Please Note: The program requirements listed below are for students entering in the catalog year 2011-2012.  Students who entered in previous catalog years should refer to the program requirement sheets in the Advising area of MyWheelock. Students entering in future years should follow the requirements in that catalog year.

The Human Development major is rooted in the intellectual traditions of psychology, sociology and anthropology. The theories, research and practices of this multidisciplinary
field of inquiry contribute to a greater understanding of human experience in our complex and changing world. Human Development over the life course is studied in cultural,
social, historical and political contexts. Students are encouraged to explore the relevance of the field to their personal experiences and professional growth and to formulate new
research questions and policy agendas for improving the quality of the lives of children, families and communities.

This major, with its emphasis on development, is designed to provide in‑depth study in an area that complements professional preparation for the fields of teaching, social work,
juvenile justice and youth advocacy, and child life. The major is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in related areas.

Program Requirements

Students must take 36 credit hours of course work in Psychology and Human Development, consisting of a multi-disciplinary core of 16 credits and 20 credits in one of three focus areas: Counseling Psychology, Developmental Psychology, or Children, Families and Culture. Courses taken to fulfill multi-disciplinary core requirements cannot be used to fulfill focus area requirements.

Multi-disciplinary Core (16 Credits)

Students must complete a course in each discipline of the major (psychology, sociology, and anthropology) and a research methods course to meet the multi-disciplinary core requirement. Human Growth and Development, a college requirement for all first year students, also counts as the psychology course in the multi-disciplinary core.

HDP 122/123 Human Growth and Development (4 credits)
or
HDP 126/127 Human Growth and Development Intensive (4 credits)
One Sociology (HDS) or Anthropology (HDA) Course (4 credits)
HDP 264 Research Methods (4 credits)
Diversity Selective (choose one) (4 credits)

• HDS 106 Sociology of Minority Groups
• HDP 260 Special Topic: Psychology of Race
• HDS 343 On Being Different
• New HDA Psychological Anthropology
• New HDP Asian American Psychology
• New HDP Race, Culture and Mental Health

Focus Areas (20 credits)

In addition to the multidisciplinary core requirement, students must complete 20 credits in one of three focus areas: Counseling Psychology, Developmental Psychology, or Children, Families and Culture. In each focus area, students must take a combination of introductory, intermediate and advanced courses.

Focus: Counseling Psychology

The counseling psychology focus explores topics related to mental health and counseling with a particular emphasis on human development and diversity. This focus prepares undergraduate students for graduate study in counseling or clinical psychology, which can lead to working in various mental health and human services fields. Please note that the course work is at the undergraduate level. In order to practice as a counselor, one needs to obtain a state licensure upon the completion of graduate study.

In addition to the required coursework, students are recommended to pursue gaining experiences in the field and/or seeking research opportunities. Please see your advisor for more information.

Counseling Psychology Core (choose two) (8 credits)
HDP 223 Abnormal Psychology (4 credits)
HDP 379/380 Emotional Problems of Children/Seminar in Emotional Problems of Children (4 credits)
HDP 301 Counseling Psychology (4 credits)

Introductory and Intermediate Courses (choose one or two) (4-8 credits)
CFS 240 Helping Children with Grief and Loss (4 credits)
HDP 102 Introduction to Psychology (4 credits)
HDP 104 Social Psychology (4 credits)
HDP 207 Psychodrama (2 credits)
HDP 220 Theories of Personality (4 credits)
HDP 223 Abnormal Psychology (4 credits)
HDP 224 Theories of Emotional Development (4 credits)
CFS 240 Helping Children with Grief and Loss (4 credits)
New HDP Positive Psychology (4 credits)
New HDP Health Psychology (4 credits)

Advanced Courses (choose one or two) (4-8 credits)
AUT 320 Foundations of Development in Autism (4 credits)
HDP 379/380 Emotional Problems of Children (4 credits)
HDP 385 Psychological Trauma (4 credits)
New HDA Psychological Anthropology (4 credits)
New HDP Asian American Psychology (4 credits)
New HDP Race, Culture and Mental Health (4 credits)

Students choosing to major in Psychology and Human Development with a Counseling Psychology focus may combine their major with the following professional majors and certificates: Juvenile Justice and Youth Advocacy, Human Service Certificate, Child Life, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Social Work and Special Education (Moderate Disabilities). Instead of a professional major, some students may also want to double major in Humanities, Math/Science, American Studies or the Arts.

Students majoring in Psychology and Human Development with a focus in Counseling Psychology may also pursue an extended major without a professional major by taking an additional 4 advanced credits. Students interested in completing additional fieldwork may do so as an independent study with a faculty advisor.

