Research Methods

3(3-0)

HDF 505Early Childhood Mental Health

3(3-0)

HDF 506Practicum in Parent Involvement

3(2-2)

Total: 39-40 semester hours