Human Development and Family Sciences Concentration

The Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) concentration prepares students for employment in a variety of roles across many human service fields such as child care professionals, social service workers in child and family agencies, advocates for youth and adolescents, parent educators, crisis and support service providers, facilitators of adult adjustment, and Cooperative Extension specialists. Students selecting the thesis option also will be prepared for further graduate study at the doctoral level.

A non-thesis focus area in Gerontology is available in this program in partnership with Great Plains*Idea and can be completed 100 percent online.

HESC 5403:  Advanced Studies in Family Relations 

HESC 5423: Theories of Human Development

HESC 5433: Advanced Studies in Child Development

HESC 5413: Adult Development

HESC 5453: Aging in the Family

HESC 5473: Cognitive Health

HESC 5483: Creativity and Aging

HESC 5493: Environments and Aging

HESC 5803: Gender and Aging

HESC 5813: Gerontechnology

HESC 5823: Mental Health and Aging

HESC 5843: Physical Health and Nutrition in Aging

HESC 5853: Policy and Aging

HESC 5873: Seminar in Long Term Care

Other courses are available to fill these requirements. An advisor will recommend the best courses to meet your professional goals and degree requirements.

Graduate-level Statistics Courses (3 hours required): 

EDFD 6403: Education Statistics & Data Processing

ESRM 5393: Statistics in Education & Health Professions

ESRM 6403: Educational Statistics & Data Processing

AGST 4023: Principles of Experimentation*

PLSC 5913: Research Methods in Political Science

STAT 4003: Statistics Methods

STAT 4001L: Statistics Methods Laboratory

*offered online

Research Methods Courses (3 hours required):

HESC 5463/AGED 5463 Research Methodology in Social Sciences

A graduate level statistics course is a prerequisite to this course.

 
Because our students are often working professionals with busy lifestyles, we offer 2 flexible options for completing this degree:

Thesis Track:

  • On campus
  • 30 hours total
  • 12 hours HDFS core courses
  • 3 hours statistics
  • 3 hours research methods
  • 6 hours approved electives
  • 6 hours thesis & defense to pass program

Non-Thesis Track:

  • 100% online
  • 33 hours
  • 15 hours HDFS or Gerontology core classes
  • 3 hours statistics
  • 3 hours research methods
  • 12 hours elective
  • Oral and written exam to pass program