Undergraduate Department of Human Development and Family Science
College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Website: https://cehhs.fsu.edu/hdfs
Department Chair: Harris; Associate Department Chair: Greene; Eminent Scholar and Professor: Fincham; Norejane Hendrickson Professors: Cui, Ledermann, McWey, Ralston; Associate Professors: Gonzales-Backen, Gazelle, Kimmes, Wu; Assistant Professor: Rudaz; Teaching Faculty: Diop, Greene, Harris, Holcomb, Jeter, Youngberg; Director of the Center for Couples and Family Therapy: Greene; Practicum Coordinator: Jeter; Professors Emeriti: Cornille, Darling, Greenwood, Hansen-Gandy, Hicks, Lee, A. Mullis, R. Mullis, Pasley, Pestle, Rapp, Readdick, Zongker
Degree Program in Human Development And Family Science
The Department of Human Development and Family Science offers one undergraduate degree program in family and child sciences which requires maintaining minimum grades in major courses for graduation.
The program provides an understanding of child development and family relationships across the life span. We emphasize the diversity of families and how children and families influence, and are influenced by, the broader environment (e.g., schools, communities, workplace, society at large) and change over time. Students learn to apply this knowledge about children and families in working with them through an extensive practicum experience. These experiences occur in a variety of human service agencies and organizations, educational settings, childcare centers, and child and family advocacy organizations. Students also gain skills in developing and implementing programs designed to strengthen individuals and families. There is a series of courses that provides the necessary background to apply for certification from the National Council on Family Relations to become a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE). It does not lead to teacher certification in Florida.
Students must complete a required elective course (successful completion of at least three semester hours offered by the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, but outside the department), four prerequisite courses to the major, a minor or an approved area of concentration in an allied field, and a 150-hour practicum experience. Students must achieve at least a “C–” in the required elective course, and at least a “B–” in the four required prerequisite courses which are: CHD 2220, CHD 3243, FAD 2230, and STA 2XXX. Individuals who apply for the major but who have not met the prerequisite requirements are classified as Prerequisite Incomplete (PI) and cannot enroll in upper-division courses required for the major until prerequisite courses are successfully completed. All courses attempted for the Human Development and Family Science major must be taken for a letter grade. No courses taken for Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory (S/U) or for Pass or Fail (P/F) can be counted toward the degree. Students are allowed a maximum of two attempts in two of the four courses to achieve the minimum required final grade (B–). If the “B–” is not made in three or more of the courses in the first attempt or the “B–” is not made in the second attempt, then the student is dismissed from the major. Courses selected for the area of concentration cannot also be used to fulfill CoreFSU Curriculum requirements. Students must obtain at least a “B–” in the pre-professional course FAD 4932 and in the practicum course FAD 4805. The minimum grade required in other courses beyond the prerequisite courses and the practicum experience is “C–”.
Curriculum guides stating specific degree requirements for the undergraduate majors are available through the Department of Human Development and Family Science and through our website, https://cehhs.fsu.edu/bachelor-science-human-development-and-family-sciences.
Minor
A minor in child development may be earned by completing twelve semester hours in family and child sciences with a grade of “C–” or better in each of the required courses: CHD 2220, CHD 3243, FAD 2230, and FAD 3343. At least nine credit hours must be completed at Florida State University; no more than one substitution for these courses is permitted.
Digital Literacy Requirement
Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:
- Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information
- Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications
- Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology
- Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications
- Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively
- Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically
Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement.
This requirement may also be satisfied through CHM 1045L, BSC 2010L, or another FSU course with an approved computer competency component.
State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites for Human Development Family Sciences
The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.73.
FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in Human Development Family Science. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit: https://cpm.flvc.org/programs/289/260.
Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.
Honors in the Major
The Department of Human Development and Family Science offers a program in honors in the major to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as part of the undergraduate experience. For requirements and other information, see the “University Honors Office and Honor Societies” chapter of this General Bulletin.
Graduate Study
The Department of Human Development and Family Science offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree in family and child sciences, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in human sciences with specialization in human development and family science, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in marriage and family therapy. For further information relating to graduate coursework and thesis, dissertation, and master's and doctoral examinations and defense, consult the Graduate Bulletin.
Definition of Prefixes
CHD—Child Development
FAD—Family Development
HEE—Home Economics Education
HOE—Home Economics: General
IDS—Interdisciplinary Studies
Undergraduate Courses
CHD 2220r. Child Growth and Development: The Foundation Years (3). This course is the study of children from birth through middle childhood.
CHD 3213. Social and Emotional Development (3). Prerequisite: CHD 2220. This course covers history, theory, research methods, and findings in human social and emotional development in infancy to adolescence. Students develop practical knowledge to guide children, parenting, and policy. Content includes temperament; attachment; emotional, moral, and self-development; family and peer relationships; schooling; media; gender differences; aggression; and social withdrawal.
CHD 3243. Contexts of Adolescent Development (3). This course examines the developmental process related to cognitive, physical, and psychosocial growth from pre- to late adolescence and the reciprocal influences of various contexts in which these youths are embedded, such as families, peer groups, schools, and communities. It is encouraged that students take CHD 2220 prior to enrollment.
