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Bachelor of Science in Human Developmental Sciences with a Specialization in Equity
and Diversity

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Human Developmental Sciences with a Specialization in Equity and Diversity is designed for those considering advanced graduate level study or other professional engagement in the health sciences, therapy, rehabilitation, or research and who wish to broaden their understanding of diverse perspectives. Please note that all classes taken for this Bachelor of Science specialization must be taken for letter grades.

Lower-Division ("Major-Prep") Requirements

8 courses (32 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:


For students who declared the HDS major prior to Fall 2021:
One course selected from the following approved list:

Formal Skills (2 Courses)

Two courses selected from the following approved list:

Biological Sciences (2 Courses)

Two courses selected from the following approved list:

Social Sciences (2 Courses)

Two courses selected from the following approved list:

Upper-Division Requirements

13 courses (56 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):

Domain 2 - The Cognitive and Linguistic Basis of Human Development (two required, one from each area): Domain 3 - The Socio-cultural Basis of Human Development (one required):

Development Courses (3 Courses)

Three courses - one course from each domain is required.

Domain 1 - Biological Development:

Domain 2 - Cognitive and Language Development:
Domain 3 - Socio-Cultural Development:
Note: Students can take additional Equity and diversity topics from the HDS 171-179 series below (beyond the two taken for the specialization) to fullfill the Socio-cultural development domain. 

 Courses taken for Socio-cultural development and Equity and diversity cannot overlap

In addition to the 3 domain course requirements above--Biological, Cognitive, And Socio-Cultural--two additional developmental specialization courses in Equity and Diversity are required. See the next section for course options.

Equity and Diversity Development Courses (2 required)

Two courses - must complete two courses from those listed below


The following courses now accepted (by request)! Please notify us in VAC if you would like to use any of the following, so we can credit your degree audit:

  • ANBI 130. Biology of Inequality (4)
    Biological and health consequences of racial and social inequalities. Psychosocial stress and measurement of health impact. Effects on disease and precursors to disease, including measures of molecular biology (e.g., epigenetics, gene expression), and biomarkers of inflammation, cardiometabolic health, and immune function. Prerequisites: upper-division standing.

  • ANSC 113. Language, Style, and Youth Identities (4)
    Young people draw on language as well as clothing and music to display identities in contemporary societies. We examine the relation of language to race, class, gender, and ethnicity in youth identity construction, especially in multilingual and multiracial societies. Prerequisites: upper-division standing.

  • ANSC 162. Language, Identity, and Community (4)
    This course examines the use of language difference in negotiating identity in bilingual and bidialectal communities, and in structuring interethnic relations. It addresses social tensions around language variation and the social significance of language choices in several societies. Prerequisites: upper-division standing.

  • BILD 60. Exploring Issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Relation to Human Biology (4)
    This course will examine diversity, equity, and inclusion beginning with a biological framework. Focus will be on how underlying biological differences have been used to support bias and prejudice against particular groups such as women, African Americans, and Latinos. This course is approved to meet the campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirement. Prerequisites: BILD 1 and BILD 2 or 3.

  • EDS 117/SOCI 117. Language, Culture, and Education (4)
    (Same as SOCI 117) The mutual influence of language, culture, and education will be explored; explanations of students’ school successes and failures that employ linguistic and cultural variables will be considered; bilingualism and cultural transmission through education. Students may not receive credit for EDS 117 and SOCI 117 and EDS 117GS. Prerequisites: upper-division standing.

  • SOCI 127. Immigration, Race, and Ethnicity (4)
    Examination of the role that race and ethnicity play in immigrant group integration. Topics include theories of integration, racial and ethnic identity formation, racial and ethnic change, immigration policy, public opinion, comparisons between contemporary and historical waves of immigration. Prerequisites: upper-division standing. Will not receive credit for SOCI 127 and SOCB 127.

  • SOCI 173. Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine (4)
    This course will explore the social forces that shape our health and the way we understand illness. Themes will include American public health and health care, inequality and biomedicine, as well as special topics like suicide, lead, autism, and HIV/AIDS. Prerequisites: upper-division standing.



Methods of Research (2 Courses)

These courses are designed to introduce students to the philosophy and methods of developmental research in both laboratory and real-world settings (must be taken in residence).

HDS 181 - Experimental Projects in Human Development Research (Prerequisites: HDS 1, Statistics,  and a minimum of three upper-division HDS major courses, at least one in each domain. Department approval required to enroll. HDS majors only).

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

Equity and Diversity Practicum (1 Course)

The Equity and Diversity Practicum is a third methods/practicum requirement. All of the courses available for this requirement are UCSD DEI certified courses and were selected and designed to broaden understanding of diverse perspectives.

One course selected from the following approved list:

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 - Advanced Human Development (Prerequisites: HDS 181, Senior Standing, and department approval).

  • Must be an approved HDS major with senior standing. Priority given to graduating seniors in their final quarter.