COURSE CURRICULUM

The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) major at UNH provides a structured interdisciplinary curriculum focused on understanding individual development, family systems, and interpersonal relationships across the lifespan. All students begin with a shared core of foundational courses, including Human Development, Intimate Relationships and Families, and Research Methods in HDFS, which build essential knowledge in developmental theory, family dynamics, and social science research skills. From this foundation, students choose a specialized track; in the Family and Lifespan Development option, the curriculum emphasizes development across all life stages along with applied understanding of family systems and social institutions. Required coursework in this option includes classes such as Parenting Across the Lifespan and Human Sexuality, which explore key aspects of family functioning and individual development. Students then deepen their knowledge by selecting courses focused on specific developmental stages, such as infant and child development, adolescent development, or adult development, allowing them to study how needs and behaviors change over time. Additional elective requirements focus on family services and institutions, including topics such as families at risk, family finance, marriage and family therapy, family policy, and legal issues affecting families. Supporting coursework provides flexibility for students to explore related disciplines such as psychology, sociology, social work, education, or communication sciences, or to complete a community-based internship that applies classroom knowledge in real-world settings. In the senior year, students complete a capstone course, such as Race, Class, Gender, and Families or Families, Schools, and Community, which integrates theory, research, and applied understanding of family systems in social context. Overall, the program prepares graduates for careers in human services, family support programs, policy, and community organizations, as well as for graduate study in fields such as social work, counseling, education, and developmental studies.