The Human Development and Family Studies major at UNH prepares you to support individuals and families across the lifespan. You'll explore child and adolescent development, family dynamics, and lifespan development through coursework and practical experiences. Internships and community engagement give real-world experience towards a career in child development, family support, and human services.
WHAT IS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES?
Human development and family studies is an applied, interdisciplinary field that draws from disciplines ranging from developmental psychology, education and sociology to examine how individuals and families develop across the lifespan and the role of key contexts in their growth and development. Students pursuing this program are prepared through coursework and real-world laboratory, practicum and internship experiences to work in direct-service positions promoting developmentally appropriate and evidence-based best practices. Students can specialize in one of three concentration areas: child development, which focuses on infancy through childhood with an emphasis on learning, education and developmentally appropriate practices and activities; family support, which focuses on development within the context of families, close relationships, and communities; or lifespan development, which focuses on understanding and supporting development across the entire lifespan.
WHY STUDY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES AT UNH?
Students in the human development and family studies program at UNH receive high-quality undergraduate instruction and advising. As a major public research university, UNH emphasizes hands-on experience and research opportunities. Students have multiple opportunities to put theory into practice through the Child Study and Development Center and community-based settings that serve individuals and families.
POTENTIAL CAREER AREAS
- Child and family support organizations
- Courts and corrections systems
- Development or support organizations for children, youth or seniors
- Family or workplace education programs
- Government agencies–administrative or human services
- Policy analysis, advocacy or research
- Schools (K-12, early childhood)
- Youth development programs
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Curriculum & Requirements
Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) is an academic discipline focused on understanding the development of individuals and families over time and across the ecological contexts in which they live. HDFS is an applied field of study and a versatile undergraduate major for students interested in working to enhance the lives of individuals and families through in-demand careers in settings that include early childhood education, schools, hospitals, and social service agencies. The HDFS curriculum offers students the opportunity to take courses from child and adolescent development to adult development and aging; family, parenting, and interpersonal relationships; classroom curriculum, observation, and assessment; and family programming, policy, and law. Courses in the HDFS major emphasize diverse experiences across age, gender, race and ethnicity, nationality, and socioeconomic status and prepare students for inclusive programming and practice.
HDFS majors choose between three concentrations: Child Development, Family Support, and Lifespan Development. There is some overlap in coursework and career opportunities across the three concentrations, but each offers unique areas of emphasis.
As a major public research university, UNH emphasizes hands-on experience and research opportunities for undergraduate students. Students in the Human Development and Family Studies program are provided with opportunities to put theory and research into practice through practicum and internship courses in the Child Study and Development Center, and many schools and community-based organizations across the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. Students in the Child Development concentration who complete the Early Childhood Education Teacher Preparation Program will be prepared for certification to teach children from Preschool through 3rd Grade.
HDFS Undergraduate Concentrations:
- Child Development focuses on infancy through childhood with an emphasis on learning, education, and developmentally-appropriate practices and activities.
- Family Support focuses on development within the context of families, close relationships, and communities.
- Lifespan Development focuses on understanding and supporting development across the entire lifespan.
Internships are not required for students to complete their degree in HDFS; however there are exciting opportunities to gain hands on experience. Students who want to take part in an internship apply during their junior year for an internship experience that spans their full senior year. An Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher Preparation internship is available for qualified students within the Child Development concentration. The Family Support and Lifespan concentrations offer an internship that introduces high-performing students to careers in human services, advocacy, and policy through placements in the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONCENTRATION
The Child Development concentration is intended for students who have a broad interest in working with children ranging in age from birth to age eight. The concentration has four major foci: child development, teaching methodology and curriculum development, developmentally appropriate learning environments for young children, and home-school-community relations. This concentration prepares undergraduates for careers in early childhood education and related fields requiring in depth knowledge of early development and early childhood programs. Students in the Child Development concentration may apply to the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher Preparation Program during their junior year.
Child Development: Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher Preparation Program
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher Preparation program prepares students for a career in teaching young children. Course work for this program is designed to maximize in-classroom mentorship and to provide a broad range of exposure across the pre-kindergarten to 3rd-grade levels. This program within the Child Development concentration of the Human Development and Family Studies Department is approved by the New Hampshire State Board of Education. Juniors in the Child Development concentration who have maintained a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 and a departmental GPA of 3.2 are eligible to apply. Please note that this is a competitive program with limited enrollment. Those accepted into the program must maintain this level of academic achievement throughout the program. Students must be prepared to have their own transportation for off-campus internship placements as needed.
