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The undergraduate major in human development and family studies (HDFS) offers specialized courses in human development from infancy through old age, couples and family relationships, research methods, policymaking, parent-child relations, family health and well-being, parent education and support, and ethnic and cultural diversity in families. In addition to coursework, all students engage in a 150-hour, semester-long internship or high-impact learning experience in a professional setting related to their major and career goals. These settings include community mental health programs, early childhood education, legislative offices, health care agencies, research labs, criminal justice systems, child and family life education, and community-based social justice programs.

The major prepares students for careers in human and family service organizations and for graduate or professional school in a variety of fields including health care, education, family law, counseling, occupational therapy, program evaluation, physical therapy, case management, and the child life profession.

Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) 

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) provides the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential, which is recognized in the U.S. and Canada for Family Life Education professions.

The program encourages applications from professionals who have preparation and experience in Family Life Education settings, including formal teaching, research/scholarship, community education, public information and education, curriculum and resource development, health care, military family support, and ministry. CFLEs have a minimum of a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees.

Certification must include graduating from HDFS, which is a CFLE-approved program here at UW-Madison.

Students seeking this designation must complete the following courses: HDFS 262, 263, 425, 471, 474, 501: Skills for Helping Professions, 516, 517, 535, 601, 650, CNSR SCI 273, PSYCH/SOC 453 OR GEN&WS 103.

For additional information, please contact SoHE's Advising & Career Center or Polina Levchenko, HDFS Faculty Associate. 

Infant Mental Health (IMH)

The HDFS course concentration in IMH focuses on promoting the social emotional development of children age 0-6 years within the family and community context. It is designed to be compatible with IMH Endorsement by the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH)—entry level Infant Family Associate Endorsement.

Please note that one must be a member of the organization and apply for endorsement with references in addition to completing the B.S. in HDFS with course requirements and guidelines specified below.

Competency areas:

  1. Theoretical foundations
    • Any course in HDFS Learning Outcome 1 AND
    • HDFS 471 in Learning Outcome 3 AND
    • HDFS 663 OR HDFS 650 in Learning Outcome 5
  2. Law, regulation, and agency policy
    • HDFS 535 in Learning Outcome 4
  3. Systems expertise
    • HDFS 469 in Learning Outcome 4 OR
    • HDFS 516 AND 517 in Learning Outcome 
  4. Direct service skill
    • HDFS 663 in Learning Outcome 5 AND
    • Relevant internship (HDFS 601) and HDFS Professional Development sequence
  5. Working with others
    • Any course in Learning Outcome 2 AND
    • HDFS 601 
  6. Communicating
    • Comm A and Comm B requirements for HDFS major
  7. Thinking
    • Any Research Methods Course in Learning Outcome 6 AND
    • Quant A and Quant B requirements for HDFS major AND
    • HDFS 663 in Learning Outcome 5 

For additional information, please contact SoHE's Advising & Career Center or Julie Poehlmann-Tynan, Professor in HDFS. 

Prospective UW–Madison Students

All prospective UW-Madison students must apply through the central Office of Admissions and Recruitment

Students who indicate an interest in human development and family studies (HDFS) on their UW-Madison application will be admitted to the program upon admittance to the university. In addition, students may indicate interest the HDFS major when registering for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR). 

Current UW–Madison Students

Declaration 
  • First-semester students may declare SoHE majors.
  • All students with fewer than 60 GPA credits, a minimal 2.75 cumulative GPA, and not on probation in their current school/college may declare SoHE majors.
Application
  • All other students must apply through a competitive application process. 

The best way for interested students to learn more about declaring or applying to a major is to visit SoHE’s advising webpage. Additional questions may be addressed by scheduling to meet with an academic advisor.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

General Education
  • Breadth—Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
  • Breadth—Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
  • Breadth—Social Studies: 3 credits
  • Communication Part A & Part B *
  • Ethnic Studies *
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B *

* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements.

School of Human Ecology Requirements

Arts and Humanities
Literature3
Humanities6
Social Science
PSYCH 202 Introduction to Psychology3-4
Select 6 credits designated Social Science breadth6
Physical, Biological and Natural Science9
Human Ecology Breadth3
Select a Human Ecology course from CNSR SCI, CSCS, DS, or INTER-HE
Total Credits30-31

Human Development and Family Studies Requirements 

A complete list of requirements is below. Students should follow the curriculum requirements in place at the time they entered the major. This requirement list should be used in combination with a DARS report.

