Human Development and Family Sciences, Human Development and Family Sciences Honors (BSHDFS)
Degree - Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences (BSHDFS)
The Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences focuses on the study of human development, individuals in a family context, relationships, and well-being within the family and the broader social, economic, community, and governmental environment. Students in the program are expected to develop knowledge and understanding about human development and family dynamics through classroom experiences, observation of children and families, and research. They have opportunities to apply their knowledge through practicum experiences in research and placements in the field. The program is designed to give students excellent preparation for graduate training that leads to careers in academia, research, medicine, and other health professions, as well as for employment in a field involving work with children, families, and adults.
Students must be admitted to the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars Honors Program.
Total Hours Required: 120
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| SDS 320H | Elements of Statistics: Honors | 3 |
| HDF 305 | Health and Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: ECO, SOC, PSY, ANT, GOV, GRG, HIS, LIN, or PHL | 3 | |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) approved by departmental advisor | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | 3 |
| HDF 338 | Developmentally Appropriate Practices with Young Children | 3 |
| HDF 355H | Problems Course: Honors | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| H E 115H | Freshman Honors Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Hours chosen from: ECO, SOC, PSY, ANT, GOV, GRG, HIS, LIN, or PHL | 3 | |
| HDF 335 | Adult Development | 3 |
| NTR 306 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 3 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| BIO 315H | Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| HDF 315L | Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division GOV, GRG, HIS, LIN, or PHL | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| H E 225H | Sophomore Honors Seminar | 2 |
| BIO 325H | Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| M 408N | Differential Calculus for Science | 4 |
| HDF 347 | Socioeconomic Problems of Families | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division HDF | 3 | |
| GOV 310L | American and Texas Government | 3 |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division HDF | 3 | |
| HDF 372K | Families in Transition | 3 |
| HDF 322 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
| GOV 312L | Issues and Policies in American Government | 3 |
| RHE 309S | Critical Reading and Persuasive Writing (restricted to students in the Dean's Scholars Honors Program) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Coursework from the College of Liberal Arts and/or the College of Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division HDF | 3 | |
| HDF 379H | Honors Tutorial Course | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: (Must be additional honors-designated or approved coursework) | 3 | |
Biology |
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Chemistry |
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Computer Science |
||
Mathematics |
||
Statistics and Data Sciences |
||
Physics |
||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division HDF | 3 | |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division HDF | 3 | |
| HDF 340 | Ethical, Philosophical, and Professional Development Issues | 3 |
| HDF 358 | Parent-Child Relationships | 3 |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | ||
| Honors Breadth Requirement (credit earned by examination may not be counted toward this requirement) | ||
| Hours chosen from: (one of which must be a designated honors course) | 6 | |
Calculus course | ||
Statistics course | ||
| BIO 315H | Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| BIO 325H | Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: Additional coursework approved by the departmental honors advisor | 19 | |
| Hours chosen from: Coursework from the College of Liberal Arts and/or the College of Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Hours chosen from: (lower-division) | 13 | |
| Family Relationships: Honors | ||
| Child Development: Honors | ||
| Child Development Laboratory: Honors | ||
| Research Methods in Human Development and Family Sciences | ||
| Health and Development Across the Lifespan | ||
| Introduction to Gender and Sexuality | ||
| UGS 302 | First-Year Signature Course (Must be approved by the departmental honors advisor) | 3 |
| or UGS 303 | First-Year Signature Course | |
| Hours chosen from: | 1 | |
| Planning Your Capstone Experience (for Health Science Scholars) | ||
| Health Science Scholars Capstone Experience Preparation (for Dean's Scholars) | ||
| Polymathic Capstone Field Invention (for Polymathic Scholars) | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 6 | |
| Problems Course: Honors (taken twice) | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 6 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Honors Tutorial Course | ||
Hours chosen from: Upper-division research course approved by the departmental honors advisor | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Honors Tutorial Course | ||
| Honors Tutorial Course (second section) | ||
| Sequence 3 | ||
| Natural Sciences Topics | ||
| Capstone Thesis Seminar | ||
| Subtotal | 72 | |
| Degree (see details below) | 30 | |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 18 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 18 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Degree - Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences (BSHDFS)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | ||
| H E 101P | Professional Development I | 1 |
| H E 102P | Ethics Across Life | 1 |
| H E 103P | Professional Development II | 1 |
| Hours chosen from: Upper-division HDF (excluding HDF 322, HDF 357, HDF 359, HDF 352, HDF 652F, HDF 352L, HDF 652P, HDF 355H, HDF 355R, and HDR 379H) | 18 | |
| Select nine semester hours, at least three of which must be upper-division, from courses in economics, social or cultural anthropology, sociology, government, history, linguistics, philosophy, geography and the environment, and psychology (PSY 304, PSY 333D, and PSY 339 may not be counted toward this degree. Courses used to fulfill this requirement may not also be used to fulfill Core Curriculum requirements) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
At least 36 semester hours of upper-division coursework must be completed.
At least 21 semester hours must be completed in residence at the University.
At least 18 semester hours in the School of Health and Human Sciences must be completed in residence at the University.
Additional Requirements and Policy
Students must fulfill both the University's General Requirements for graduation and the college requirements. They must earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. More information about grades and the grade point average is given in the General Information Catalog.
Additional Requirements and Policy
Students must remain in good standing in the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars Honors Program, must submit an honors thesis, and present their research in an approved public forum, such as the college’s annual Undergraduate Research Forum or CNS Honors Thesis Symposium. More information about the Undergraduate Research Forum is available at https://cns.utexas.edu/.