Students practicing how to use optometry equipment for an eye exam.

Many students pursuing a degree in Human Development and Family Studies plan to apply to graduate or professional programs in a variety of health professions. The Pre-Health Professions concentration prepares students for these careers and supports their goals of obtaining graduate training. Some of the careers students in this concentration pursue are nurse, dentist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, optometrist, pharmacist, veterinarian, allied health practitioner, anesthesiologist assistant, child life specialist, chiropractor, dentist, medical doctor, music therapist, naturopathic or complementary medicine practitioner, physician's assistant, podiatrist, public health educator, or speech and language pathologist. The courses within this concentration include a focus on science and are designed to prepare students to work with individuals (and their families) with disabilities, mental and physical illness, or those experiencing death, dying, or grief. In addition, students in this concentration are strongly encouraged to consult with the Health Professions Advising team in the Collaborative for Student Achievement for the specific course (and corresponding course prerequisite) recommendations based on the credentials that they are pursuing, as the prerequisite requirements vary for graduate and professional programs. 

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, Pre-Health Professions 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 Humanities3B3
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Quantitative Reasoning1B3
Electives 6
 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 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 
Pre-Health Professions Concentration Course (See list below)1 3
Arts and Humanities3B3
Biological and Physical Sciences3A3-4
Historical Perspectives3D3
Elective 3
 Total Credits 30-31
Junior
 
HDFS 312Adult Development-Middle Age and Aging 3
HDFS 350Applied Research Methods4A3
HDFS 375Lifespan Intervention and Prevention Science 3
HDFS 402Couple and Family Studies 3
Select one course from the following:2 1
Professional Preparation: Local Internship Placements  
Professional Preparation: Distance Internship Placements  
HDFS Professional Development  
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course (See list below)3 3
Pre-Health Professions Concentration Courses (See list below)1 6
Electives 9
 Total Credits 31
Senior
 
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the Lifespan4B3
HDFS 488C2Internship: Pre-Health 4-6
HDFS 492Capstone--Evidence-Based Program Proposals4C3
Pre-Health Professions Concentration Courses (See list below)1 6
Electives4 9-11
 Total Credits 27
 Program Total Credits: 120

Pre-Health Professions Concentration Courses

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

Code Title AUCC Credits
Select 9-15 credits from the following courses:
HDFS 201 Perspectives in Gerontology 3
HDFS 217 Creative Experiences for Children 3
HDFS 275 Foundational Helping Skills 3
HDFS 315 Disability across the Lifespan and Culture 3
HDFS 317 Disabilities in Early Childhood Education 3
HDFS 332 Death, Dying, and Grief 3
HDFS 404 Child Life Theory and Practice 3
HDFS 445/FSHN 445 Early Childhood Health, Safety, and Nutrition 3
HDFS 475 Leadership and Advocacy in Human Services 3
Two courses from the following may count:
Promoting Early Socioemotional Development
Developmental Transitions in Adolescence
Mental and Physical Health in Adulthood
Three credits from the following may count:
Campus Connections–Mentoring At-Risk Youth: Youth Mentor
Campus Connections–Mentoring At-Risk Youth: Mentor Coach
Group Study: Student Respect/Wellness Education
Select 0-6 credits from the following courses:
ANTH 379 Evolutionary Medicine and Human Health 3
ANTH 416 Gender, Culture, and Health 3
BMS 300 Principles of Human Physiology 4
BMS 301 Human Gross Anatomy 5
BMS 302 Laboratory in Principles of Physiology 2
BZ 350 Molecular and General Genetics 4
CHEM 245 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry 4
CHEM 341 Modern Organic Chemistry I 3
FSHN 150 Survey of Human Nutrition 3
FSHN 444 Nutrition and Aging 1
FSHN 461 International Nutrition and Health 2
HES 300 Physiology for Clinical Health Professions 4
HES 345 Population Health and Disease Prevention 3
HES 434 Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan 3
LIFE 205 Microbial Biology 3
LIFE 206 Microbial Biology Laboratory 2
MIP 300 General Microbiology 3
MIP 302 General Microbiology Laboratory 2
OT 110 Introduction to Occupational Therapy 3
OT 215 Medical Terminology 1
OT 355 The Disability Experience in Society 2
PH 121 General Physics I (GT-SC1) 3 3A 5
PSY 252 Mind, Brain, and Behavior 3
PSY 300 Positive Psychology 3
PSY 320 Psychopathology 3
PSY 327 Psychology of Women 3
PSY 328 Psychology of Human Sexuality 3
PSY 345 Occupational Health Psychology 3
SOC 344 Health, Medicine, and Society 3
WS 397 Group Study 3

 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Courses3

Select upper-division 3 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

All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) courses may not be used to fulfill both AUCC requirements and Pre-Health Professions Concentration Course requirements.

2

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

3

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

4

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).

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 488C) 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
Diversity, Equity, and InclusionX 1C3
Quantitative ReasoningXX1B3
Elective X 3
 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
Elective X 3
CO 150 and HDFS 277 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   15-16
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 310Infant and Child Development in ContextX  3
HDFS 334Family and Parenthood Across the LifespanX  3
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Biological and Physical Sciences X3A3-4
Historical Perspectives X3D3
 Total Credits   15-16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 250Introduction to Research MethodsX  3
HDFS 311Adolescent/Early Adult Development in ContextX  3
Select one course from the following:X  3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Pre-Health Professions Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Electives X 3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 312Adult Development-Middle Age and AgingX  3
HDFS 402Couple and Family StudiesX  3
Pre-Health Professions Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Electives X 6
 Total Credits   15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 350Applied Research MethodsX 4A3
HDFS 375Lifespan Intervention and Prevention ScienceX  3
Select one course from the following:X  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) X  3
Pre-Health Professions Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Elective X 3
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the LifespanX 4B3
HDFS 488CInternship: Pre-HealthX  4-6
Pre-Health Professions Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
Electives X 3-5
HDFS 350 must be completed by the end of Semester 7.X   
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 492Capstone--Evidence-Based Program ProposalsX 4C3
Pre-Health Professions 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