State Teacher Certification
Although students may graduate from UNH with a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies, having completed the ECE coursework along with all student teaching requirements, they will not be eligible to apply for the New Hampshire State Teaching Certification without the required set of passing test scores. This is a state of New Hampshire requirement; not a condition for graduation from UNH. In order to fulfill a teaching contract with a public-school district, a prospective teacher must be certified by the state in which he/she is to be employed.
Early Childhood Education (ECE) Internship Course Descriptions
The ECE Internship course (HDFS 785 Seminar for Student Teachers) is a fall semester seminar-based course intended to prepare students, as teacher candidates, for the student teaching experience that takes place in the spring semester. This course emphasizes students' continued development as learners, researchers, and collaborators. Discussions and projects focus on the ways in which these three roles are developed within the classroom and school community. Students meet as a cohort in weekly/bi-weekly seminars on campus. Students should expect to spend a minimum of five hours per week in their assigned classroom (60+ hours). Other expectations for this course include but are not limited to: preparing a resume, observing at other sites, attending professional conferences, starting a professional portfolio to document their achievement of professional teaching standards, and completing additional assignments and readings.
HDFS 786 Seminar for Student Teachers and HDFS 788 Student Teaching Young Children: provide the student teaching experience in the spring semester of the senior year. Students should expect to spend a minimum of twenty-five hours per week (a minimum of 325+ hours total) in their assigned classrooms, gradually assuming increasing teaching responsibilities, culminating in the assumption of two to three lead-teaching weeks. Additional hours outside of actual classroom/program operation hours are expected for meeting and planning with cooperating teachers, preparing for teaching, and attending parent conferences and other school functions, as well as attending professional conferences. Seminars provide continued opportunity for reflection on students' development as teacher candidates, reflecting on classroom practices, identifying teaching strengths and weaknesses, and planning their first professional appointment as teachers of young learners. Students should be prepared to meet weekly after school hours and to complete and present their professional portfolio to faculty and related professionals in the field.
FAMILY SUPPORT CONCENTRATION
The Family Support concentration focuses on individuals, couples, and families within their social and cultural contexts. Students in this concentration develop knowledge and skills that prepare them to work with individuals and families as they support healthy development and well-being in schools, social service agencies, and non-profit organizations.
Students in their senior year have the option to complete the Family Internship, in which students apply knowledge gained from their academic studies in a supervised environment. The internship involves a commitment of sixteen hours per week for two semesters, in addition to a three-hour seminar that meets every other week. Students apply for the internship by March 1st of their junior year. Internship applicants must have completed a minimum of twenty credits of departmental coursework prior to their senior year with a minimum departmental GPA of 3.0. Internships are recommended, but not required for completion of the HDFS major.
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT CONCENTRATION
The Lifespan Development concentration focuses on learning about developmental tasks and developmentally-appropriate practices across the entire lifespan. Students in this concentration take courses in each of the developmental periods: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Students also gain expertise related to the social contexts impacting development, such as families and communities. Emphasis is placed on the impact of system dynamics, family systems, gender, and cultural differences on development. Students in the Lifespan Development concentration may also apply to take part in the Family Internship program during their senior year.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
The core curriculum required of each Human Development and Family Studies student is designed to give a broad introduction to individual and family development and interpersonal relationships across the lifespan. Building off this curriculum, each student will select an area of concentration in Child Development, Family Support, or Lifespan Development that will guide further required coursework. With assistance from faculty advisors, students also choose supporting courses that allow them an individualized component to the major, tailored to their specific interests and career objectives. Lastly, the senior year culminates in the required capstone experience and optional internship opportunity.
