HUMAN DEVELOPM ENT AND FAMILY STUDIES PROGRAM AREA
105 Carver Complex- Hobson Wing
(256) 372-4107
PURPOSE
The Human Development and Family Studies Program focuses on the family and relationships throughout
the life cycle in a setting of multicultural forces. Both theoretical and research findings are integrated into a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the problems facing families in modern society.
There are two majors offered through the area: Human Development and Family Studies, and Family and
Consumer Sciences Education. Students in Human Development and Family Studies may choose to concentrate in Child
Development, Adolescent Development or related areas. The second major, Family and Consumer Sciences Education,
is offered in cooperation with the School of Education. Graduates may pursue careers in family life, child and adolescent
development, government, social service agencies, teaching, or private businesses that specialize in goods and services for
the family.
OBJECTIVES
The program offerings in Human Development and Family Studies are designed to:
1.
prepare competent individuals for professional careers and graduate study;
2.
assist students in developing an understanding of the interrelationship of physical, psychological, and social
development throughout the life-span;
3.
provide opportunities for students to study and observe children and adolescents of varying stages of
development; and
4.
provide opportunities for students to obtain strength in the management of individual and family
resources.
PROGRAM REQUIREM ENTS
In addition to the academic course requirements, all students majoring in Human Development and Family
Studies must complete at least 500 hours of practical work in Human Development and Family Studies, which
includes completing FCS 495 – Internship in FCS before graduating from Alabama A&M University.
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATION MAJOR
121-122 Credit Hours
Freshman Year
First Semester
Sem. Hrs. Second Semester
ORI 101 Survival Skills
1
²ENG 102 Composition II
1
3
MUS 101 Music Appreciation
ENG 101 Composition I
OR
MTH 112 Pre Calculus Algebra
3
ART 101 Art Appreciation
BIO 101L General Biology I
3
NHM 102L Principles of Nutrition
BIO 101L General Biology I Lab
1
AMD 104L Art and Design
HIS 101 World History I
3
AGB 199 Computers in Agriculture
HED 101 Personal & Comm. Health OR
2
PSY 201 General Psychology
PED
Physical Education Activity OR (2)
MSC
Military Science I
(2)
FCS 101 Intro. to the Profession
1
17
1
ENG 103 may be taken by international students.
2
ENG 104 may be taken by international students.
Sem. Hrs.
3
3
(3)
3
3
3
3
18
Sophomore Year
First Semester
Sem. Hrs. Second Semester
Sem. Hrs.
ENG 201 Survey of English Literature I OR 3
ENG 202 Survey of English Literature II OR 3
ENG 301 Survey of American Lit I
OR (3)
ENG 302 Survey of American Lit II OR (3) ENG
World Literature I
(3)
ENG 204 World Literature II
(3) CHE
Applied Chemistry I
3
ENG 205 General Speech
3
CHE 111L Applied Chemistry I Lab
1
AMD 204L Clothing Through. the Life Cycle 3
NHM 201L Science of Food Preparation
3
FED 212 Human Growth & Develop.
3
SPE 201 Intro. to Study Except. Indiv.
3
ECO 200 Basic Economics
3
HIS 203 Found. Of Amer. History
3
FED 200 Introduction to Teacher Ed.
2
16
17
First Semester
Sem. Hrs.
HDF 201 Family Relations
3
AMD 203 Consumer Aspects of Clothing
3
FCS 303 Career Tech. /FCS Education.
3
AMD 305 Housing and Interiors
3
12
FCS
SED
FED
PSY
FCS
First Semester
401 Fam. & Con. Sc. Edu.
409 Reading in Content Area
404 Tests and Measurements
403 Educational Psychology
420 Seminar
Junior Year
Second Semester
Sem. Hrs.
HDF 314 Family and Society
3
HDF 304 Parenting
3
NHM 301L Food Service Operations I
3
HDF 312L Family Econ. & Resource Mgmt.
3
SED 307 Materials & Methods of Teaching
In Secondary Schools
Senior Year
Sem. Hrs. Second Semester
3
FCS 495 Internship in FCS
3
3
3
1
13
Sem. Hrs.
