This highly relevant and contemporary minor is a 15-credit interdisciplinary program designed especially for students who are interested in how individuals develop and how to improve the quality of life for families and communities. You’ll explore the psychological, social, cultural, and biological development of individuals from conception through adulthood and aging, within the contexts of their families, communities, and the broader society.

The minor is an excellent complement to many majors at Mason. You will have the opportunity to learn from outstanding faculty who are dedicated to teaching and involved in cutting-edge research.

Policies

Eight credits of coursework must be unique to the minor and students must complete all coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00. For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.

Banner Code: HDFS

Minor Requirements

Total credits: minimum of 15

Core Course

HDFS 200Individual and Family Development (Mason Core)3
HDFS 300Individual and Family Services Delivery3
Choose one course from the following:3-4
Family Financial Literacy and Resource Management
The Hospitalized Child and Family
Therapeutic Benefits of Play
Advanced Family Processes (Mason Core)
Family Law and Public Policy
Special Topics in Human Development and Family Science
Internship and Analysis in Human Development and Family Science
Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core)
Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core)
Research for Social Change (Mason Core)
Lifespan Development (Mason Core)
Research Methods in Psychology (Mason Core)
Psychology in the Community
Community Engagement for Social Change (Mason Core)
Psychology of Intimate Relationships
Methods and Logic of Inquiry (Mason Core)
Contemporary Families and Intimate Relationships
Total Credits9-10

Electives

Elective choices follow career and professional interests. Elective courses are suggested by advisors and mentors and approved by the Academic Program Coordinator. See below for areas of focus.6
Families and Individuals Across the Life Span
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Family and Health Communication
Delinquency and the Juvenile Justice System
Law and Justice around the World (Mason Core)
Foundations of Language and Literacy for Diverse Young Learners, Birth-Age 5
Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance
Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education
Medical and Developmental Aspects of Disabilities of Diverse Young Learners
Developing Language, Literacy, and Communication of Diverse Infants and Toddlers
Early Intervention for Infants Toddlers with Disabilities: Collaborative Consultative Approaches
Disability in American Culture (Mason Core)
Children's Literature for Teaching in Diverse Settings (Mason Core)
Health Care Delivery in the United States
Assisted Living/Senior Housing Management and Philosophy
Introduction to Health Services Research
The Hospitalized Child and Family
Dimensions of Mental Health
Drugs and Health
Women's Health
Men's Health
Relationship Health
Health Communication
Violence, Gender, and Sexuality
Images and Experiences of Childhood: Social Construct, Literature, and Film
Conflict, Trauma and Healing
Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core)
Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core)
Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core)
Women and Leadership
Contemporary Health: Intersections in Science and Society (Mason Core)
Social Justice Education (Mason Core)
Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core)
Social Psychology (Mason Core)
Principles of Learning (Mason Core)
Child Development
Adolescent Development
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology of Gender
Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology (Mason Core)
Behavior Disorders of Childhood
Psychological Factors in Aging
Death, Dying, and Grieving
Psychology of Intimate Relationships
Sociology of Delinquency
Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core)
Contemporary Families and Intimate Relationships
Sociology of Deviance
Contemporary Gender Relations (Mason Core)
Youth Culture and Society (Mason Core)
Sociology of Health, Illness, and Disability
Child and Family Welfare
Introduction to Gerontology
Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies
Women and Work
Family Advocacy
Family and Health Communication
Disability in American Culture (Mason Core)
Introduction to Public Health
Health Behavior Theories
Health and Disease
Health Promotion and Education
Social Determinants of Health
Health Care Delivery in the United States
Introduction to Health Services Research
Personal Health
Dimensions of Mental Health
Introduction to Health Behavior (Mason Core)
Drugs and Health
Human Sexuality
Women's Health
Men's Health
Relationship Health
Health Communication
Conflict, Trauma and Healing
Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core)
Contemporary Health: Intersections in Science and Society (Mason Core)
Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle
Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology (Mason Core)
Death, Dying, and Grieving
Psychology of Intimate Relationships
Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core)
Contemporary Families and Intimate Relationships
Social Inequality (Mason Core)
Sociology of Health, Illness, and Disability
Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies
Research and Policy
Introduction to Law and Society
Law and Justice around the World (Mason Core)
Health Ethics, Leadership, and Advocacy
Public Law and the Judicial Process
Interest Groups, Lobbying, and the Political Process
Public Policy Making
Public Policy Analysis
Law and Society
Politics of Race and Gender
Feminist Political Thought
Human Rights
Health Care Delivery in the United States
Healthcare Law
Introduction to Health Care Politics and Policy
Introduction to Health Services Research
Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core)
Social Justice Consciousness and Action
Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core)
Women and Leadership
Psychology of Gender
Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology (Mason Core)
Psychology of Intimate Relationships
Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core)
Contemporary Families and Intimate Relationships
Qualitative Research Methods
Contemporary Gender Relations (Mason Core)
Social Inequality (Mason Core)
Changing Social Policies and Systems
Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services
Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
Introductory Statistics II
Total Credits6