CHD 3472. Child Guidance (3). Prerequisite: Major status. This course allows students to learn principles of positive guidance to apply in guiding children during early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence in a variety of natural contexts, including home and school.
CHD 4537. Parenting (3). Prerequisites: CHD 2220, FAD 2230, FAD 3343, and CHD 3243. This course is a comprehensive review of the contemporary theory and research in parenting. This course is organized developmentally, focusing on the emerging needs, responsibilities, and skills required by parents at progressive stages of their children's development.
CHD 4615. Public Policy: Child and Family Issues (3). Prerequisite: FAD 2230 and FAD 3220. This course provides an overview of theory and implementation of public policies relating to children and families at the state and federal levels. Students explore ways that families contribute to and are affected by social problems, and how families can be involved in policy solutions. Students learn about roles professionals can play in building and interacting with family policy.
CHD 4630. Methods of Studying Families and Children (3). Prerequisite: Admission to the major. This course examines research methods, concepts, principles, and issues in studying families and children.
CHD 4905r. Directed Individual Study in Child Development (1–3). May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
CHD 4944r. Internship in Family and Child Sciences (1–12). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: FAD 4805 or instructor permission. This course consists of supervised practical experience in various professional settings serving children, youth, and families, including hospitals, education facilities, human service agencies, and government agencies. May be repeated to a maximum of twelve semester hours; repeatable within the same term.
FAD 2230. Family Relationships: A Life Span Development Approach (3). This course examines the dynamics of contemporary family life and interpersonal relationships in a changing society and over the life course.
FAD 3220. Individual and Family Life Span Development (3). This course devotes attention to all stages of human development and the aging process. For students to fully understand human behavior, the development issues of an individual at all ages must be understood, including the influence of various social, cultural, and environmental contexts. Students become familiar with development from the prenatal period through end of life.
FAD 3343. Contexts of Adult Development and Aging (3). This course provides students with a critical understanding of both the theoretical and the interdisciplinary nature of aging, the aging process (physical, cognitive, social-emotional), and challenges of adulthood as a period of the lifespan. Further, this course focuses on critical issues in aging while strategically focusing on writing and communicating aging issues for the Human Sciences field.
FAD 3432. Stress and Resilience in Individuals and Families (3). Prerequisite: Major status or instructor permission. This course provides undergraduate majors with an introduction to family-based, stress-focused mini-theories. The course provides a framework for understanding the differences between family patterns when families are centered on growth related themes and when they are pre-occupied with a variety of stressor events.
FAD 4265. Family Diversity (3). Prerequisite: CHD 2220, FAD 2230, FAD 3343, and CHD 3243. This course is designed to expose students to the diversity of families by race, ethnicity, social class, and structures in an ego-systemic context.
FAD 4451. Human Sexuality Education (3). This course examines sexuality through the lifespan regarding relationship issues and health concerns and provides training for professionals and parents in sexuality education.
FAD 4455. Family Life Education (3). This course provides information and techniques needed to facilitate and evaluate home, school, and community relations through the lifespan.
FAD 4601. Foundations of Counseling (3). This course introduces students to the counseling process. Students explore the salient features of counseling and helping relationships. The course also covers specific theoretical orientations and therapy models that have influenced the counseling profession. Students learn basic counseling skills that can be applied within a number of social service settings.
FAD 4805. Practicum in Family and Child Science (6). Prerequisites: Major status, at least four additional major courses, and FAD 4932 (completed the semester before enrolling in FAD 4805). This course is designed to provide students with experiences in a community setting serving children, youth, and families and the opportunity to apply course material to the work environment.
FAD 4905r. Directed Individual Study (1–3). (S/U grade only.) May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
FAD 4910r. Honors in the Major Research (1–6). Prerequisites: Upper division students with an overall GPA of 3.5; instructor permission. In this course, students accepted into the Honors in the Major program complete an original research or creative project in their major area of study. This course must be repeated at least twice to complete a minimum of six (6) credit hours total, but may be repeated up to a maximum of twelve credit hours in total.
FAD 4932. Pre-Professional Development (3–6). Prerequisites: Major status and senior standing. This course is designed to expose students to career opportunities in FCS and professional/ethical behavior and to prepare them for placement in agencies/organizations serving individuals and families. May be repeated to a maximum of six credit hours.
FAD 4936r. Special Topics: Family or Housing (3–9). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. In this course, each topic may be taken only once. May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
HEE 4912r. Honors in the Major Research (1–6). In this course, students accepted into the Honors in the Major program complete an original research or creative project in their major area of study. This course must be repeated at least twice to complete a minimum of six credit hours total, but may be repeated to a maximum of 12 credit hours.
IDS 2341. Relationship Status: It's Complicated - Understanding and Influencing Intimate Relationships (3). In this course students examine how to build and maintain key relationships through understanding themselves and critical relationship process. These key relationships include intimate relationships (dating/marriage partners, children, parents) and professional relationships (clients, coworkers, supervisors). Course content emphasizes the importance of making purposeful choices in building and maintaining personal and professional relationships.
For listings relating to graduate coursework, consult the Graduate Bulletin.