College: Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Degree: BS in Human Development and Family Science
Specialized Admission: No
Address: 207 Sandels Building
Phone: (850) 644-5279
Email: annescollege-studentservices@fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The Bachelors in Human Development and Family Sciences is designed to equip graduates to serve and advocate for children, youth, and families in applied settings, including human and health service agencies, child care settings, family life education, cooperative extension and related positions in business, industry and government.
The program requires a 12-hour minor or area of concentration in one of a variety of other academic areas which is individually planned and designed to enhance each student’s breadth and/or marketability. With early planning, double majoring or double minoring is a possibility and is encouraged.
There are three (3) required pre-requisites for total of nine (9) credit hours. The required pre-requisites may also be used to meet General Education requirements. Each must be completed with a final grade of C minus or higher.
CHD X220 (3) Child Growth and Development
FAD X230 (3) Family Relationships
STA 2XXX (3) Statistics. (Students may select any 2000-level statistics course; STA 2122 is preferred)
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Progression to and Continuation in the Upper-Division Major:
Students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with at least half the required hours in General Education courses, including all English composition and mathematics, or an A.A. Degree, each required pre-requisite completed with required final grade.
Major Program of Studies: (30 hours)
Required Elective Course: (3 hours)
Select one course offered by the college, but must it come from outside this major. <see advisor if needed>
Required Major Courses: (27 hours)
CHD 3243 (3) Contexts of Adolescent Development
CHD 4537 (3) Parenting
CHD 4615 (3) Public Policy: Child and Family Issues
CHD 4630 (3) Methods of Studying Families and Children
FAD 4265 (3) Family Diversity
*FAD 3343 (3) Contexts of Adult Development and Aging
FAD 4932 (3) Pre-Professional Development (must have 90 credit hours completed toward the degree)
FAD 4805 (6) Practicum in Family & Child Science (must have completed four (4) of the required courses for the major and Pre-Professional Development prior to enrollment)
*FAD 3343 meets Upper Division Writing requirements and is available to students outside of the HDFS major
Note: All major and prerequisite courses must be completed with a letter grade of C minus or better.
Minor or area of concentration: (12 hours)
Minor/concentration must be approved by the department advisor
Other Coursework:
Students are urged to speak with a departmental advisor regarding appropriate electives. Internships are available and encouraged for senior students with a minimum 3.00 GPA in the major.
Digital Literacy: (1-3 hours)
CGS 2060 Computer Fluency (3) or any University accepted Digital Literacy course.
Oral Communication Competency: (1-3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with any University approved college-level course.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Prerequisites 9*
Required college Elective 3
Major Coursework 30
Minor or area of concentration 12
Digital Literacy 1-3
Oral Competency 1-3
Electives to bring total credits to 120
*Prerequisites may also be counted as part of General Education and/or the major.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
Salary Information: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major (Bachelor's Level): Academic Advisor, Adoption Specialist, Child Development Specialist, Child Protective Investigator , Child Support Investigator, Cooperative Extension Agent, Corrections Officer, Divorce/Family Mediator, Educational/Activities Program Director, Employee . Assistance Specialist, Family Advocate, Family Life Educator, Family Planning Counselor, Family Financial Educator, Family Support Worker, Foster Care Case Manager, Homeless Coalition Program Director, Juvenile Probation Officer, Legislative Analyst, Long-term Care Coordinator, Parent Educator, Preschool Teacher, Residential Care Counselor, Sexual Health Coordinator, Social and Community Services Manager, Veterans Support Specialist, Youth Services Caseworker
Representative Employers: 4-H, Academic Advising/Student Services, Adoption and Foster Care, Adult Education Centers, Child Protective Services, Community Action Programs, Community Education/Extension, Community Health Centers, Correctional Facilities, Courts, Criminal Justice, Crises Centers, Crisis or Hotline Services, Disability Services, Divorce Mediation, Domestic Violence Prevention, Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers, Early Childhood Family Education, Employee Assistance Programs, Head Start & Early Head Start, Health Care, Health Promotion Organizations, Homeless Coalition, Hospice, Hospitals, Marriage & Couple Relationship Education & Enrichment, Military Family Support, Neighborhood Youth Corporations, Nursing Homes, Parenting Centers, Peace Corp ., Planned Parenthood, Preschool/Daycare, Recreation Programs, Research, Residential Treatment, Schools - Public & Private, Senior Citizen Programs, Sexuality Education, Social Security, Social Welfare Offices, Transitional Housing Programs, Vocational Rehabilitation & Job Training, Women's Centers, Work Life Balance, Veterans Administration , YMCA/YWCA, Youth Organizations
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2026 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-Track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
The Human Development and Family Sciences program introduces students to applied developmental sciences, with an emphasis on the development process within family contexts and in different settings. It provides students with an introduction to working in applied settings, including hospitals, human service agencies, education, and child care settings. The program requires a 12-hour minor or area of concentration in one of a variety of other academic areas which is individually planned and designed to enhance each student’s breadth and/or marketability. With early planning, double majoring or double minoring is a possibility and is encouraged.
Mapping Coordinator: Amy Sanderson
Email: aesanderson@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| GE Core Mathematics3 |
| GE History3 |
| CGS2060 Digital Literacy3 |
| GE Core Social Science3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context3 |
| CHD2220 Child Growth and Development3 |
| GE Core Humanities/Cultural Practice3 |
| GE Natural Science3 |
| GE Social Science3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete CHD2220 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| GE Mathematics or Statistics (STA2122 Applied Statistics recommended)3 |
| FAD2230 Family Relationships3 |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice3 |
| CoreFSU Requirement3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete FAD2230 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course; recommend Statistics; STA2xxx ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| GE Core Natural Science w/Lab4 |
| CoreFSU Requirement3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete STA2xxx ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| FAD3343 Contexts of Adult Development and Aging3 |
| CHD3243 Contexts of Adolescent Development3 |
| Required college Elective course3 |
| Concentration course3 |
| Concentration course3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete CHD3243 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete Required college Elective course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Civics Literacy requirement |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| CHD4537 Parenting3 |
| CHD4630 Methods of Studying Families and Children3 |
| Concentration course3 |
| Concentration course3 |
| SPC1017 Speech or other approved Oral Communication Competency course3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete four major/concentration courses |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| FAD4932 Pre-Professional Development3 |
| FAD4265 Family Diversity3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Complete FAD4932 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete a Pre-Graduation Check |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| FAD4805 Practicum in Family & Child Science6 |
| CHD4615 Public Policy: Child and Family Issues3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Complete FAD4805 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Apply for graduation in 1st two weeks |