Contact

Matthew Mulvaney, Undergraduate Program Director
mmulvane@syr.edu
144 White Hall

Description

The Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) is a dynamic interdisciplinary program that is informed by research and theory from the fields of anthropology, psychology, sociology, public policy, and education. We take a cross-cultural and life-span approach to the study of development across communities and contexts (e.g., families, schools, work, and hospitals). HDFS provides numerous opportunities for diverse career paths and advanced degree options. HDFS graduates are prepared to pursue careers as service providers, program administrators, human resource specialists in governmental and nongovernmental agencies serving children, youth, adults, and families. Additionally, graduates may work as advocates and researchers in educational institutions, health services, counselling, and family intervention programs. HDFS is a popular major for students interested in careers in law, medical or health related fields.

Students enrolled in the B.S. in Human Development and Family Science not only learn in the classroom, they receive first-hand experience in the community as well. Students complete a 180-hour community practicum that allows them to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to real life settings. As a result, students have a comprehensive understanding of children, youth, adults, and families in theory and in practice.

The B.S. degree program provides students with a broad foundation covering a range of issues focusing on the healthy development of children, youth, adults, and families across cultural contexts. In addition to liberal arts courses, students are expected to complete 43 credits of Program Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Explain principles of life span development and family science across diverse contexts and populations.
2. Utilize research to understand human development and family processes.
3. Write effectively about human development and family processes.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking skills on human development and family processes.
5. Apply knowledge of individual and family development to implement developmentally supportive and culturally responsive practices.

Program Requirements 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
University Requirement
FYS 101	First Year Seminar	1
Non-HFS Requirements		12-14
Statistics
Select one of the following:
MAT 121	Probability and Statistics for the Liberal Arts I
MAT 194	Precalculus
MAT 221	Elementary Probability and Statistics I
MAT 285	Life Sciences Calculus I
MAT 295	Calculus I
Select one of the following:
GEO 386	Quantitative Geographic Analysis
MAT 122	Probability and Statistics for the Liberal Arts II
MAT 222	Elementary Probability and Statistics II
MAT 285	Life Sciences Calculus I
MAT 286	Life Sciences Calculus II
MAT 296	Calculus II
MAX 201	Quantitative Methods for the Social Sciences
PSY 252	Statistical Methods II
Additional Required Courses		6
PSY 205	Foundations of Human Behavior
or PSY 209	Foundations of Human Behavior/ Honors Section
PHI 191	The Meaning of Life
or PHI 192	Introduction to Moral Theory
HFS Required Courses		43
Required courses, 34 credits consisting of the following five categories:
Interpersonal Competence
HFS 255	Interpersonal Competence
Life Span Development
HFS 202	Development of Children
HFS 363	Midlife Development and Gerontology
HFS 474	Promises and Problems in Youth and Emerging Adulthood
Family Science
HFS 201	Family Development
Select two of the following:
HFS 325	Children and Families in Health Care Settings
HFS 395	Risk, Resilience, and Intervention
HFS 479	Power, Conflict, Violence, and the Family
HFS 487	Critical Incidents in Family Development
Research
HFS 204	Applied Research Methods in Child and Family Studies
Cross-Cultural Perspectives (1 out of 2)
HFS 467	Child and Family in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
or HFS 482	Development in Immigrant & Refugee Families
Internship
HFS 391	Introduction to Internship Experience
HFS 492	Child Internship
or HFS 493	Youth and Family Practicum
HFS 494	HDFS Capstone Internship
Human Development and Family Science Electives
Take 9 credits of HDFS electives numbered 300 or higher.		9
Only 6 credits from the following courses can be counted as HDFS electives: HFS 470 or HFS 490
A course may not be counted more than once within the degree for fulfillment of a required course or elective course.
Total Credits		71-73

Certifications

Students wishing to pursue a certification or credential in Child Life Specialist (CLS) are advised to consult with their academic advisors during their sophomore year or earlier. Transfer students should consult with their academic advisors as soon as they are admitted to the HDFS department.

Our B.S. degree is endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).  Graduates of our program can establish eligibility for certification as a Child Life Specialist through the ACLP. The ACLP requirements for certification include four components:

1. Earning your bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution;
2. Enrolling in and completing the 10 required Child Life Specialist Courses; 
3. Completing a 600-hour clinical internship; and
4. Passing the professional  certification exam.

As an endorsed program, students who successfully complete the 10 required courses and graduate with our B.S. degree are eligible to pursue the 600-hour clinical internship. After the completion of the 600-hour clinical internship, eligibility is established for the professional certification exam. 

Students interested in becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist must follow eligibility requirements. Eligibility Requirements established the Association of Child Life Professionals.

For specific details regarding eligibility and certification requirements, please reference the Association of Child Life Professionals website.

Early Childhood Education Master’s Degree 4+1

Students earning a degree in human development and family science who wish to be dually certified as early childhood teachers (birth through grade 2 in both general and special education) have the opportunity to apply for a 15-month master’s degree in early childhood special education (ECSE) through the School of Education.at Syracuse University. Students who enroll in this degree program currently receive a substantial reduction in their graduate tuition. Potential applicants should look for current information about the program and its start dates, tuition reduction, and admissions requirements on the program’s website at the start of their last year of undergraduate study.

Students considering this 4+1 option should work with their academic advisor to complete these specific liberal arts requirements during their undergraduate program.

• a writing course with a B- or better grade
• two appropriate courses in college-level mathematics with course grades averaging to a B- or better with no grade below a C.
• two sciences with laboratories (physical sciences recommended) with course grades averaging to a B- or better with no grade below a C;  
• one humanities course that is not arts-related or history*
• one social science course that is not psychology or history*
• at least one class in history* (which may count toward fulfilling liberal arts core requirements in the social sciences or humanities, depending on the course); and
• An art or music history course* (e.g. HOA or HOM) that would also meet a humanities requirement).
• First college course in a language other than English¹ (LOTE) (e.g. 101 at Syracuse University) or successful completion of Level III of a LOTE in high school.

¹

With no grade less than a C

Interested undergraduate students should contact the ECSE program coordinator about taking other courses that might help reduce the number of graduate credits for the program.

SU Abroad

The College, in cooperation with the Syracuse University Abroad (Syracuse Abroad), strongly encourages students to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. Study abroad options include semester, summer, and short-stay programs. It is essential that students begin planning early for study abroad and work closely with their academic advisors.

For further information, contact Syracuse University Abroad, 106 Walnut Place, 315-443-3471.

For the most up to date information VISIT the Syracuse Abroad website

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements 

For all Arts and Sciences|Maxwell students, successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in this major requires a minimum of 120 credits, 96 of which must be Arts and Sciences|Maxwell credits, completion of the Liberal Arts Core requirements, and the requirements for this major (30 credits) that are listed above.

Dual Enrollments:

Students dually enrolled in Newhouse* and Arts and Sciences|Maxwell will complete a minimum of 122 credits, with at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences|Maxwell coursework and an Arts and Sciences|Maxwell major.

*Students dually enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences|Maxwell as first year students must complete the Liberal Arts Core. Students who transfer to the dual program after their first year as singly enrolled students in the Newhouse School will satisfy general requirements for the dual degree program by completing the Newhouse Core Requirements.

Undergraduate University Requirements

The following requirements and experiences apply to all Syracuse University Undergraduate matriculated degree programs.

• ​IDEA Course Requirement 
• First Year Seminar