Bachelor of Arts in Human Developmental Sciences
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Human Developmental Sciences provides broad-based preparation for many fields with solid grounding in both theory and methodology in the discipline of human development, while providing a great deal of curricular flexibility. Please note that all classes taken for the Bachelor of Arts must be taken for letter grades.
Lower-Division ("Major-Prep") Course Requirements
7 courses (28 units)
Introduction to Human Developmental Sciences (1 Course)
HDS 1 - Introduction to Human Developmental Sciences
(offered fall and spring)
Statistics (1 Course)
For students who declared the HDS major Fall 2021 or later:
- HDS 60 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis
For students who declared the HDS major prior to Fall 2021:
One course selected from the following approved list:
- HDS 60 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis
- PSYC 60 - Introduction to Statistics
- COGS 14B - Intro to Statistical Analysis
- BIEB 100 - Biostatistics
- ECON 120 - Econometrics A
- POLI 30 - Political Inquiry
- MATH 11 - Elementary Probability and Statistics
Formal Skills (1 Course)
One course selected from the following approved list:
- CSS 1 - Introductory Programming for Computational Social Science
- PHIL 10 - Introduction to Logic
- PHIL 12 - Logic and Decision Making
- LIGN 17 - Making and Breaking Codes
- Or one course selected from the MATH 10 or MATH 20 sequence
- MATH 10 (A, B or C) - Calculus
- MATH 20 (A, B or C) - Calculus for Science and Engineering
Biological Sciences (2 Courses)
Two courses selected from the following approved list:
- ANTH 2 - Human Origins
- BILD 1 - The Cell
- BILD 2 - Multicellular Life
- BILD 3 - Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
- BILD 7 - The Beginning of Life
- BILD 10 - Fundamental Concepts of Modern Biology
- BILD 12 - Neurobiology and Behavior
- BILD 18 - Human Impact on the Environment
- BILD 20 - Human Genetics in Modern Society
- BILD 26 - Human Physiology
- BILD 38 - Dementia, Science, and Society
- COGS 11 - Introduction to Cognitive Science: Minds and Brains
- COGS 17 - Neurobiology of Cognition
- PSYC 2 - General Psychology: Biological Foundations
Social Sciences (2 Courses)
Two courses selected from the following approved list:
- ANTH 1 - Introduction to Culture
- ANTH 3 - World Prehistory
- CAT 1 - Culture, Art and Technology I
- CAT 2 - Culture, Art and Technology II
- COMM 10 - Introduction to Communication
- COGS 1 - Introduction to Cognitive Science
- HILD 7A, B, or C - Race and Ethnicity in the United States (only one can be used)
- LIGN 4 - Language as a Cognitive System
- LIGN 7 - Sign Language and Its Culture
- LIGN 8 - Languages and Cultures in America
- LIGN 101 - Introduction to the Study of Language
- MMW 11 - Prehistory and the Birth of Civilization
- MMW 12 - The Great Classical Traditions
- MMW 121 - Exploring the Premodern World
- MMW 122 - Exploring the Modern World
- PH 40 (previously FPMH) - Introduction to Public Health
- PH 50 (previously FPMH) - Primary Care and Public Health
- PSYC 1 - Psychology
- PSYC 3 - General Psychology: Cognitive Foundations
- PSYC 6 - General Psychology: Social Foundations
- PSYC 7 - General Psychology: Developmental Foundations
- SOCI 1 - Introduction to Sociology
- SOCI 20 - Social Change in the Modern World
- SOCI 40 - Sociology of Health-Care Issues
- SOCI 70 - General Sociology for Premedical Students
Upper-Division Course Requirements
12 courses (52 units)
Core Series (4 Courses)
A total of 4 courses with at least 1 course from each Domain is required.
Domain 1 - The Biological Basis of Human Development (one required):
- HDS 110 - Brain and Behavioral Development (Prerequisite: HDS 1 or PSYC 101).
