University General Course Catalog 2025-2026 
    
    Dec 05, 2025  
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University General Course Catalog 2025-2026

Human Development and Family Science, B.S.

The program prepares students for a variety of careers such as administrators of child development or family services programs, child development specialists, school age program coordinators, youth program specialists, community education instructors, parent educators, family financial planners, consumer advocates and family public policy advocates. This major is not a teacher-preparation program. Through HDFS approved coursework or a national exam, students may earn certification in the practice of family science or the Certified Family Life Education (CFLE) credential. 

The study of theory and research findings is coordinated with a variety of supervised field experiences. Students investigate the ways individuals interact within the family system and with the larger socio-economic environment. In addition to Department Foundation and Core courses, students will select 18 credits from an approved list of Required Program Electives. Students are required to complete a 120-credit, integrated course of study which includes Silver Core coursework, HDFS coursework, and general electives that culminates in an internship experience during the senior year.

http://www.unr.edu/assessment/plans-and-forms/education/hdfs-bs

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • identify and describe the bio-psycho-social elements of the human lifespan, with emerging expertise in one developmental stage.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the common elements of all families as well as the diversity of family life and structure in the United States.
  • demonstrate skills in oral and written communication in topics related to Human Development and Family Studies. (C)
  • demonstrate an understanding of prominent HDFS theories.
  • apply field-related knowledge, theory, and practices to solve problems in professional settings. (CT)
  • formulate research questions and develop an analysis plan to collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer those questions. (QR)

Contact Information

College of Education and Human Development Advisement Center
William Raggio Building, Room 2005
(775) 784-4298
coeadvisement@unr.edu

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno

Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking Print degree planner icon at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Graduation Requirements

  • Total Units | 120
  • Cumulative GPA | 2.0
  • University GPA | 2.0
  • Major GPA | 2.0
  • Residency Requirement | 30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
  • Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR
  • Upper-Division Requirement | 40 Upper-Division Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (24-27 units)

NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy .”

Students in this major must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course descriptions.

A. Composition & Communication; Critical Analysis & Use of Information (3-6 units) - CO1, CO3

B. Quantitative Reasoning (3 units minimum) - CO2

C. Physical & Natural Phenomena (6 units minimum) - CO4, CO4L

D. Cultures, Societies, & Individuals (3 units) - CO6

E. Artistic Composition, Interpretation, & Expression (3 units) - CO7

Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter for a list of approved CO7 courses .

F. History & Culture; Constitution (6 units) - CO5, CO8

II. Additional Core Requirements (0 units)

Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV).  Refer to the Core Curriculum   chapter in this catalog.

A. Science, Technology & Society - CO9

B. Diversity & Equity - CO10

C. Global Context - CO11

D. Ethics - CO12

E. Capstone Integration & Synthesis - CO13

F. Application - CO14

III. Additional College Requirements (0 units)

Included in major requirements.

IV. Major Requirements (51 units)

HDFS required courses completed more than 10 years before applying to the HDFS program will be evaluated to determine whether they need to be repeated due to outdated content.

A. Human Development and Family Science Core (24 units)

B. HDFS Required Program Electives (18 units)

In consultation with an academic advisor, select 18 units from the following list of approved program electives:

Select an adequate number of upper-division units to also meet University graduation requirements. 

C. Additional Required Courses (9 units)

V. Minor Requirements (0 units)

VI. Electives (39-42 units)

VII. Recommended Schedule

A. First Year

 

Fall Semester (15 units)

 

Spring Semester (15 units)

 

B. Second Year

 

Fall Semester (15 units)

 

Spring Semester (15 units)

 

C. Third Year

 

Fall Semester (15 units)

 

Spring Semester (15 units)

 

D. Fourth Year

 

Fall Semester (15 units)

  • Minor or General Elective (12 units)
  • HDFS RPE (3 units)

Spring Semester (15 units)

 

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