Human Development & Family Studies, BS and Child Health, MS
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies and Master of Science in Child Health
The joint program in B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies and M.S. in Child Health prepares students for certification as Child Life Specialists and is also relevant to other health-related careers.
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies and Master of Science in Child Health
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation with the joint degree: 150 hours (126 are taken for the BS in HDFS).
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
Joint Program Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by HDFS 290 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by HDFS 120 | ||
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
fulfilled by STAT 100 and any other course approved as Quantitative Reasoning I or II | ||
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Human Development and Family Studies Required | ||
| HDFS 101 | Opportunities, Careers in HDFS | 1 |
| HDFS 105 | Intro to Human Development | 3 |
| HDFS 120 | Intro to Family Studies | 3 |
| HDFS 290 | Intro to Research Methods | 4 |
| ACE 240 | Personal Financial Planning | 3 |
| CMN 101 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or CMN 111 & CMN 112 | Oral & Written Comm I and Oral & Written Comm II | |
| PSYC 100 | Intro Psych | 4 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
| STAT 100 | Statistics | 3 |
| Select one of the following health courses: | 3 | |
| Contemporary Nutrition | ||
| Contemporary Health | ||
| Substance Use and Family Health | ||
| Select one of the following child/adolescent development courses: | 3-4 | |
| Infancy & Early Childhood | ||
| Middle Childhood | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Select one of the following relationships/family courses: | 3-4 | |
| Self in Context | ||
| Close Relationships | ||
| Family Stress and Change | ||
| Select two of the following diversity courses: | 6 | |
| Child and Family Inclusion: Disability, Health, and Diversity | ||
| Families in Global Perspective | ||
| Asian Families in America | ||
| US Latina and Latino Families | ||
| Gender, Relationshps & Society | ||
| HDFS Study Abroad Experience | ||
| Inequality, Public Policy, and U.S. Families | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| LGBT Indiv, Fam & Community | ||
| Select one of the following applied courses: | 3-4 | |
| Research Internship | ||
| Independent Study or Research | ||
| Early Childhood Learning and Play | ||
| Honors Research or Thesis | ||
| Internship in HDFS | ||
| Applied Research Methods | ||
| Foundations of Leadership | ||
| Individualized Plan | 16-18 | |
| Choose from a list of HDFS courses based on individual career goals and in consultation with the HDFS Academic Advisor. At least 15 hours at 300 level or above. Courses taken to meet other HDFS requirements can not count toward the Individualized Plan. | ||
| Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan | ||
| Self in Context | ||
| Child and Family Inclusion: Disability, Health, and Diversity | ||
| Families in Global Perspective | ||
| Close Relationships | ||
| Infancy & Early Childhood | ||
| Middle Childhood | ||
| Adult Development | ||
| Families and the Law | ||
| US Latina and Latino Families | ||
| Statistical Reasoning for Everyday Life | ||
HDFS 335 | ||
| Gender, Relationshps & Society | ||
| Early Childhood Learning and Play | ||
| Socialization and Development | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
HDFS 406 | ||
| Hospitalized Children | ||
| Inequality, Public Policy, and U.S. Families | ||
| Family Stress and Change | ||
| Family Conflict Management | ||
| LGBT Indiv, Fam & Community | ||
| Substance Use and Family Health | ||
| Total Hours | 126 | |
Joint Program Requirements for the Master's Degree
Students in the joint program will apply 11 hours taken as an undergraduate toward the master's degree, using the following three courses (HDFS 405, HDFS 408, and HDFS 425).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HDFS 508 | Ethics in the Helping Professions | 4 |
| HDFS 518 | Therapeutic Play and Activities | 4 |
| HDFS 558 | Child Health Internship (enroll three semesters) | 15 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Other Requirements and Conditions (may overlap): | ||
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall within unit | 24 | |
| The minimum program GPA is 2.75 | ||
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies and Master of Science in Child Health
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| HDFS 101 | 1 |
| HDFS 105 | 3 |
| HDFS 120 | 3 |
| Composition I or CMN 101 or CMN 111 | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| HDFS Diversity course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| CMN 101 or 112 (or Composition) | 3 |
| STAT 100 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| PSYC 100 | 4 |
| HDFS Relationships/Family course | 3 |
| HDFS Diversity course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| SOC 100 | 4 |
| HDFS 290 | 4 |
| HDFS Child/Adolescent Development course | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 18 | |
| Total Hours 18 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ACE 240 | 3 |
| HDFS Applied course | 4 |
| HDFS Individualized Plan course | 3 |
| HDFS Health course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| HDFS Individualized Plan course (HDFS 405) | 3 |
| HDFS Individualized Plan course (HDFS 408) | 4 |
| HDFS Individualized Plan course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| HDFS Individualized Plan course (HDFS 425) | 4 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| HDFS Individualized Plan course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Fifth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| HDFS 518 | 4 |
| HDFS 558 | 5 |
| 9 | |
| Total Hours 9 | |
| Fifth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| HDFS 508 | 4 |
| HDFS 558 | 5 |
| 9 | |
| Total Hours 9 | |
| Fifth Year | |
|---|---|
| Summer Semester | Hours |
| HDFS 558 | 5 |
| 5 | |
| Total Hours 5 | |
Total Hours: 150
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies and Master of Science in Child Health
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to assess the developmental and psycho-social needs of infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to initiate and maintain meaningful and therapeutic relationships with infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to provide safe, therapeutic, and healing environments for infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to support infants, children, youth, and families in coping with stressful events.
- Students will be able to teach content, specific to the population served, including psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences, with infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to practice within the scope of their professional and personal knowledge and skill base.
- Students will be able to continuously engage in self-reflective professional child life practice.
- Students will be able to function as a member of the service team.
- Students will be able to represent and communicate to others child life practice and psycho-social issues of infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to integrate clinical evidence and fundamental child life knowledge into professional decision making.
- Students will be able to implement child life services within the structure and culture of the work environment.
- Learn HIPPA and other data privacy rules related to medical settings.
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies and Master of Science in Child Health
Department of Human Development & Family Studies
Department Head: Dr. Ramona Faith Oswald (roswald@illinois.edu)
Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Brian Ogolsky (bogolsky@illinois.edu)
Human Development & Family Studies website
Human Development & Family Studies faculty
222 Bevier Hall
905 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3790
hdfs@illinois.edu
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