- HDS 111 - Evolutionary Principles of Development (Prerequisite: HDS 1 or ANTH 2 or BILD 3).
- ANBI 111 - Advanced Principles of Human Evolution (Prerequisite: ANTH 2 or equivalent).
- BIPN 144 - Developmental Neurobiology (Prerequisites: Upper division standing. Students should have a strong background in biology).
- 2A. Social-Cognitive Development (one required):
- HDS 121/COGS 110 - The Developing Mind (Prerequisites: HDS 1 or COGS 1).
- HDS 122 - Development of Social Cognition (Prerequisites: HDS 1 or equivalent).
- PSYC 187 - Development Social Cognition (Prerequisite: Upper division standing).
- 2B. Language Development (one required)
- HDS 120 - Language Development (Prerequisites: HDS 1 or LING 4 or equivalent).
- COGS 156 - Language Development (Prerequisites: Upper-division standing. background in developmental psyc and/or linguistics is recommended).
- LIGN 171 - Child Language Acquisition (Prerequisite: LIGN 101 or Upper division standing or consent of instructor).
- HDS 133 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Developmental Science (Prerequisite: HDS 1 or PSYC 1).
- ANSC 126 - Childhood and Adolescence (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- ANSC 168 - The Human Condition (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- COMM 112C - The Idea of Childhood (Prerequisite: HDS 1 or COMM 10).
- HITO 126 - History of Childhood
Development Courses (5 Courses)
A total of 5 courses with at least 1 course from each Domain is required.
Domain 1 - Biological Development:
- ANBI 116 - Evolution of Primate Reproduction (Prerequisite: Upper division standing).
- ANBI 130 - Biology of Inequality (Prerequisite: Upper division standing).
- ANBI 140 - The Evolution of the Human Brain (Prerequisite: Upper division standing).
- ANBI 159 - Biological and Cultural Perspectives on Intelligence (Prerequisite: Upper division standing).
- ANBI 173 - How Monkeys See the World (Prerequisite: Upper division standing).
- ANTH 102 - Humans are Cultural Animals (Prerequisite: Upper division standing).
- BICD 100 - Genetics (Prerequisites: BILD 1 and BILD 3).
- BICD 112 - Stem Cells and Regeneration (Prerequisites: BIMM 100).
- BICD 130 - Embryos, Genes, and Development (Prerequisites: BICD 100, BIBC 100 or BIBC 102 or CHEM 114A or CHEM 114B).
- BIPN 134 - Human Reproduction (Prerequisites: BIPN 100).
- BIPN 144 - Developmental Neurobiology (Prerequisites: Upper division standing. Students should have a strong background in biology).
- BIPN 148 - Cellular Basis of Learning and Memory (Prerequisites: BIPN 100).
- COGS 115 - Neurological Development and Cognitive Change (Prerequisites: BILD 10 or 12 or COGS 17 or HDS 110).
- COGS 184 - Modeling the Evolution of Cognition (Prerequisites: Programming ability, calculus, and consent of instructor).
- PSYC 132 - Hormones and Behavior (Prerequisites: Upper Division standing).
- PSYC 171 - Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (Prerequisite: PSYC 2 or 106 or 181 and Upper-division standing).
- PSYC 168 - Psychological Disorders of Childhood (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- COGS 154 - Communication Disorders in Children and Adults (Prerequisites: Upper-division standing).
- COMM 100A - Communication, the Person, and Everyday Life (Prerequisite: COMM 10 or consent of instructor).
- COMM 168 - Bilingual Communication (Prerequisite:COMM 10 and one from COMM 100A, 100B, 100C or consent of instructor).
- LIGN 119/EDS 119 - First and Second Language Learning - From Childhood Through Adolescence (Prerequisite: Upper Division Standing or consent of instructor).
- LIGN 179 - Second Language Acquisition (Prerequisite: LIGN 101 or upper divsion standing or consent of instructor).
