Human Development Program

James P. Buchanan, Ph.D., Director

This program offers all students, especially those majoring in the behavioral and social sciences, the opportunity to develop a multidisciplinary focus in human development. The academic aims of the concentration are to provide an understanding of:

1. Both normal and exceptional development of humans as biological and psychological organisms;
2. The relationship between individuals and family/social environment; and
3. The means to enhance human development, including a field experience in a human-development agency.

The 30-credit Human Development concentration is administered by an interdisciplinary board of faculty from the Psychology, Sociology, and Counseling and Human Services departments. Students interested in careers and graduate programs in human development should contact the director for more information on course choice and on integrating the concentration with various majors. Students who complete this concentration will have it noted on their transcripts. The Human Development concentration requires the following:  

1. PSYC 221 - (S) Childhood 
2. PSYC 222 - (S) Adulthood and Aging 
3. PSYC 225 - (S) Abnormal Psychology 
4. CHS 241 - (D) Case Management and Interviewing 
5. PSYC 360 - (W) Clinical Psychology  or CHS 242 - Counseling Theories  or SOC 115 - Introduction to Social Work 
6. BIOL 104 - (E) Anatomy, Physiology and Health
     or BIOL 202 - (E) The ABC’s of Genetics  or PSYC 231 - (E) Behavioral Neuroscience 
7. Three of the following courses with at least one course from the cultural-diversity group of: SOC 234 - (S,D) Cultural Anthropology , SOC 224 - (S,D) Race and Ethnic Relations , SOC 210 - (D,W) Marriage and the Family , HD 325 - Abnormal Child Psychology /PSYC 325 - Abnormal Child Psychology , HD 224 - Family Development , CHS 333 - (D) Multiculturalism in Counseling and Human Services , PSYC 237 - (D,S) Psychology of Women , or S/CJ 214 - (S) Juvenile Delinquency ; and at least one course from the applied skills group of: EDUC 222 - (W) Educational Psychology, PreK-4 , SOC 328 - Child Welfare , CHS 341 - Group Dynamics , CHS 323 - Psychiatric Rehabilitation , HD 334 - Couple and Family Therapy /PSYC 334 - Couple and Family Therapy , CHS 334 - Marital and Family Counseling , or PSYC 363 - Behavior Modification .
8. PSYC 480 - Field Experience in Clinical Settings  or CHS 380 - Internship in Counseling and Human Services  or SOC 480 - Internship in Social Work .