12
12
203
111
3
15
COURSE DESCRIP TIONS
FCS 101
Introduction to the Profession - 1 hr. General overview of Family and Consumer Sciencesits areas, its history, growth and expansion. Careers are also investigated. Prerequisite:
None (Offered Fall)
HDF 201
Family Relations - 3 hrs. A study of human relationships, including dating and mate
selection, marriage, family life, and parenting as well as laying the foundation for a
fundamental philosophy of productive human interaction. Prerequisite: None (Offered
Fall and Spring)
HDF 211
Child Growth and Development - 3 hrs. A study of the ontogenesis of human growth and
learning from conception to young adulthood. Emphasis is placed on the cause and effect
interrelationship between natural growth and maturational processes and environmental
forces, influence, and expectations. Special emphasis is placed upon birth to age nine.
Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall and Spring)
HDF 301
Fundamentals of Family Financial Planning – 3 hrs. Introduces students to the various
financial planning topics that face families, such as the financial planning process,
client/planner interactions, time value of money applications, personal financial
statements, cash flow and debt management, asset acquisition, and education planning.
Risk management, investment planning, retirement planning, plan integration, and ethics
are also discussed. Prerequisite: ECO 200,
ECO 231 or ECO 232 and HDF 312
HDF 303
Family Theory - 3 hrs. Theory related to development and functions of families. Attention
is also given to family systems that enhance or retard achievement of goals. Prerequisite:
HDF 201 (Offered Fall, Even Years)
HDF 304
Parenting - 3 hrs. The nature of parenthood and the task of parenting in today’s culture
through the various stages of the child’s metamorphosis to maturity and beyond.
Incorporates new knowledge, skills, and practices in effective parenting. Prerequisite:
None (Offered Fall and Spring)
HDF 305
Insurance Planning for Families – 3 hrs. Introduces students to risk management and
insurance decisions in family financial planning. Topics include insurance for life, health,
disability, property and liability risks, as well as annuities, group insurance, and long term
care. Prerequisite: HDF 301 or consent of instructor
HDF 306
Middle Childhood and Adolescence - 3 hrs. A study of the child between the ages of nine
and eighteen, in all phases of development as the change occurs from child to adult.
Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall, Odd Years)
HDF 307
Motor-Perceptual Development in Early Childhood - 3 hrs. A study of how a child learns
to perceive through the instrumentality of his or her body. Laboratory experience to be
arranged. Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall, Odd Years)
HDF 308
Guidance in Prepared Environments - 3 hrs. A study of direct and indirect guidance where
the environment is arranged in such a manner that the equipment and materials facilitate
each child’s progress and discovery. Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall)
HDF 310
Infant and Toddler Development - 3 hrs. Research and new insights in the field of infant
and toddler development, the effects of the infant care-giver, interaction, and societal
supports. Opportunities for observation and research, including a laboratory which focuses
on assessing infant development are included. Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall, Odd
Years)
HDF 311
Theories of Child and Adolescent Development - 3 hrs. Current theories and philosophies
in the field of human development which shed light on the marvels and mysteries of the
human creature in his being and becoming are addressed. Prerequisite: None (Offered
Spring, Odd Years)
HDF 312
Family Economics and Resource Management – 3 hrs. A study of the management of
family resources, including credit, buymanship, and consumer issues, augmented with
supervised learning experiences. Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall and Spring)
HDF 314
Family and Society - 3 hrs. A study of the socialization process of individuals and families
in various cultures in North America and abroad, with emphasis on the humanizing or
degenerating influences of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall and
Spring)
HDF 315
Income Tax Planning for Families – 3 hrs. Provides an overview of current tax laws,
income tax principles, and taxation terminology. The course focuses on tax planning
considerations, computations, and tax planning strategies including tax pitfalls that impact
financial planning for families. Prerequisites: HDF 301 or consent of instructor
HDF 318
Workshop - 3-6 hrs. Selected topics in Human Development and Family Studies.
Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall and Spring)
HDF 401
Family Financial Counseling - 3 hrs. A study of counseling techniques relevant to the
financial planning and economic well-being of the family. Prerequisite: None (Offered
Spring, Even Years)
HDF 402
Preschool Curriculum Development - 3 hrs. Opportunities for students to design curricula
to meet the needs of preschool children. Special attention is given to language arts,
mathematics, and social studies concepts. Prerequisite: HDF 211 (Offered Spring)
HDF 405
Investment Planning for Families - 3 hrs. Provides the student with an understanding of
the various types of securities trades in financial markets, investment theory and practice,
portfolio construction and management, and investment strategies and tactics to meet a
family’s investment goals. Prerequisites: HDF 301 or consent of instructor
HDF 406
Retirement Planning for Families - 3 hrs. The intent of this course is to provide families
with knowledge of both public and private retirement plans. The public plans include
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The private plans include defined benefit and
defined contribution plans and their regulatory provisions. The specifics of the various
plans are analyzed as well as non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Finally, issues
that individuals and families face in retirement, such as lifestyle choices and medical
issues are discussed. Prerequisites: HDF 301 or consent of instructor
HDF 407
Estate Planning for Families – 3hrs. The course focuses on the efficient conversation and
transfer of wealth, consistent with the family’s goal. It is a study of the legal, tax,
financial and non-financial aspects of this process, covering topics such as trusts, wills
probate, advanced directives, charitable giving, wealth transfers and related taxes.
Prerequisites: HDF 301, HDF 305, HDF 315, HDF 405, and HDF 406 or consent of
instructor
Readings and Research in Human Development and Family Studies - 3 hrs. An
exploration into the writings and research of well-known contributors to the study of
human development and the family. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing (Offered
Spring, Odd Years)
HDF 410
HDF 411
Infant Programs - 3 hrs. A study of the organization and implementation of infant
programs with emphasis on planning for cognitive, psychomotor and social development.
Prerequisite: HDF 211 (Offered Spring)
HDF 412
Independent Study - 1-3 hrs. A course providing an opportunity for students to pursue an avenue of
special interest to the student and experience some creative expressions in response to the work of
others. Prerequisite: None (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)
HDF 413
Behavior Management in the School - 3 hrs. The study of the basic understanding of children’s
behavior, based on age/stage characteristics. Provided are theoretical understanding and practical
applications of child guidance techniques in group settings. Prerequisite: PSY 201 (Offered Fall)
HDF 415
Assessment in Human Development and Family - 3 hrs. An analysis and evaluation of individual
screening and assessment instruments for use with individuals and families throughout the life cycle.
Prerequisite: PSY 201 (Offered Spring, Odd Years)
HDF 416
Program Development - 3 hrs. An emphasis on scope, organization, implementation, and evaluation
of programs for community and cooperative extension. Methods and techniques of designing program
materials are also included. Prerequisite: None (Offered Spring, Odd Years)
HDF 444
Internship - 6 hrs. Organized opportunities for students to gain work experience in traditional
and nontraditional occupations. Permission of advisor is necessary. Prerequisite: Advanced
junior or senior status (Offered Fall, Spring)
FCS 303
Career Technical/FCS Education - - 3 hrs. A survey of career technical programs as taught in
secondary schools with special emphasis on Family and Consumer Sciences.
State required
occupational practicum must be culminated during this course. Prerequisite: FCS 101 (Offered
Fall, Odd Years)
FCS 401
Family and Consumer Sciences Education - 3 hrs. Planning and implementation of curricula in
secondary schools and community programs and making use of innovations and technology in the
teaching-learning process. The course also provides for the development and use of appropriate
evaluation tools and techniques. Prerequisites: FCS
101 and FCS 303 (Offered Fall, Even Years)
FCS 411
Honors Courses in Family and Consumer Sciences - 3 hrs. A special problems course for
academically accelerated students which explores issues and trends in specialized areas, with some
opportunity for research. Open to majors. Prerequisites: Senior standing and G.P.A. of 3.3 or above
(On Hold)
FCS 420
Senior Seminar - 1 hr. A course which assists students in fusing the various aspects of Family and
Consumer Sciences into a meaningful whole through the study of relevant issues and interaction
with professionals. Personal and professional skills needed for success in students’ chosen careers
are stressed. Prerequisite: Senior status (Offered Fall and Spring)
FCS 495
Internship in FCS - 12 hrs. Supervised observation and teaching in a secondary school. A critical
analysis of classroom problems and activities provides major topics of the seminar. Prerequisites: FCS
101, FCS 303, and FCS 401 (Offered Fall and Spring)