Human Development and Family Sciences

College: Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Degree: BS
Specialized Admission: No

Description of Major

*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*

The Bachelors in Human Development and Family Sciences is designed to equip graduates to serve and advocate for children, youth, and families in applied settings, including human and health service agencies, child care settings, family life education, cooperative extension and related positions in business, industry and government.

The program requires a 12-hour minor or area of concentration in one of a variety of other academic areas which is individually planned and designed to enhance each student’s breadth and/or marketability. With early planning, double majoring or double minoring is a possibility and is encouraged.

Prerequisite Coursework

There are four (4) required pre-requisites for total of twelve (12) credit hours. The required pre-requisites may also be used to meet General Education requirements. Each must be completed with a final grade of B minus or higher.

CHD X220 (3) Child Growth and Development
FAD X230 (3) Family Relationships
STA 2XXX (3) Statistics. (Students may select any 2000-level statistics course; STA 2122 is preferred)
CHD 3243 (3) Contexts of Adolescent Development (must be taken first semester at FSU as a transfer student)

Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .

Requirements

Requirements for Progression to and Continuation in the Upper-Division Major:
Students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with at least half the required hours in General Education courses, including all English composition and mathematics, or an A.A. Degree, each required pre-requisite completed with required final grade or enrolled in last pre-requisite.

Departmental policy on grades and progress in the major:
A final grade of B minus or higher must be earned in CHD 2220, STA 2XXX , FAD 2230 and CHD3243. Students are only allowed two attempts in two of the four courses to achieve the required final grade of a B minus. If the required B minus is not made in three or more of the courses in the first attempt or the B minus is not made in the second attempt, then the student cannot continue in or enter into the major. This takes into consideration any graded attempt at any institution.

Major Program of Studies: (51 hours)

Human Development and Family Sciences Prerequisite Courses: (12 hours)
Each of the following must be completed with a final grade of B minus or better

CHD 2220 (3) Child Growth and Development
FAD 2230 (3) Family Relationships
STA 2XXX (3) Any 2000-level statistics course; STA 2122 preferred.
CHD 3243 (3) Contexts of Adolescent Development

Required Elective Course: (3 hours)
Select one course offered by the college, but must it come from outside this major.

Required Major Courses: (24 hours)
*FAD 3343 (3) Contexts of Adult Development and Aging
CHD 4537 (3) Parenting
CHD 4615 (3) Public Policy: Child and Family Issues
CHD 4630 (3) Methods of Studying Families and Children
FAD 4265 (3) Family Diversity
FAD 4932 (3) Pre-Professional Development (must have 90 credit hours completed toward the degree; must be completed with grade B minus or higher)
FAD 4805 (6) Practicum in Family & Child Science (must have completed four (4) of the required courses for the major and Pre-Professional Development prior to enrollment; must complete with a final grade of B minus or higher)

*FAD 3343 meets Upper Division Writing requirements and is available to students outside of the FCS major

*ALL major courses must be taken for a letter grade.*

Minor or area of concentration: (12 hours)
Minor/concentration must be approved by the department advisor

Other Coursework:
Students are urged to speak with a departmental advisor regarding appropriate electives. Internships are available and encouraged for senior students with a minimum 3.00 GPA in the major.

Digital Literacy: (1-3 hours)
CGS 2060 Computer Fluency (3) or any University accepted Digital Literacy course.

Oral Communication Competency: (1-3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with any University approved college-level course.

Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Prerequisites 12*
Required college Elective 3
Major Coursework 24
Minor or area of concentration 12
Digital Literacy 1-3
Oral Competency 1-3
Electives to bring total credits to 120

*Prerequisites may also be counted as part of General Education and/or the major.

Mapping

Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.

Remarks

1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.

Employment Information

Salary Information: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Representative Job Titles Related to this Major (Bachelor's Level): Academic Advisor, Adoption Specialist, Child Development Specialist, Child Protective Investigator , Child Support Investigator, Cooperative Extension Agent, Corrections Officer, Divorce/Family Mediator, Educational/Activities Program Director, Employee . Assistance Specialist, Family Advocate, Family Life Educator, Family Planning Counselor, Family Financial Educator, Family Support Worker, Foster Care Case Manager, Homeless Coalition Program Director, Juvenile Probation Officer, Legislative Analyst, Long-term Care Coordinator, Parent Educator, Preschool Teacher, Residential Care Counselor, Sexual Health Coordinator, Social and Community Services Manager, Veterans Support Specialist, Youth Services Caseworker

Representative Employers: 4-H, Academic Advising/Student Services, Adoption and Foster Care, Adult Education Centers, Child Protective Services, Community Action Programs, Community Education/Extension, Community Health Centers, Correctional Facilities, Courts, Criminal Justice, Crises Centers, Crisis or Hotline Services, Disability Services, Divorce Mediation, Domestic Violence Prevention, Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers, Early Childhood Family Education, Employee Assistance Programs, Head Start & Early Head Start, Health Care, Health Promotion Organizations, Homeless Coalition, Hospice, Hospitals, Marriage & Couple Relationship Education & Enrichment, Military Family Support, Neighborhood Youth Corporations, Nursing Homes, Parenting Centers, Peace Corp ., Planned Parenthood, Preschool/Daycare, Recreation Programs, Research, Residential Treatment, Schools - Public & Private, Senior Citizen Programs, Sexuality Education, Social Security, Social Welfare Offices, Transitional Housing Programs, Vocational Rehabilitation & Job Training, Women's Centers, Work Life Balance, Veterans Administration , YMCA/YWCA, Youth Organizations