Students on a basketball court showing others how to perform exercises.

The Prevention and Intervention Sciences concentration is designed for students who are preparing for careers in the helping and human services professions such as counselors, educators, student affairs professionals, public health and social service providers, as well as for students seeking a research career in human development and family studies or a related field. This concentration offers students specialized training in programming related to promoting individual, family, and community health and wellness through the lifespan. This concentration is an excellent choice for students interested in careers requiring either a bachelor's degree or additional credentials. Coursework emphasizes evidence-based programs, and students will learn how to design and implement community-based prevention and intervention programs for youth, adults, and families. Students can focus on a specific aspect of the lifespan or choose courses across the lifespan. The course work also serves as an excellent second concentration to students focusing on early childhood, pre-health professions, or leadership and advocacy professions.

Learn more about the Human Development and Family Studies major on the Department of Human Development and Family Studies website.

Effective Fall 2023

A minimum grade of C (2.000) is required in all courses used to satisfy the requirements of the Major in Human Development and Family Studies, Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration. Courses used as substitutions also require a minimum grade of C (2.000).

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
HDFS 101Individual and Family Development (GT-SS3)3C3
HDFS 277Introductory Seminar in HDFS 1
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3)3C3
SOC 100Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)3C3
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Humans and Other Animals (GT-SC2)3A 
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)3A 
Arts and Humanities3B6
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Quantitative Reasoning1B3
 Total Credits 31-32
Sophomore
 
HDFS 250Introduction to Research Methods 3
HDFS 310Infant and Child Development in Context 3
HDFS 311Adolescent/Early Adult Development in Context 3
HDFS 312Adult Development-Middle Age and Aging 3
HDFS 334Family and Parenthood Across the Lifespan 3
Select one course from the following: 3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Biological and Physical Sciences3A3-4
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Course (See list below) 3
Electives 6
 Total Credits 30-31
Junior
 
HDFS 350Applied Research Methods4A3
HDFS 375Lifespan Intervention and Prevention Science 3
HDFS 402Couple and Family Studies 3
Select one course from the following:1 1
Professional Preparation: Local Internship Placements  
Professional Preparation: Distance Internship Placements  
HDFS Professional Development  
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course (See list below) 2 3
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Course (See list below) 6
Electives 11
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the Lifespan4B3
HDFS 488D1Internship: Prevention/Intervention Science 4-6
HDFS 492Capstone--Evidence-Based Program Proposals4C3
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Courses (See list below) 6
Electives3 10-12
 Total Credits 28
 Program Total Credits: 120

Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Courses

Of the 15 credits of concentration courses, a minimum of 9 credits must be HDFS courses and a minimum of 12 credits must be upper-division (300- to 400-level). Courses may not double-count for more than one HDFS concentration or as the required Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course.

Select 9-15 credits from the following courses:
HDFS 201Perspectives in Gerontology3
HDFS 275Foundational Helping Skills3
HDFS 286Practicum3
HDFS 315Disability across the Lifespan and Culture3
HDFS 332Death, Dying, and Grief3
HDFS 403Families in the Legal Environment3
HDFS 404Child Life Theory and Practice3
HDFS 475Leadership and Advocacy in Human Services3
Two courses from the following may count:
Promoting Early Socioemotional Development
Developmental Transitions in Adolescence
Mental and Physical Health in Adulthood
Six credits from the following may count:
Leadership Through Peer Mentoring I
Leadership Through Peer Mentoring II
Campus Connections–Mentoring At-Risk Youth: Youth Mentor
Campus Connections–Mentoring At-Risk Youth: Mentor Coach
Campus Connections–Mentoring At-Risk Youth: Program Administration
Group Study: Peer Advising
Group Study: Undergraduate Outreach and Leadership
Group Study: Student Respect/Wellness Education
Group Study: Asian/Pacific American Cultural Center
Group Study: Rites of Passage Mentoring Program
Group Study: Human Development 4
Select 0-6 credits from the following courses:
ANTH 317Anthropology of Human Rights3
ETST 305Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in the U.S.3
FACS 320Finance-Personal and Family3
IE 470Women and Development3
IE 471Children and Youth in Global Context3
MU 241Introduction to Music Therapy3
OT 355The Disability Experience in Society2
POLS 460Public Policy Process3
PSY 300Positive Psychology3
PSY 310Basic Counseling Skills3
PSY 325Psychology of Personality3
PSY 327Psychology of Women3
PSY 328Psychology of Human Sexuality3
PSY 330Clinical and Counseling Psychology3
PSY 335Forensic Psychology3
PSY 437Psychology of Gender3
PSY 460Child Exceptionality and Psychopathology3
PSY 492ASeminar: Applied Social Psychology1-3
PSY 492BSeminar: Cognitive Psychology1-3
PSY 492CSeminar: Counseling/Clinical Psychology1-3
PSY 492DSeminar: Industrial/Organizational Psychology1-3
PSY 492ESeminar: Perceptual and Brain Sciences1-3
PSY 492FSeminar: Special Topics in Psychology1-3
SOC 253Intro to Criminology and Criminal Justice3
SOC 324Food Justice3
SOC 333Gender and Society3
SOC 334Sociology of Intersectionality3
SOC 344Health, Medicine, and Society3
SOC 357Women, Crime, and Victimization3
SOWK 370Addictions - A Social Work Perspective3
SOWK 371AFields of Practice: Child Protection3
SOWK 371BFields of Practice: Juvenile Justice3
SOWK 371CFields of Practice: Criminal Justice3
SOWK 371EFields of Practice: Social Gerontology3
SPCM 320Communication and Human Trafficking3
SPCM 436Conflict Management and Communication3
WS 397Group Study3