Candidates for the Human Development and Family Studies degree must satisfy all of the Concentrations and Requirements
Child Development Concentration
Child Development Concentration: ECE Teacher Preparation Program
Family Support/Provisional CFLE Concentration
Lifespan Development Concentration
Note: Students apply to the ECE Teacher Preparation Program during their Junior year.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONCENTRATION Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS Core Course Requirements | ||
| HDFS 525 | Human Development | 4 |
| HDFS 545 | Intimate Relationships and Families | 4 |
| HDFS 555 | Research Methods in HDFS | 4 |
| Child Development Requirements | ||
| HDFS 623 | Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood | 4 |
| HDFS 635 | Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Settings | 4 |
| HDFS 684 | Curriculum for Young Children | 4 |
| HDFS 709 | Child Development Internship | 4 |
| HDFS 771 | Observation and Assessment of Young Children | 4 |
| HDFS 743 | Families, Schools, and Community | 4 |
| Select one additional HDFS course 500 or above | 4 | |
| Supporting Course Requirements (applies to all concentrations) | 20 | |
| Supporting courses are intended to provide an individualized component to the HDFS curriculum. Because HDFS is interdisciplinary, this allows students to explore related areas that contribute to their academic and professional goals. Students must complete at least 8 additional HDFS credits of (this can include internships) as supporting coursework. The remaining 12 credits of supporting coursework can include additional courses within HDFS or outside of HDFS as long as those taken outside of HDFS: | ||
1. At the 500-level or above | ||
2. Approved by an HDFS advisor | ||
| Classes outside of HDFS meeting supporting course criteria are often found in the psychology, sociology, social work, women’s studies, education, and communication sciences and disorders departments. | ||
CHILD DEVELOPMENT Concentration: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS Core Course Requirements | ||
| HDFS 525 | Human Development | 4 |
| HDFS 545 | Intimate Relationships and Families | 4 |
| HDFS 555 | Research Methods in HDFS | 4 |
| Child Development: ECE Requirements | ||
| HDFS 623 | Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood | 4 |
| HDFS 635 | Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Settings | 4 |
| HDFS 684 | Curriculum for Young Children | 4 |
| HDFS 709 | Child Development Internship | 4 |
| HDFS 771 | Observation and Assessment of Young Children | 4 |
| HDFS 743 | Families, Schools, and Community (Capstone) | 4 |
| ECE Required Courses 2 | ||
| HDFS 785 | Seminar for Student Teachers | 2 |
| HDFS 786 | Seminar for Student Teachers | 2 |
| HDFS 788 | Student Teaching Young Children | 8 |
| EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching | 4 |
| MATH 601 | Exploring Mathematics for Teachers I | 4 |
| MATH 703 | Teaching of Mathematics in Grades K-5 | 4 |
| EDUC 706 | Teaching & Learning Literacy in the Elementary Classroom | 4 |
| EDUC 751A | Inclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners | 4 |
| or EDUC 760 | Introduction to Young Children with Special Needs | |
| EDUC 703F | Teaching Elementary School Science | 4 |
| EDUC 703M | Teaching Elementary Social Studies | 4 |
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ECE Required courses may be counted as supporting courses if the supporting course criteria is met.
FAMILY SUPPORT /PROVISIONAL CFLE CONCENTRATION requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS Core Course Requirements | ||
| HDFS 525 | Human Development | 4 |
| HDFS 545 | Intimate Relationships and Families | 4 |
| HDFS 555 | Research Methods in HDFS | 4 |
| Family Support/Provisional CFLE Concentration Requirements | ||
| HDFS 641 | Parenting Across the Life Span 3 | 4 |
| HDFS 746 | Human Sexuality 3 | 4 |
| HDFS 760 | Family Programs and Policies 3 | 4 |
| HDFS 794 | Families and the Law 3 | 4 |
| or HDFS 776 | Children, Adolescents and the Law | |
| HDFS 623 | Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood | 4 |
| or HDFS 624 | Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood | |
| or HDFS 625 | Adult Development and Aging | |
| HDFS 586 | Families at Risk | 4 |
| or HDFS 553 | Personal and Family Finance for Family Life Professionals | |
| or HDFS 797 | Advanced Special Topics | |
| HDFS 757 | Race, Class, Gender, and Families (Capstone) 3 | 4 |
| Supporting Courses (Applies to all concentrations) | ||
| Supporting courses are intended to provide an individualized component to the HDFS curriculum. Because HDFS is interdisciplinary, this allows students to explore related areas that contribute to their academic and professional goals. Students must complete at least 8 additional HDFS credits of (this can include internships) as supporting coursework. The remaining 12 credits of supporting coursework can include additional courses within HDFS or outside of HDFS as long as those taken outside of HDFS: | ||
1. At the 500-level or above | ||
2. Approved by an HDFS advisor | ||
| Classes outside of HDFS meeting supporting course criteria are often found in the psychology, sociology, social work, women’s studies, education, and communication sciences and disorders departments. | ||
- 3
Required courses for provisional CFLE certification through NCFR. Plus HDFS 525 and HDFS 545.
