HDFS Course Listing
HDFS 117 Lifespan Human Development
This introductory course is designed to give students an understanding of human development across the lifespan. Topics covered include theories of development, research methods for studying human development, physical growth and development, cognitive development, personality development, as well as social and moral development across the lifespan. The emphasis of the course is on addressing a topical approach to normative lifespan development and learning how research and theories help elucidate these topics.
HDFS 150B1 Men, Fatherhood & Families: Biocultural Perspectives
This course examines factors that contribute to variability in men's fatherhood roles, and the effects of fatherhood and fathering roles on men, their children, and their families. This is a topic with which we all have some experience and personal knowledge. This course will provide students with the tools and knowledge to expand their understanding of fathers in their own lives and across society utilizing several disciplinary lenses. The course is grounded in three theoretical perspectives to help us understand fatherhood as an adaptive human behavior across time and place. Applying a synthesis of these theoretical perspectives helps us to understand variability in paternal behavior in the context of human development and human adaptations to social and ecological conditions
HDFS 197A Introduction to Family Studies and Human Development
The focus of this 1-unit workshop is to help students successfully transition into the Family Studies & Human Development (FSHD) pre-major. Topics include: student success and time management, exploration of campus resources, professionalism, FSHD academic advising and graduation planning, academic writing, and personal exploration of careers and internships related to FSHD. This class combines activities, discussions, and guest speakers to help students explore interests, develop goals, and create meaningful experiences.
HDFS 237 Love, Intimacy, and Relationships
Behavioral science approach to close relationship development.
HDFS 257 Contemporary Families
Family relationships can be rewarding, challenging, complicated, and more. This course overviews research from the family science field covering topics related to contemporary family life including gender roles, work/family balance, marriage, parenthood, divorce, blended families, family violence, and related topics.
HDFS 323 Infancy/Child Development
Growth, development, and socialization of the child within the family setting, from conception to the middle school years; observations of infants and preschoolers.
HDFS 377 Adolescence
This course is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of adolescent development, including the relationships between theory, research, and practice. We will examine various aspects of adolescent development, focusing on the major developmental milestones (such as identity, intimacy, and sexuality), transitions, strengths, and challenges of adolescents, as well as the contexts in which these occur. Additionally, this course will introduce you to the practice of working with adolescents and their caregivers, and provide opportunities for you to apply research and theory to specific issues of adolescent development (such as best practices for structuring out of school programs).
HDFS 384 Leadership, Ethics, and Professional Practices
Theories and applications of leadership and communication applied to professional decision-making, planning and control in the workplace. Examination of personal and professional qualities essential for successful internship and career planning. Roles, responsibilities, and ethical standards for professionals will be examined.
HDFS 401 Basic Skills in Counseling
Selected counseling skills and their applications. Designed for students needing basic skills in counseling as an adjunct to other primary occupational functions. Approved as: Interdisciplinary course in HDFS major--Advanced Complementary perspectives.
HDFS 405 Theories of Counseling
Techniques for the study of human behavior; implications for improving adult-child relationships, applying various theories of counseling.
HDFS 408 Program Planning and Evaluation
The overall objective of this course is to guide and assist students as they conduct a thorough case study of an existing or proposed social service, educational or community program/agency. The course is designed to provide students with applied knowledge of program planning components as well as program evaluation techniques.
HDFS 413 Issues in Aging
This course addresses major issues facing older adults and their families, society, and how earlier life experiences influence our older adult years. This class will tackle questions such as: What opportunities and challenges do adults face as they age? What resources and barriers shape their lives? How do physiological, psychological, interpersonal/family, economic, and socio-historical factors affect the experience of aging? How do gender, social class, and ethnicity influence the experience of aging? How do government policies, community services, the healthcare system, and health interventions affect the lives and well-being of older adults?
HDFS 427A Mental Health & the Family: Adulthood
This course overviews a variety of mental illnesses and relationship problems in adulthood, with specific focus on how those issues impact individuals and their family systems. Prevention and treatment approaches for these issues are discussed, including research-supported therapeutic approaches and family-based strategies.
HDFS 427C Mental Health & the Family: Childhood & Adolescence
This course overviews intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and a variety of mental illnesses in childhood and adolescence, with specific focus on how those issues impact individuals and their family systems. Prevention and treatment approaches for these issues are discussed, including play-based and other therapeutic interventions, family-based methods, and school and community strategies.