 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Courses2

Select 3 upper-division credits from the following list. Selected course may not double-count as a concentration course.

ANTH 317Anthropology of Human Rights3
ANTH 333Anthropology of Sex and Reproduction3
ANTH 338Gender and Anthropology3
ANTH 416Gender, Culture, and Health3
ANTH 423Cultural Psychiatry3
ANTH 472Human Biology3
ANTH 479/IE 479International Development Theory and Practice3
ETST 300Queer Studies and Women of Color3
ETST 310African American Studies3
ETST 320Ethnicity and Film--Asian-American Experience3
ETST 332Contemporary Chicanx Issues3
ETST 342Queer Indigenous Studies3
ETST 354Black Cinema and Media3
ETST 362/WS 362Indigenous Consciousness and Gender3
ETST 365Global Environmental Justice Movements3
ETST 438/E 438Native American Literature3
HDFS 315Disability across the Lifespan and Culture3
HDFS 317Disabilities in Early Childhood Education3
IE 470Women and Development3
IE 471Children and Youth in Global Context3
PHIL 350Social and Political Philosophy3
PHIL 353Feminist Philosophies3
PSY 437Psychology of Gender3
SOC 330Social Inequality3
SOC 333Gender and Society3
SOC 334Sociology of Intersectionality3
SOC 357Women, Crime, and Victimization3
SPCM 334Co-Cultural Communication3
SPCM 335Gender and Communication3
SPCM 357Film and Social Change3
SPCM 401Rhetoric in Social Movements3
SPCM 434Intercultural Communication3
WS 340Race and Sexuality3
WS 375Intersectionality--Theory, Method, Practice3
1

Students with substantial concentration-specific work experience may petition the Director of Undergraduate Advising in HDFS to replace HDFS 488D with additional coursework and complete HDFS 478 instead of HDFS 477A or HDFS 477B.

2

Other 300 and 400 level courses related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice are subject to advisor approval.

3

Select enough elective credits to bring the program to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

4

Participation in the Campus Connections Learning Community is required for registration in HDFS 497G.

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
Human Development and Family Studies is an open-entry major for freshmen. For sophomores and above, students must complete and/or be enrolled in HDFS 101, PSY 100 or SOC 100 in order to declare HDFS.  HDFS subject code courses must be completed with a grade of C (2.000) or higher. Background check required prior to participating in the internship course (HDFS 488D) during the senior year. Students will complete a graduation contract with an HDFS Academic Advisor during the first two weeks of the semester in which they are graduating.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
HDFS 101Individual and Family Development (GT-SS3)X 3C3
HDFS 277Introductory Seminar in HDFS X 1
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Historical Perspectives  3D3
Quantitative Reasoning  1B3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3) X3C3
SOC 100Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) X3C3
Select one course from the following:   3-4
Humans and Other Animals (GT-SC2) X3A 
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) X3A 
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
CO 150 and HDFS 277 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   15-16
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 250Introduction to Research Methods   3
HDFS 310Infant and Child Development in ContextX  3
HDFS 334Family and Parenthood Across the Lifespan X 3
Biological and Physical Sciences  3A3-4
Electives   3
 Total Credits   15-16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 311Adolescent/Early Adult Development in Context X 3
HDFS 312Adult Development-Middle Age and Aging   3
Select one course from the following:   3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3) X2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) X2 
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   3
Electives   3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 350Applied Research Methods X4A3
HDFS 375Lifespan Intervention and Prevention Science X 3
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   3
Electives   5
 Total Credits   14
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 402Couple and Family Studies X 3
Select one course from the following:   1
HDFS 477A (Professional Preparation: Local Internship Placements)
Professional Preparation: Local Internship Placements    
HDFS 477B (Professional Preparation: Distance Internship Placements)
Professional Preparation: Distance Internship Placements    
HDFS Professional Development    
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   3
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Courses (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   3
Elective   6
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the Lifespan  4B3
HDFS 488DInternship: Prevention/Intervention Science   4-6
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)   3
Electives   4-6
HDFS 350 must be completed by the end of Semester 7.X   
 Total Credits   16
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 492Capstone--Evidence-Based Program ProposalsX 4C3
Prevention and Intervention Sciences Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
ElectivesX  6
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   12
 Program Total Credits:   120