Students interested in graduate study in clinical or counseling psychology should complete the following courses as part of their counseling psychology focus or extended major.
HDP 102 Introduction to Psychology (4 credits)
HDP 220 Theories of Personality (4 credits)
HDP 223 Abnormal Psychology (4 credits)
HDP 301 Counseling Psychology (4 credits)

Focus: Developmental Psychology

This focus examines the cognitive, social, motivational, and emotional changes that occur in the individual across the life span. The study of human development is framed within the context of families, schools, and communities. Courses emphasize the variety of social, cultural, economic, and political factors that influence the trajectories of both individuals and groups.

Intermediate Courses (choose two or three) (8-12 credits)
HDP 222 Language and Culture (4 credits)
HDP 224 Theories of Emotional Development (4 credits)
HDP 227 Language Development (4 credits)
HDP 257 Infant and Toddler Behavior and Development (4 credits)
New HDP Infants, Toddlers, and the Media (4 credits)
HDP 265 Achievement Motivation (4 credits)
New HDP Moral Development (4 credits)
HDP 282 Children and the Media (4 credits)
HDP 290 Children with Special Needs (4 credits)

Advanced Courses (choose two or three) (8-12 credits)
HDP 316 Children's Political Lives (4 credits)
HDP 325 Memory, Identity and Development (4 credits)
HDP 330 The Psychology of Race (4 credits)
HDP 335 Cognition in the Deaf and Blind (4 credits)
HDP 352 Cognitive Development (4 credits)
HDP 358 Cross-cultural Perspectives on Child Care (4 credits)
HDP 362 Meaning and Development of Play (4 credits)
HDP 366 Adolescent Development (4 credits)
HDP 368 Adult Development (4 credits)
HDP 371 Humor and Child Development (4 credits)
HDP 382 Nature of Linguistic Knowledge (4 credits)
AUT 320 Foundations of Development in Autism (4 credits)
New HDP Ethnicity and Achievement (4 credits)

Students choosing to major in Psychology and Human Development with a Developmental Psychology focus may combine their major with the following professional majors and certificates: Child Life, Juvenile Justice and Youth Advocacy, Human Service Certificate, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Social Work and Special Education. Instead of a professional major, some students may also want to double major in Humanities, Math/Science, American Studies or the Arts.

Students majoring in Psychology and Human Development with a focus in Developmental Psychology may also pursue an extended major without a professional major by taking an additional 4 advanced credits. Students interested in completing additional fieldwork may do so as an independent study with a faculty advisor.

Students with a major in Elementary Education should consider taking one or more of the following courses as part of their developmental psychology focus:
HDP 224 Theories of Emotional Development (4 credits)
HDP 227 Language Development (4 credits)
HDP 352 Cognitive Development (4 credits)

Focus: Children, Families and Culture

This focus introduces students to the diversity of childhoods and families in the United States and elsewhere, as understood by Anthropology and Sociology. This focus area also studies different aspects of culture, including globalization, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexuality, consumerism, inequality, and power - how people create, contribute towards, and challenge their social worlds.

Introductory Courses (choose one) (4 credits)
HDS 103 Women, Culture, & Society
HDA 266 Children, Families and Parenting Around the World
HDS 106 Sociology of Minority Groups
HDA 120 Cultural Anthropology

Intermediate Courses (choose one or two) (4-8 credits)
AST 220 Coming to America (4 credits)
AST 265 Studies in American Popular Culture (4 credits)
AST 285 In the Best Interest of the Child (formerly Children and Families in American Society) (4 credits)
HDP 222 Language and Culture (4 credits)
HDA/AST 258 Religion in America (4 credits)
New HDA/HDS Globalization and Immigration (4 credits)
New HDA/HDS Sex and Culture (4 credits)
New HDA/HDS Native Americans (4 credits)
New HDA/AST 225 Boys and Men in America (4 credits)
HDP 222 Language and Culture (4 credits)
New HDP Global Perspectives in Media Literacy (4 credits)

Advanced Courses (choose two or three) (8-12 credits)
HDS 332 Feminist Theories (4 credits)
HDS 343 On Being Different (4 credits)
HDP 316 Children's Political Lives (4 credits)
HDP 330 The Psychology of Race (4 credits)
HDP 358 Cross-cultural Perspectives on Child Care (4 credits)
New HDA Psychological Anthropology (4 credits)
New HDA Human Rights and Globalization (4 credits)

Students choosing to major in Psychology and Human Development with a focus on Children, Families and Culture may combine their major with the following professional majors and certificates: Child Life, Juvenile Justice and Youth Advocacy, Human Service Certificate, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Social Work and Special Education (Moderate Disabilities). Instead of a professional major, some students may also want to double major in Humanities, Math/Science, American Studies or the Arts.

Students majoring in Psychology and Human development with a focus on Children, Families and Culture may also pursue an extended major without a professional major by taking an additional 4 advanced credits. Students interested in completing additional fieldwork may do so as an independent study with a faculty advisor.