HDFS 447A Sociocultural Context of Development
In-depth examination of human development from a sociocultural perspective; focus on socialization processes in childhood and adolescence and the role of the social and cultural context in those processes.
HDFS 450 Human Sexuality and Relations
Overview of human sexuality from development and interpersonal perspectives, topics to include reproductive physiology and health, sexual function and dysfunction, educational and intervention strategies.
HDFS 487 Theories of Interpersonal & Family Relationships
Critical analysis of selected studies and current research in family relations.
HDFS 491 Preceptorship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
HDFS 492 Directed Research
Individual or small group research under the guidance of faculty.
HDFS 493 Internship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
HDFS 496Z Topics in HDFS
In-depth coverage of special topics in Human Development and Family Science (rotating topics).
HDFS 497A Preparing for Graduate School
This course focuses on the process of identifying and preparing students to apply to Master's and PhD programs in graduate and professional school. This includes identifying programs of interest, mapping out plans on applying to them, constructing needed documents for applying, and information on the adjustment to and paying for graduate school. It also includes the importance of the development of alternative plans than one's identified program.
HDFS 498H Honors Thesis
An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
HDFS 499 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
HDFS 507A Research Methods in Family Studies and Human Development
In this course, we will read about and discuss the central research methods used in family studies and human development (FSHD). We will cover a range of data collection techniques (e.g., observational, daily diary, interview) and will consider their purposes, advantages, and challenges. We will also consider some key methodological issues in the design of research and will expose you to a number of styles of research (e.g., secondary/archival data analysis, applied/action-oriented, experimental intervention programs). We will also address some of the pragmatic skills needed to successfully engage in research, such as proposal writing and peer reviewing.
HDFS 537B Intermediate Quantitative Analysis
Focus on intermediate univariate and multivariate statistics as applied to research in Family Studies and Human Development. This material builds upon the topics covered in HDFS 537A, and provides a foundation for the study of more advanced quantitative techniques.
HDFS 546 Foundations of Family and Interpersonal Theory
The purpose of this course is to build an understanding of the major theoretical frameworks used in the disciplines of family studies and interpersonal relations. Students will gain a critical understanding of the major theoretical frameworks used to study family and interpersonal relationships, learn the basic principles and concepts associated with these frameworks, and begin to learn how to apply these theories to a variety of situations as well as a career path that includes growth in knowledge and use of family theoretical frameworks.
HDFS 602 Topics in Family, Interpersonal Relationships and Well-Being
This course covers various topics in family, interpersonal relationships and well-being. Exact topics will vary across semesters, students should contact instructor regarding exact course focus.
HDFS 604 Topics in Diverse Contexts for Development and Relationships
This course covers various topics in diverse contexts for development and relationships. Exact topics will vary across semesters, and students should contact instructor regarding exact course focus.
HDFS 606 Topics in Methodology and Data Analysis
This course covers various topics in methodology and data analysis. Exact topics will vary across semesters, and students should contact the instructor regarding exact course focus.
HDFS 607 Topics in Family Studies and Human Development
Advanced seminar class covering a variety of topics relevant to Family Studies & Human Development. Contact instructor for more information.
HDFS 696Z Family and Consumer Sciences
The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
HDFS 699 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Graduate students doing independent work which cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799.
HDFS 799A Independent Study for Comprehensive Examination
Independent Study for major written Comprehensive Examination. To receive a passing grade in the class, the student will need to take their written comprehensive exam that semester (before the grade is due). This requirement will be written into the Independent Study Proposal Form that is used to describe the student's plans and goals for their independent work over the semester. If there are extenuating circumstances, a student can potentially take an Incomplete (I) for the course, given the approval of their major advisor.
HDFS 900 Research
Individual research, not related to thesis or dissertation preparation, by graduate students.
HDFS 909 Master's Report
Individual study or special project or formal report thereof submitted in lieu of thesis for certain master's degrees.
HDFS 910 Thesis
Research for the master's thesis (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or thesis writing). Maximum total credit permitted varies with the major department.
HDFS 920 Dissertation
Research for the doctoral dissertation (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or dissertation writing).