Human Development and Family Studies, BA, Concentration: Individual and Family Services

About the Program

The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) field offers its professionals a chance to work with a variety of individuals of any age and their families in different service settings. HDFS courses prepare you for future work with members of families, helping them through systems and enhancing their relationships through experiential learning in the community while providing a foundation of knowledge for your career. The Individual and Family Services concentration is for those students who want to learn about and work with adolescents, adults or in all-age fields/settings along with their families. Students who successfully complete the program qualify for an abbreviated application process to obtain a CFLE (Certified Family Life Educator) certification after graduation. 

Degree Requirements

• 120 Credit Hours
• Minimum grade of C required for HDFS 35002 and HDFS 45001; C- required for ENGL 10400 and all BHS, HDFS, SOC, and Modern Language courses
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation
• Certain courses may only be available at one campus location

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits)

• English Composition (6 Credits): ENGL 10400 - English Composition I  and ENGL 10500 - English Composition II  
• Speech Communication (3 Credits): COM 11400 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication  
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits): SOC 38200 - Introduction To Statistics In Sociology  
• Natural Sciences (3 Credits): Select any course from the Natural Sciences Core list  
• Technology (3 Credits): Select any course from the Technology Core list  
• Humanities (3 Credits): Select any course from the Humanities Core list  
• Social Sciences (3 Credits): HDFS 21000 - Introduction To Human Development  
• Additional Credits (3 Credits): SOC 10000 - Introductory Sociology   
• First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits): BHS 10300 - First-Year Experience In Behavioral Sciences   

CHESS College Core (24 Credits)

• CHSS 10000 - Topics In Self & World (3 credits)
• CHSS 20000 - Topics In Knowledge (3 credits)
• CHSS 30000 - Topics In Individual & Society (3 credits)
• CHSS 40000 - Topics In Happiness (3 credits)
• World Language - Proficiency through Level IV in one world language (12 Credits)

Major Core (30 Credits)

• COM 21400 - Comparative Theories Of Interpersonal Communication
• HDFS 10100 - Working With Parents
• HDFS 20500 - Introduction To Family Dynamics
• HDFS 34601 - Sexuality, Intimacy And Family Life
• HDFS 41300 - Diversity In Families
• HDFS 45200 - Family Resource Management
• HDFS 46200 - Ethics And Professional Development In Family Life Education
• POL 34601 - Family Law
• SOC 35000 - Sociology Of Family
• SOC 38300 - Introduction To Research Methods In Sociology

Concentration Core (18 Credits)

• HDFS 35002 - Internship In HDFS Settings
• HDFS 45001 - Practicum In Family Life Education
• SOC 26100 - Basic Helping Skills For Human Services
• SOC 30600 - Methods In Human Services

• Pick any two:

• HDFS 34101 - Infants And Young Children In Family And Community
• HDFS 34200 - Adolescence In Family And Community
• HDFS 34400 - Adult Development in Families and Communities

Other Required Courses (18 Credits)

• Free Electives (18 Credits)

Civics Literacy Proficiency

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

• Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
• Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
• Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Total 120 Credits Required

Degree Map

Resources

The 8 semester plan of study is a recommended sequence of classes designed to show how this program can be completed within four years.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here. Annual FAFSA filing deadline is March 10. Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to stay eligible for the standard financial aid award.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester.  Certain exclusions apply.