Human Development and Family Sciences

Undergraduate Minor

Make a difference in the lives and relationships of others by learning to apply research-based knowledge and skills in Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS).

   Declare this minor

Students minoring in Human Development and Family Sciences will learn how people change across the life course within the contexts of families, schools and communities.

This minor complements other academic degrees such as education, public health, psychology, sociology and allied health sciences.

A minor in HDFS will enable you to

  • Explore how individuals develop and become resilient over time — particularly within the context of family, school and society.
  • Discover how significant relationships with parents, partners, teachers and friends can influence the ways in which we develop over time.
  • Consider how difficult contexts, such as poverty, can make lives and relationships more difficult to navigate.
  • Appreciate the diverse ways in which individuals and families thrive and survive.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Have a minimum OSU GPA of 2.0
  • All courses must be taken for a letter (A-F) grade
  • No more than two attempts at any course or pre-requisite

This minor is available to all majors, except those majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences

Minimum Grade Policy

A grade of C– or higher is required for all courses in a student’s undergraduate program of study.

This includes all courses and associated prerequisite courses in a student's undergraduate program of study for a major, minor or certificate as listed in the online course catalog.

Required courses

The following courses must be competed satisfactorily (see above) to fulfill the Human Development, and Family Sciences minor:

Scroll table left  right on mobile devices

Requirements (19 credits)
Course Credit hours
HDFS 201 Contemporary Families in the U.S. 3
HDFS 311 Infant and Child Development 4
HDFS 313 Adolescent Development 4
HDFS 314 Adult Development and Aging 4
HDFS 341 Family Studies 4

 

Scroll table left  right on mobile devices

Any three of the following elective courses (9-12 credits)
Course Credit hours
HDFS 240 Human Sexuality 3
HDFS 262 Introduction to Human Services 3
HDFS 360 Critical Thinking in HDFS 4
HDFS 312 Parenting Research and Application 4
HDFS 431 Family, School, and Community Collaboration 3
HDFS 432 Children and Youth with Special Needs 3
HDFS 444 Family Violence and Neglect 4
HDFS 447 Families and Poverty 4
HDFS 460 Family Policy 4

Total = 27 credits

 

   Declare this minor

 

  Also see academic catalog page for this undergrad minor.