The Behavioral and Mental Health Programs Concentration is designed for students who are preparing for careers in the helping and human services professions such as therapists, counselors, case managers, educators, behavior technicians, student affairs professionals, public health and social service providers, as well as for students seeking a research career in human development and family studies or a related field. This concentration offers students specialized training in prevention and intervention programming related to promoting individual, family, and community health and wellness throughout the lifespan. This concentration is an excellent choice for students interested in helping careers requiring a bachelor's degree or additional credentials. Coursework emphasizes evidence-based programs, and students will learn how to design and implement community-based prevention and intervention programs for youth, adults, and families. Students can focus on a specific aspect of the lifespan or choose courses across the lifespan. The course work also serves as an excellent second concentration to students focusing on early childhood, pre-health professions, or leadership and advocacy professions.

Learn more about the Human Development and Family Studies major on the Department of Human Development and Family Studies website.

Effective Fall 2025

Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all AUCC courses and a minimum grade of a C (2.000) in HDFS core and concentration courses, including courses used as substitutions. Additionally, a maximum of 6 credits of required courses may also count toward department certificates (Youth Mentoring with Campus Connections, Disability & Neurodiversity, and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health) and the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor. Concentration courses may not double count for more than one HDFS concentration or as the required Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course. Students double majoring must have a minimum of 27 credits that are unique to the second major.

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
HDFS 101Lifespan Development (GT-SS3)3C3
HDFS 277Introductory Seminar in HDFS 1
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Human Diversity (GT-SC2)3A 
Humans and Other Animals (GT-SC2)3A 
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)3A 
Select two courses from the following: 6
General Psychology (GT-SS3)3C 
Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)3C 
Public Speaking  
1B1B3
1C1C3
Arts and Humanities3B6
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 31-32
Sophomore
 
HDFS 250Introduction to Research Methods 3
HDFS 310Infant and Child Development in Context 3
HDFS 311Adolescent and Emerging Adult Development 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: Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)2 
Concentration Course (See list below) 3
Biological and Physical Sciences3A3-4
Electives 6
 Total Credits 30-31
Junior
 
HDFS 350Applied Research Methods4A3
HDFS 375Lifespan Intervention and Prevention Science 3
HDFS 402Couple and Family Dynamics 3
Select one course from the following:1 1
Professional Preparation: Local Internship Placements  
Professional Preparation: Distance Internship Placements  
HDFS Professional Development  
Concentration Courses (See list below) 6
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course (See list below) 2 3
Electives 11
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the Lifespan4B3
HDFS 488D1Internship: Prevention/Intervention Science 4-6
HDFS 492Capstone--Evidence-Based Program Proposals4C3
Concentration Courses (See list below) 6
Electives3 10-12
 Total Credits 28
 Program Total Credits: 120

Behavioral and Mental Health Programs Concentration Courses

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

Select 9-15 credits from the following courses:
HDFS 201Perspectives in Gerontology3
HDFS 275Foundational Helping Skills3
HDFS 286DPracticum: Prevention and Intervention Sciences3
HDFS 315Disability Across the Lifespan and Culture3
HDFS 317Disabilities in Early Childhood Education3
HDFS 332Death, Dying, and Grief3
HDFS 372/AGED 372Inclusive Mentoring for Neurodiverse Peers3
HDFS 403Families in the Legal Environment3
HDFS 404Child Life Theory and Practice3
HDFS 475Leadership and Advocacy in Human Services3
Two courses from the following may count:
Wonder Years-Socioemotional Journey Ages 3-8
Developmental Transitions in Adolescence
Mental and Physical Health in Adulthood
Six credits from the following may count:
Leadership Through Peer Mentoring I
Leadership Through Peer Mentoring II
Campus Connections: Youth Mentor
Campus Connections: Mentor Coach
Campus Connections: 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 0-6 credits from the following courses:
ANTH 317Anthropology of Human Rights3
ETST 305Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in the U.S.3
FACS 320Finance-Personal and Family3
HES 419Life, Society, and Drugs3
IE 470Women and Development3
MU 241Introduction to Music Therapy3
OT 355The Disability Experience in Society2
PBHL 200Introduction to Public Health (GT-SS3)3
POLS 460Public Policy Process3
PSY 252Mind, Brain, and Behavior3
PSY 300Positive Psychology3
PSY 310Basic Counseling Skills3
PSY 325Psychology of Personality3
PSY 327Psychology of Women3
PSY 328Psychology of Human Sexuality3
PSY 330Clinical and Counseling Psychology3
PSY 335Forensic Psychology3
PSY 437Psychology of Gender3
PSY 452Cognitive Psychology3
PSY 460Child Exceptionality and Psychopathology3
PSY 492ASeminar: Applied Social Psychology1-3
PSY 492BSeminar: Cognitive Psychology1-3
PSY 492CSeminar: Counseling/Clinical Psychology1-3
PSY 492DSeminar: Industrial/Organizational Psychology1-3
PSY 492ESeminar: Perceptual and Brain Sciences1-3
PSY 492FSeminar: Special Topics in Psychology1-3
SOC 253Intro to Criminology and Criminal Justice3
SOC 324Food Justice3
SOC 333Gender and Society3
SOC 334Sociology of Intersectionality3
SOC 344Health, Medicine, and Society3
SOC 357Women, Crime, and Victimization3
SOWK 370Addictions - A Social Work Perspective3
SOWK 371AFields of Practice: Child Protection3
SOWK 371BFields of Practice: Juvenile Justice3
SOWK 371CFields of Practice: Criminal Justice3
SOWK 371EFields of Practice: Social Gerontology3
SPCM 320Communication and Human Trafficking3
SPCM 436Conflict Management and Communication3
WS 397Group Study3

 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Courses2

Select 3 upper-division 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
E 352Study Abroad: Reading and Writing the Zambia Experience3
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
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 334Communication Across Difference3
SPCM 335Gender and Communication3
SPCM 357Film and Social Change3
SPCM 401Rhetoric in Social Movements3
SPCM 434International and Intercultural 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 488D with additional coursework and complete HDFS 478 instead of HDFS 477A or HDFS 477B.

2

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

3

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).

4

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

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 488D) 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 101Lifespan Development (GT-SS3)X 3C3
HDFS 277Introductory Seminar in HDFSX  1
1B X1B3
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Historical Perspectives X3D3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:X  3-4
Human Diversity (GT-SC2)  3A 
Humans and Other Animals (GT-SC2)  3A 
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)  3A 
Select two courses from the following:X  6
General Psychology (GT-SS3)  3C 
Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)  3C 
Public Speaking    
1C X1C3
Arts and Humanities X3B3
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
Elective X 3
 Total Credits   15-16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 311Adolescent and Emerging Adult DevelopmentX  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: Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3)  2 
Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab) X 3
Elective X 3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 350Applied Research MethodsX 4A3
HDFS 375Lifespan Intervention and Prevention ScienceX  3
Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab) X 3
Electives X 5
 Total Credits   14
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 402Couple and Family DynamicsX  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
Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab) X 3
Electives X 6
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
HDFS 434Risk and Resilience Across the LifespanX 4B3
HDFS 488DInternship: Prevention/Intervention ScienceX  4-6
Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab) X 3
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
Concentration Course (See Department List on Concentration Requirements tab)X  3
ElectivesX  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