A major is Human Development and Human Services prepares students for graduate study or a variety of bachelor-level careers in education, social work, sociology, psychology, human services, social services, and related fields.

The Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Human Services provides students with a broad based and interdisciplinary education focused on the preparation of individuals who seek a career in a wide variety of professional settings in education, human services, social services, and related fields.  The major is specifically designed to encourage students to self-design their major field of study while also completing a core set of courses in the liberal arts and in the interdisciplinary field of Human Development and Human Services.

Students enrolled as Human Development and Human Services majors select an area of concentration based on their interest.  Concentrations include: Early Childhood (Ages 3-8), School Age (Ages 5-12), Administrative, and Advocacy.  Each of these concentrations includes a field placement and the option for an internship.

Initial teacher licensure preparation for the Early Childhood: Teacher of Children with and without Disabilities (PreK-2) is another option for Human Development and Human Services majors.  The initial license qualifies students to begin teaching in the state of Massachusetts, and is reciprocal with most other states under the Interstate Certification Compact. It should be noted that the initial teacher license is the second of 3 levels of licensure for Massachusetts schools.

The major in Human Development and Human Services requires students to take eight foundation courses which support the degree and are drawn from the disciplines already established in Division III (Education, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology).  The specific area of concentration and remaining courses will be selected according to the student’s focus of study.  This plan will be designed in consultation with the student’s academic advisor and Division III faculty.

• HDS 310 Observation, Documentation, and Assessment
• HDS 315 Family and Community Relationships
• PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology
• SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology
• SWK 307 Racial and Cultural Minorities
• SWK 350 Child Abuse/Family Preservation/Permanency Planning

One of the following:

• PSY 207 Child Development
• PSY 215 Psychology of Adolescence
• PSY 217 Human Life span Development
• SWK 348 Growth & Behavior & the Social Environment I
• SWK 349 Growth & Behavior & the Social Environment II

One of the following:

• HDS 490 Fostering Mental Health: Supporting the Human Spirit
• PSY 490 Group Dynamics

Students may choose from the following concentrations or self-design a concentration with advisor approval.

• HDS 205 Guiding Children’s Behavior
• EDU 310 Language Arts & Children’s Literature
• EDU 311 Curriculum in Early Childhood (w/field placement)
• EDU 499 Internship

Two of the following:

• EDU 212 Developmental Disabilities
• EDU 330 Strategies for Inclusion
• EDU 331 Learning Disabilities I           
• EDU 332 Learning Disabilities II
• EDU 336 Psychology of the Exceptional Child

• HDS 204 Selected Contemporary Issues in Health
• HDS 205 Guiding Children’s Behavior 
• EDU 310 Language Arts & Children’s Literature
• EDU 314 School Age Curriculum (w/field placement)
• EDU 499 Internship

One of the following:

• EDU 212 Developmental Disabilities
• EDU 330 Strategies for Inclusion
• EDU 331 Learning Disabilities I           
• EDU 332 Learning Disabilities II
• EDU 336 Psychology of the Exceptional Child

• HDS 204 Selected Contemporary Issues in Health
• BUS 260  Principles of Management
• BUS 316 Human Resource Management
• HDS 450 Principles of Supervision (w/field placement)

One of the following:

• BLP 110 Leadership
• EDU 203 Child Care Administration

One of the following:

• HDS 490 Fostering Mental Health: Supporting the Human Spirit
• PSY 490 Group Dynamics

• BLP 110 Leadership
• SWK 242 Introduction to Social Welfare as a Social Institution
• SWK 323 Child Welfare: Writing for the Courts
• SWK 342 Social Welfare Policies
• HDS 499 Internship
• One upper level course of interest relating to concentration

Advisor approval is needed for a self designed program of study. Possible courses include a selection of any of the above listed concentration courses and/or:

• EDU 201 Education, Culture & Society
• EDU 346 Multicultural Education
• HDS 302 The Human Condition in the Era of Biotechnology
• PSY 202 Advanced General Psychology
• PSY 306 Abnormal Psychology           
• PSY 308 Advanced Abnormal Psychology
• PSY 313 Psychology of Personality
• SWK 408 Marriage & Family
• EDU/HDS/PSY/SWK 499 Internship (3 -9 credits)

Students in any major may minor in Human Development and Human Service by completing:

Required:

• HDS 310 Observation, Documentation, & Assessment (w/field placement)
• SWK 350 Child Abuse/Family Preservation/Permanency Planning

One of the following:

• PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology
• SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology

One of the following:

• SWK 307 Racial & Cultural Minorities
• HDS 315 Family & Community Relationships

One of the following:

• PSY 207 Child Development
• PSY 215 Psychology of Adolescence
• PSY 217 Human Life span Development          
• SWK 348 Growth & Behavior & the Social Environment I
• SWK 349 Growth & Behavior & the Social Environment II

One of the following:

• HDS 490         Fostering Mental Health: Supporting the Human Spirit (or)        
• PSY 490          Group Dynamics

For more information, please contact:
Christine L. Holmes, Ed.D.
Chair, Division of Human Development and Human Services
(508) 849-3418
cholmes@annamaria.edu