Undergraduate Bulletin > Human Development and Family Studies

Department of Human Development and Family Studies

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies offers an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies. The programs include the study of the development of individuals and families throughout the life span, seeking to improve their well-being through the creation, use, and dissemination of knowledge. Programs of study in the department are multidisciplinary, requiring a synthesis of knowledge from the social and behavioral sciences and from the field of education. The goal of the Human Development and Family Studies Department is to provide the best opportunity in North Carolina for undergraduates to prepare for careers in child, adolescent, adult, and family care services; in the care and education of children with/without disabilities from birth to kindergarten; in business and community consumer services for families; teaching at the preschool level; and in cooperative extension and state agencies.

The Human Development and Family Studies major offers students the choice of four concentrations. The Early Care and Education concentration prepares students for careers in child care centers and agencies, private kindergartens, and hospital child care. Teacher licensure in Birth through Kindergarten education prepares students to teach in North Carolina public preschools and kindergartens. The Birth–Kindergarten and Early Care and Education concentrations are also available as online programs for students transferring in with an A.A.S. degree in early childhood from a N.C. Community College. The Child and Adolescent Development in the Family concentration prepares students for careers in community agencies that serve children, adolescents, and their families. The Family Studies concentration prepares students for family related careers in business, industry, and governmental and community service agencies.

The internship program within the Department provides students with opportunities for professional experiences in the career field of their choice. The Department also administers the Child Care Education Program at three sites with an enrollment of 80 children in all-day care. All serve as laboratories for the study of children and their families. The Family Research Center conducts research and policy studies that are aimed at improving life for children and families.

Admission to the Human Development and Family Studies Major

Any student may declare Human Development and Family Studies as a major upon entering the university.

Declaring pre-HDFS as a major does not assure the student will be granted admission into a concentration area within HDFS. Pre-HDFS majors cannot register for advanced courses; a student must be admitted to HDFS to take courses above HDF 410 and to complete work toward the degree.

Students who are anticipating admission to the major will be permitted to register for upper-level courses, but will not be permitted to take such courses unless they have been admitted by the department, or in the case of non-majors, have the permission of the instructor.

Students must meet the department requirements of the current catalog at the time they declare pre-Human Development and Family Studies as their major.

Admission to the HDFS department as a major is subject to space availability. If space is available, admission to HDFS programs will be granted to students who meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Completion of the following group of foundation courses with a C or better: HDF 211, 212, and 302 or 303 or 304
2. 51 s.h. with a minimum overall GPA of 2.50
3. Transfer students with 60 s.h. may apply for admission after completing 12 s.h. at UNCG with a minimum overall GPA of 2.50.

If space is limited in an HDFS program, preference will be given to students based on the following criteria:

Birth Through Kindergarten Licensure (U526, U746, U543):

1. Overall GPA
2. Performance in HDF/SES 315 and HDF/SES 341

Early Care and Education (U531, U532, U544):

1. Overall GPA
2. Performance in HDF/SES 315 and HDF/SES 341

Childhood and Adolescent Development (U508):

1. Overall GPA
2. Performance in HDF 211, HDF 212, and HDF 302 or HDF 303 or HDF 304

Family Studies (U530):

1. Overall GPA
2. Performance in HDF 211, HDF 212, and HDF 302 or HDF 303 or HDF 304

Admission forms are available in the department office in 248 Stone Building and online on the department Web site (www.uncg.edu/hdf).