The Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) Nursing Concentration provides a unique opportunity for qualified students to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) in HDFS from Colorado State University Fort Collins and a Master of Science in Nursing from Colorado State University Pueblo School of Nursing delivered on the Fort Collins campus. This competitive, restricted-entry dual degree program is available only to HDFS students who are accepted into the 3+2 Dual Degree Direct Entry Nursing Program. Students interested in this pathway begin in the HDFS Pre-Nursing Concentration and apply to the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program during the fall semester of their second year (third semester). Eligibility to apply requires completion of the specified prerequisite coursework. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to ensure they meet all application and program requirements. Students admitted to the program transition from the HDFS Pre-Nursing Concentration to the HDFS Nursing Concentration.

The program is structured so that the first five semesters focus on completing nursing prerequisites and the coursework necessary for the undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies. This concentration equips nursing students with specialized knowledge in lifespan human development and family sciences, providing a strong foundation for delivering developmentally appropriate care to individuals of all ages across a range of conditions. Beginning in the sixth semester, students take nursing coursework that fulfills the requirements for both the BS in HDFS and the MS in Nursing. The BS degree is conferred only after the MS in Nursing requirements are completed, with students graduating with both degrees at the end of the tenth semester.

Colorado State University Fort Collins, in collaboration with Colorado State University Pueblo, offers the 3+2 Dual Degree Direct Entry Nursing Program on the Fort Collins campus. Students concurrently complete their undergraduate degree in HDFS and the CSU Pueblo Master of Science in Nursing degree. All nursing coursework is delivered in person on the Fort Collins campus, and includes local clinical practicum experiences. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Students are eligible to apply to the 3+2 Dual Degree Direct Entry Nursing Program during the fall semester of their second year when they have met the following criteria:

1. Students must first enroll in the Pre-Nursing Concentration within one of three departments: Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN), Health and Exercise Science (HES), or Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS).
2. Complete required Pre-Nursing Concentration coursework as outlined in the program of study, including the completion of specific 3+2 Dual Degree Direct Entry Nursing Program prerequisite coursework.
3. All prerequisites must be passed with a C or better (C- is not acceptable). Students receiving a grade less than C in a nursing prerequisite course are not eligible for admission.
4. Have and maintain a 3.0 GPA or better. Students with a GPA less than 3.0 are not eligible for admission.

If admitted, students will transition from the Major in HDFS, Pre-Nursing Concentration to the Major in HDFS, Nursing Concentration

Failure to meet these requirements will result in the loss of admission to the 3+2 Dual Degree Direct Entry Nursing Program. In this case, students can either retake or complete the necessary prerequisites and join the next 3+2 Dual Degree Direct Entry Nursing Program cohort (typically delaying entry by one year) or return to the Pre-Nursing Concentration to complete their BS degree and apply to accelerated BSN programs.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate content knowledge and understanding of theory, research, and practice relevant to optimizing the development, health and well-being of individuals and families across the lifespan in the context of the larger social environment.
2. Access, critically evaluate, and apply multiple forms of information related to individuals and families.
3. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills appropriate to the field of human development and family studies.
4. Demonstrate professional and leadership skills with individuals and families, including ethical and culturally sensitive standards of conduct.

Effective Fall 2026

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in all nursing prerequisite courses, HDFS Core and concentration courses, as well as any course substitutions fulfilling these requirements.  

Nursing Concentration Courses

Select 3 credits of concentration courses. Courses may not double-count for more than one HDFS concentration or as the required Diversity Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BC 351	Principles of Biochemistry	4
CHEM 245	Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry	4
FSHN 115	Health Equity (GT-SS3)	3
FSHN 150	Introduction to Human Nutrition	3
FSHN 220	Intro to Nutrition for Sports and Fitness	3
FSHN 340	Food as Medicine	3
FSHN 350	Human Nutrition	3
FSHN 361	Global Nutrition	2
FSHN 444	Nutrition and Aging	1
HDFS 201	Current Topics in Healthy Aging	3
HDFS 275	Foundational Helping Skills	3
HDFS 286C	Practicum: Pre-Health Professions	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 372/AGED 372	Inclusive Mentoring for Neurodiverse Peers	2-4
HDFS 404	Child Life Theory and Practice	3
HDFS 445/FSHN 445	Early Childhood Health, Safety, and Nutrition	3
HES 202	Introduction to Exercise Physiology (GT-SC2)	3
HES 207	Anatomical Kinesiology	4
HES 300	Physiology for Clinical Health Professions	4
HES 345	Population Health and Disease Prevention	3
HES 354	Theory of Health Behavior	3
HES 434	Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan	3
PBHL 200	Introduction to Public Health (GT-SS3)	3
PSY 320	Psychopathology	3
SOC 344	Health, Medicine, and Society	3

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Courses¹

Select 3 upper-division credits from the following list. Selected course may not double-count as a concentration course.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH 317	Anthropology of Human Rights	3
ANTH 333	Anthropology of Sex and Reproduction	3
ANTH 338	Gender and Anthropology	3
ANTH 416	Gender, Culture, and Health	3
ANTH 423	Cultural Psychiatry	3
ANTH 472	Human Biology	3
ANTH 479/IE 479	International Development Theory and Practice	3
E 352	Study Abroad: Reading and Writing the Zambia Experience	3
ETST 300	Queer Studies and Women of Color	3
ETST 310	African American Studies	3
ETST 332	Contemporary Chicanx Issues	3
ETST 342	Queer Indigenous Studies	3
ETST 354	Black Cinema and Media	3
ETST 362/WS 362	Indigenous Consciousness and Gender	3
ETST 365	Global Environmental Justice Movements	3
ETST 438/E 438	Native American Literature	3
HDFS 315	Disability Across the Lifespan and Culture	3
HDFS 317	Disabilities in Early Childhood Education	3
IE 470	Women and Development	3
PHIL 350	Social and Political Philosophy	3
PHIL 353	Feminist Philosophies	3
PSY 437	Psychology of Gender	3
SOC 330	Social Inequality	3
SOC 333	Gender and Society	3
SOC 334	Sociology of Intersectionality	3
SOC 357	Women, Crime, and Victimization	3
SPCM 334	Communication Across Difference	3
SPCM 335	Gender and Communication	3
SPCM 357	Film and Social Change	3
SPCM 401	Rhetoric in Social Movements	3
SPCM 434	International and Intercultural Communication	3
WS 340	Race and Sexuality	3
WS 375	Intersectionality--Theory, Method, Practice	3

¹

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

²

The AUCC 4C requirement, emphasizing Capstone Experiences that integrate learning and skills from the student’s major, will be fulfilled through upper-division nursing coursework transfer credit as approved by the academic unit. This course will focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real-world clinical practice, critical thinking, and leadership in healthcare. The capstone experience will take place in a simulation and clinical setting, allowing students to demonstrate mastery of key competencies and align their academic experience with the degree program’s learning outcomes. 

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

Students seeking admission to the Major in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) Nursing Concentration must begin in the HDFS Pre-Nursing Concentration and formally apply to the Master's of Nursing (MSN) after completing all coursework in Semesters 1 - 3 with a grade of C or better. Notification of acceptance occurs during Semester 4 and if admitted, students will change to the Nursing Concentration prior to Semester 5. Students must complete all remaining MSN prerequisites in Semesters 5 and 6 with a grade of C or better and will not be allowed to enroll in MSN nursing courses until all prerequisites are complete.