- PSYC 101 - Developmental Psychology (Prerequisite: Upper Division Standing or consent of instructor).
- PSYC 130 - Delay of Gratification (Prerequisite: Upper Division Standing or consent of instructor).
- PSYC 132 - Hormones and Behavior (Prerequisites: Upper Division standing).
- PSYC 136 - Cognitive Development (Prerequisites: PSYC 101, or PSYC 105).
- PSYC 141 - Evolution and Human Nature (Prerequisites: Upper Division standing).
- PSYC 146 - Language and Conceptual Development (Prerequisites: Upper Division standing).
- PSYC 156 - Cognitive Development in Infancy (Prerequisites:PSYC 101 or HDS 1).
- PSYC 168 - Psychological Disorders of Childhood (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- PSYC 172 - Psychology of Human Sexuality (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- PSYC 173 - Psychology of Food and Behavior (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- PSYC 180 - Adolescence (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- PSYC 187 - Development of Social Cognition (Prerequisite: Upper Division Standing or consent of instructor. PSYC 101 recommended).
- PSYC 190 - Parenting (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- ANBI 159 - Biological and Cultural Perspectives on Intelligence (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- ANSC 101 - Aging: Culture and Health in Late Life Human Development (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- ANSC 125 - Gender, Sexuality, and Society (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- ANSC 126 - Childhood and Adolescence (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- ANSC 127 - Discourse, Interaction and Social Life (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- COMM 102C - Practicum in New Media and Community Life
- COMM 102D - Practicum in Child Development
- COMM 126 - Children and Media (Prerequisite:COMM 10 and one from COMM 100A, 100B, 100C, or consent of instructor).
- EDS 115 - Cognitive Development and Education (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- EDS 117/SOCI 117 - Language, Culture and Education (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- EDS 118 - Adolescent Development and Education (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- HDS 171 - Diversity in Human Development (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- HDS 173 - Race, Media, and Identity Across the Lifespan (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- HDS 175 - Power, Wealth, and Inequality in Human Development (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- HDS 177 - Educational Equity & Development Across the Lifespan
- LTWL 114 - Children's Literature
- LTWL 116 - Adolescent Literature
- LTWL 177 - Literature and Aging
- PH 110 (previous FMPH) - Health Behavior and Chronic Diseases (Prerequisite: FMPH 40 and upper-division standing).
- PH 120 (previous FMPH) - Health Policies for Healthy Lifestyles (Prerequisite: FMPH 40 and upper-division standing).
- PSYC 180 - Adolescence (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- PSYC 190 - Parenting (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- SOCI 116/LIGN 174 - Gender and Language in Society (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- SOCI 129 - The Family (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- SOCI 131 - Sociology of Youth (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- SOCI 143 - Suicide
- SOCI 159 - Special Topics in Organizations and Institutions - NOTE: ONLY WHEN TOPIC IS APPROVED FOR HDS MAJOR (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- SOCI 161 - Sociology of The Life Course (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- SOCI 184 - Gender and Film
- USP 134 - Community Youth Development
- USP 145 - Aging - Social and Health Policy Issues (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
- USP 147 - Case Studies in Health-Care Programs/Poor and Underserved Population (Prerequisite: Upper-division standing).
Methods of Research Courses (2 Courses)
HDS 191 - Field Research in Human Development (Prerequisites: HDS 1 & HDS 181. Department approval required to enroll. HDS majors only).
- Students must submit the pre-enrollment questionnaire one academic year prior to enrollment. See the HDS 191 Page for details
Senior Seminar Capstone (1 Course)
The Senior Seminar Capstone is a special topics seminar that provides advanced-level study on subfields of human development (must be taken in-residence).
HDS 150 - Senior Seminar (Prerequisites: HDS 181, Senior Standing, and Department Approval. Priority given to graduating seniors in their final term).