Students who wish to become CFLEs are required to complete the Family Internship, including HDFS 782 Family Internship and HDFS 792 Family Internship Seminar.
The Certified Family Life Education designation acknowledges the preventive focus of family life education and assures the designate has met or exceeded the high standards and criteria needed to provide quality family life education.
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS Core Course Requirements | ||
| HDFS 545 | Intimate Relationships and Families | 4 |
| HDFS 525 | Human Development | 4 |
| HDFS 555 | Research Methods in HDFS | 4 |
| Lifespan Development Requirements | ||
| HDFS 623 | Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood | 4 |
| HDFS 624 | Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood | 4 |
| HDFS 625 | Adult Development and Aging | 4 |
| HDFS 641 | Parenting Across the Life Span | 4 |
| HDFS 746 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| HDFS 794 | Families and the Law | 4 |
| or HDFS 776 | Children, Adolescents and the Law | |
| HDFS 757 | Race, Class, Gender, and Families (Capstone) | 4 |
| or HDFS 743 | Families, Schools, and Community | |
| Supporting Courses | 20 | |
| Supporting courses are intended to provide an individualized component to the HDFS curriculum. Because HDFS is interdisciplinary, this allows students to explore related areas that contribute to their academic and professional goals. Students must complete at least 8 additional HDFS credits of (this can include internships) as supporting coursework. The remaining 12 credits of supporting coursework can include additional courses within HDFS or outside of HDFS as long as those taken outside of HDFS: | ||
1. At the 500-level or above | ||
2 Approved by an HDFS advisor | ||
| Classes outside of HDFS meeting supporting course criteria are often found in the psychology, sociology, social work, women’s studies, education, and communication sciences and disorders departments. | ||
- Use theoretical frameworks and empirical research to understand and explain child/lifespan development, family process and the interaction of individuals and families with society.
- Recognize and respect a diversity of family forms and processes. Understand how human development and family interactions are shaped by diverse personal contexts and cultures. Understand and be aware of one’s own biases, beliefs, and values.
- Understand ethical decision-making processes, and ethical standards and principles relevant to our discipline. Positively represent the profession in academic, professional and community settings.
Explore Program Details
Honors in Major for the HDFS Department offers students the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of issues related to the health and well-being of individuals and families. The program emphasizes student-led, individualized curricula and encourages the formation of working relationships between students and faculty.
Honor in Major can be pursued without participating in the Hamel Honors and Scholars College or completing Discovery Honors requirements. To learn more University Honors, visit the Hamel Honors and Scholars College . Students, however, must still complete all HDFS requirements for their concentration.
Student’s interested in pursuing Honor in Major need to schedule a meeting with the Hamel Honors and Scholars College Liaison, Dr. Kimberly Nesbitt. While applications must be submitted before the end of Spring semester of the Junior year, students are encouraged to apply early to allow maximum flexibility in completing program requirements.
GPA Requirements for Honors in Major
Honors in Major for HDFS is open all undergraduates in all department concentrations; however, students are required to maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.40 and a 3.40 grade-point average in the major.
Honors in Major Courses
Students must successfully complete sixteen (16) credits of honors in HDFS at the 600 level or above. Of those sixteen credits, only one course may be chosen from the 600 level, while three must be chosen from the 700 level. The 700-level coursework must include 4 credits (across two semesters) of HDFS 799 – Honors Senior Thesis. HDFS honors courses require independent work, readings, and meetings with the course instructor not required of other students enrolled in the course.
Honors Thesis
Students must successfully complete four credits of HDFS 799 – Honors Senior Thesis. HDFS 799 is a two-credit course that is taken pass/fail over both semesters of the student’s senior year. As part of the thesis process, honors candidates must present a proposal to their faculty advisors that includes active student participation in original research. Once their research is completed, honors students must present their findings at a seminar (typically the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference ) and submit a written thesis to their faculty advisor.
Learn more about Honors in Major:
Honors in Major Guidelines and Thesis Requirements
Honors in Major Course Designation Form
Departmental Research Interest
Contact Information
For more information, contact:
Dr. Kimberly Nesbitt
Honors Program Liaison
Phone: (603) 862-2159
Email: kimberly.nesbitt@unh.edu
Students interested in our Human Development and Family Studies major may also be interested in these advanced degree offerings:
Visit our website to see whether our program meets your professional licensure requirements.
