The Leadership and Advocacy Concentration guides students who are preparing for leadership in organizations that promote the optimal development of individuals and families, with a focus on equity and inclusion. Students in this concentration are prepared to work with diverse populations across a spectrum of human services positions in healthcare, education, mental health, government, and business, creating possible career pathways into roles of directors, managers, or owners within these fields. This concentration includes coursework in advocacy and social justice as well as opportunities to study finance, management, marketing, public policy, professional communication, and leadership. This concentration is also relevant for students seeking positions in student affairs, human resources, and non-profit organizations as well as students preparing for careers or advanced study in advocacy and legal services, such as advocates, lawyers, or policy-makers. Students in this concentration may also choose to pursue additional credentials in leadership, business, entrepreneurship, and design thinking.

Learn more about the Human Development and Family Studies major on the 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, Leadership and Advocacy 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
Leadership & Advocacy 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
HDFS Professional Development  
Professional Preparation: Local Internship Placements  
Professional Preparation: Distance Internship Placements  
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course (See list below) 3
Leadership & Advocacy Concentration Courses (See list below) 6
Electives 11
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the Lifespan4B3
HDFS 475Leadership and Advocacy in Human Services 3
HDFS 488E1Internship: Leadership 4-6
HDFS 492Capstone--Evidence-Based Program Proposals4C3
Leadership & Advocacy Concentration Course (See list below) 3
Electives2 10-12
 Total Credits 28
 Program Total Credits: 120

Leadership and Advocacy Courses

Of the 15 credits of concentration courses, 3 credits of HDFS 475 are required (as noted above). Of the remaining 12 credits, a minimum of 3 credits must be HDFS courses, a minimum of 6 credits must be advocacy or social justice courses, and a minimum of 9 credits must be upper-division (300- to 400-level). Courses from this list may not double-count for more than one HDFS concentration, as the required Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course, or as the required AUCC 1C Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion course.

Code Title AUCC Credits
Select 3-6 credits from the following courses:
HDFS 201 Perspectives in Gerontology 3
HDFS 403 Families in the Legal Environment 3
HDFS 439 Administration of Early Childhood Programs 3
One course from the following may count: 3
Promoting Early Socioemotional Development
Developmental Transitions in Adolescence
Mental and Physical Health in Adulthood
Six credits from the following may count: 6
Leadership Through Peer Mentoring I
Leadership Through Peer Mentoring II
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 6-9 credits from the following courses:
ANTH 317 Anthropology of Human Rights 3
ANTH 416 Gender, Culture, and Health 3
ANTH 479/IE 479 International Development Theory and Practice 3
ECON 211 Gender in the Economy (GT-SS1) 3 1C 3
ETST 300 Queer Studies and Women of Color 3
ETST 305 Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in the U.S. 3
ETST 310 African American Studies 3
ETST 332 Contemporary Chicanx Issues 3
ETST 342 Queer Indigenous Studies 3
ETST 365 Global Environmental Justice Movements 3
HDFS 315 Disability across the Lifespan and Culture 3
HDFS 317 Disabilities in Early Childhood Education 3
IE 470 Women and Development 3
IE 471 Children and Youth in Global Context 3
IE 472 Education for Global Peace 3
IE 479/ANTH 479 International Development Theory and Practice 3
JTC 316 Multiculturalism and the Media 3
SOC 333 Gender and Society 3
SOC 334 Sociology of Intersectionality 3
SOC 357 Women, Crime, and Victimization 3
SOWK 330 Dismantling Privilege and Oppression 3
SOWK 410 Social Welfare - Policy, Issues, and Advocacy 3
SPCM 334 Co-Cultural Communication 3
SPCM 335 Gender and Communication 3
SPCM 401 Rhetoric in Social Movements 3
SPCM 434 Intercultural Communication 3
WS 340 Race and Sexuality 3
WS 375 Intersectionality--Theory, Method, Practice 3
Select 0-3 credits from the following courses:
ACT 205 Fundamentals of Accounting 3
BUS 205 Legal and Ethical Issues in Business 3
ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1) 3 3C 3
ECON 204 Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) 3 3C 3
FACS 320 Finance-Personal and Family 3
FIN 305 Fundamentals of Finance 3
IDEA 210 Introduction to Design Thinking (GT-AH1) 3B 3
IU 170 A Call to Lead I: Theories and Skills 2
IU 270 Leadership Styles I: Personal Application 2
IU 470 Effective Leadership I: Success as a Leader 3
MGT 305 Fundamentals of Management 3
MGT 330 Creativity, Innovation, and Value Creation 3
MGT 340 Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship 3
MGT 360 Social and Sustainable Venturing 3
MGT 420 New Venture Creation 3
MKT 305 Fundamentals of Marketing 3
PHIL 205 Introduction to Ethics 3
POLS 351 Public Administration 3
POLS 460 Public Policy Process 3
RRM 101 Hospitality Industry 3
SOC 455 Sociology of Law 3
SPCM 300 Advanced Public Speaking 3
SPCM 408 Applied Deliberative Techniques 3
SPCM 436 Conflict Management and Communication 3

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Courses

Select 3 upper-division credits from the following list.5 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 488E with additional coursework and complete HDFS 478 instead of HDFS 477A or HDFS 477B.

2

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).

3

Courses selected to fulfill All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements may not double count toward the Leadership and Advocacy Concentration Course requirement.

4

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

5

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

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 488E) 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)X 1A3
HDFS 101Individual and Family Development (GT-SS3)X 3C3
HDFS 277Introductory Seminar in HDFSX  1
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Historical Perspectives  3D3
Quantitative Reasoning X1B3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3)X 3C3
SOC 100Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)X 3C3
Select one course from the following:X  3-4
Humans and Other Animals (GT-SC2)  3A 
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)  3A 
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion X1C3
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 MethodsX  3
HDFS 310Infant and Child Development in ContextX  3
HDFS 334Family and Parenthood Across the LifespanX  3
Biological and Physical Sciences X3A3-4
Electives X 3
 Total Credits   15-16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 311Adolescent/Early Adult Development in ContextX  3
HDFS 312Adult Development-Middle Age and AgingX  3
Select one course from the following:X  3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Leadership & Advocacy Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Electives X 3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 350Applied Research MethodsX 4A3
HDFS 375Lifespan Intervention and Prevention ScienceX  3
Leadership & Advocacy Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Elective X 5
 Total Credits   14
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 402Couple and Family StudiesX  3
Select one course from the following:X  1
Professional Preparation: Local Internship Placements    
Professional Preparation: Distance Internship Placements    
HDFS Professional Development    
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Leadership & Advocacy Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Elective X 6
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the LifespanX 4B3
HDFS 475Leadership and Advocacy in Human ServicesX  3
HDFS 488EInternship: LeadershipX  4-6
Electives X 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
Leadership & Advocacy Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Electives X 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