Learning Outcome 1: Lifespan Human Development
Earlier Lifespan
Select one of the following:3
Development of the Young Child
Human Development in Infancy and Childhood
Child Development
Later Lifespan
HDFS 263 Development from Adolescence to Old Age3
Learning Outcome 2: Family and Community Diversity
Select one of the following:3
Introduction into Cultural Diversity of Families
Families & Poverty
Racial Ethnic Families in the U.S.
Learning Outcome 3: Internal Family Processes
Select one of the following:3
Parent - Child Relations
Stress and Resilience in Families Across the Lifespan
Couple Relationships
Learning Outcome 4: Social Institution Influences
Select one of the following:3
Infant/Toddler Development & Group Care
Play-Development and Role Across the Lifespan
Family and Community Influences on the Young Child
A Family Perspective in Policymaking
Learning Outcome 5: Assessment, Prevention, Intervention, and Outreach
Select one of the following:3
Parent Education and Support Programs
Developmental and Family Assessment
Learning Outcome 6: Understanding Social Science Research
Statistics
Select one of the following:3-4
Statistics for Sociologists I
Introduction to Statistical Methods
Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences
Basic Statistics for Psychology
Research Methods
Select one of the following:3
Research Methods in Human Development and Family Studies
Research Methods
Methods of Sociological Inquiry
Professional Development
HDFS 253 Human Development & Family Studies Leadership Symposium1
INTER-HE 202 SoHE Career & Leadership Development1
HDFS 601 Internship3
Additional high-impact practice course to be approved by the student's SoHE academic advisor 13
Electives
Select courses to bring degree credit total to 120
Total Credits32-33
1

Examples include service learning course, second internship or research experience, study abroad experience, select upper-level HDFS courses, or undergraduate teaching assistantship experience.

University Degree Requirements

Total Degree To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.
Residency Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.
Quality of Work Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.
  1. Knowledge of lifespan human development (including cognitive, social, and emotional development and individual differences) in social and ecological contexts.
  2. Knowledge of family and community diversity.
  3. Knowledge of internal family processes, including parenting and parent-child relations, couples, and family relationships across generations and family health and wellbeing.
  4. Ability to consider and evaluate how children, adults, and individual families affect and are affected by policies, media, or other social institutions.
  5. Knowledge about the effective and ethical practice of assessment, prevention, intervention, or outreach for individuals and families.
  6. Ability to understand, evaluate, and ethically conduct social science research.

This is a sample four-year plan for Human Development and Family Studies. We encourage all students to consult with their academic advisor to develop an individualized plan that meets their specific needs.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
Communications A3Communications B3-4 
Ethnic Studies3PSYCH 2023-4 
Quantitative Reasoning A3Humanities3 
Science3Science3 
Elective3SoHE Breadth3 
 15 15-16 
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
HDFS 2531INTER-HE 2021 
HDFS 262, PSYCH 460, or ED PSYCH 3203HDFS 2633 
Social Science3Literature3 
Humanities3Science3 
Elective3Social Science3 
 Elective2 
 13 15 
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
HDFS 174, 465, or 4743HDFS 425, PSYCH 225, or SOC 3573HDFS 6013
Elective3-4HDFS 471, 516, or 5173 
Elective3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
STAT 301, 371, PSYCH 210, or SOC 360 (Statistics (Quantitative Reasoning B)3Elective3 
 15 15 3
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
HDFS 535, 469, 464, or 4623HDFS 650 or 6633 
High Impact Practice-Based Course3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
 15 15 
Total Credits 121-122

Advising & Career Center

The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni. 

Academic Advising

Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience. 

To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE

Career Development

Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through individual and group advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.

To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.

For more information, visit the School of Human Ecology Human Development and Family Studies faculty and staff directory. 

internships

Internships are a vital part of student career development and a highly valued component of the undergraduate curriculum in the School of Human Ecology. High-quality internships foster student development by bringing theories and classroom-based learning to life in real-world settings. In addition, internships give students the opportunity to explore careers related to their major, gain relevant experience in their field(s) of interest, and develop a better understanding of what is expected in a workplace by performing the tasks of a professional in that field.

For SoHE majors, internships are a requirement of our undergraduate curriculum. Students must have at least a junior standing (54+ credits) in order to pursue a 3-credit internship and must complete a minimum of 150 hours at the internship site. To be eligible, an internship must be educational in nature, directly relate to a student’s major and career goals, and be approved by the Advising & Career Center.

For some SoHE majors, additional course prerequisites may be required. For more information, visit SoHE Internships

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

School of Human Ecology student organizations include:

  • Apparel and Textile Association (ATA)
  • Badger$ense Financial Life Skills
  • Community & Nonprofit Leaders (CNPL) of UW–Madison
  • Financial Occupations Club for University Students (FOCUS)
  • Interior Design Organization (IDO)
  • Phi Upsilon Omicron (National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences)
  • Student Retail Association (SRA)

For more information about registering as a SoHE student organization, please visit SoHE Student Organizations

Learn more about UW–Madison registered student organizations through the Wisconsin Involvement Network

Advising & Career Center 

The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming SoHE alumni. 

Academic Advising

Each SoHE student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. SoHE academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective SoHE students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience. 

To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE academic advisor, visit Advising in SoHE

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. SoHE career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.

To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a SoHE career advisor, visit Career Development.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The School of Human Ecology awards many merit and need-based scholarships each year. The deadline to apply for scholarships is typically late January. To be eligible for these awards, scholarship recipients must be registered as full-time SoHE students.

Students who experience emergency financial situations may inquire about the availability of short-term loans through the SoHE Advising & Career Center. In addition, university scholarships, loans, and employment are available through the Office of Student Financial Aid (333 East Campus Mall; 608-262-3060).