Human Development and Human Services, B.A.

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 124

Minimum cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum number of credits to complete the major: 54

School: School of Education and Social Policy

Department: Applied Human Development and Community Studies

Learn more about the program

The Human Development and Human Services major provides a strong foundation of developmental theory, concepts, and practices to prepare individuals to work with a wide range of age groups in a variety of human service settings. This major also provides a solid base from which to pursue graduate studies in a variety of human service fields, including counseling (e.g., school, adjustment); social work; community engagement; speech and language pathology; child life; K-12 education; and higher education (e.g., admissions, residence life).

Human Development and Human Services majors, like all other Merrimack College students, take additional courses that fulfill Foundations and Connections Core Curriculum, as well as complete a field experience to explore career interests related to human services. Interested students are encouraged to visit the website and speak to their advisor for the most updated information.

Major Requirements

The major requires the completion of 54 credits, as outlined below.

Required Courses

HDE 1001 - Human Development 1: Prenatal Development to Age 12 Credits: 4
HDE 1002 - Human Development 2: Adolescence through Adulthood Credits: 4
HDE 1020 - Introduction to Human Services Credits: 4
HDE 1600 - Biological Bases of Development Credits: 4
HDE 2130 - Diversity, Social Justice, & Ethics Credits: 4
HDE 2600 - Mental Health Across the Lifespan Credits: 4
HDE 3000 - Research Methods & Applied Statistics in Human Development Credits: 4
HDE 4850 - Human Development: Field Experience Credits: 4
HDE 4900 - HDHS Senior Seminar Credits: 4
OR
HDE 4851 - Human Development: Intensive Field Experience Credits: 8
ESP 1000 - Career Design: Explore, Plan, Develop Credits: 1
ESP 1050 - Career Readiness: Professionalism, Dispositions, Prospects Credits: 1

Electives

Choose four courses from the following sample list of electives or any course with an HDE prefix:

EDU 2110 - Foundations and Principles of Education Credits: 4
EDU 4500 - Language Acquisition and Literacy Development Credits: 4
HDE 2200 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders Credits: 4
HDE 2221 - Addictive Behaviors: Impact on Individuals, Families and Communities Credits: 4
HDE 2223 - Group Dynamics in Human Service Settings Credits: 4
HDE 2230 - Applied Adolescent Development Credits: 4
HDE 3050 - Developing Emotional Competency and Social Maturity in Youth Credits: 4
HDE 3210 - Psychology of Learning and Assessment Credits: 4
HDE 3500 - Introduction to Audiology Credits: 4
HDE 3620 - Diversity in Practice with Families and Communities Credits: 4
HDE 3700 - Anatomy and Physiology for Speech, Language, Hearing and Swallowing Credits: 4
HDE 3900 - Speech and Hearing Science Credits: 4
HDE 4100 - Neuroscience for Speech, Language, Hearing, and Swallowing Credits: 4
HDE 4260 - Foundations of Counseling Across Professions Credits: 4

Note

If you intend to pursue a Master’s in Speech-Language Learning, we recommend you minor in Communication Abilities across the Life Span (CAL) and also take all of the elective options listed for the minor.

3+2 Accelerated Programs in School Counseling or Social Work

Merrimack College offers an accelerated pathway that allows students to satisfy requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Human Services and Master of Education in School Counseling or Master of Social Work in five years. This requires 54 credits.

Required Courses

HDE 1001 - Human Development 1: Prenatal Development to Age 12 Credits: 4
HDE 1002 - Human Development 2: Adolescence through Adulthood Credits: 4
HDE 1020 - Introduction to Human Services Credits: 4
HDE 2130 - Diversity, Social Justice, & Ethics Credits: 4
HDE 1600 - Biological Bases of Development Credits: 4
HDE 2600 - Mental Health Across the Lifespan Credits: 4
HDE 3000 - Research Methods & Applied Statistics in Human Development Credits: 4
HDE 4260 - Foundations of Counseling Across Professions Credits: 4
HDE 4850 - Human Development: Field Experience Credits: 4
HDE 4900 - HDHS Senior Seminar Credits: 4
OR
HDE 4851 - Human Development: Intensive Field Experience Credits: 8
ESP 1000 - Career Design: Explore, Plan, Develop Credits: 1
ESP 1050 - Career Readiness: Professionalism, Dispositions, Prospects Credits: 1

Cognates

PSY 1000 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 4
EDU 2110 - Foundations and Principles of Education Credits: 4 (School Counseling Only)
POL 1100 - Politics of the United States Credits: 4 (Social Work Only)

Electives

Students choose one elective course from the following sample list or any course with an HDE prefix

EDU 4500 - Language Acquisition and Literacy Development Credits: 4
HDE 2200 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders Credits: 4
HDE 2221 - Addictive Behaviors Credits: 4
HDE 2230 - Applied Adolescent Development Credits: 4
HDE 3050 - Developing Emotional Competency and Social Maturity in Youth Credits: 4
HDE 3210 - Psychology of Learning and Assessment Credits: 4
HDE 3500 - Introduction to Audiology Credits: 4
HDE 3620 - Diversity in Practice with Families and Communities Credits: 4
HDE 3700 - Anatomy and Physiology for Speech, Language, Hearing and Swallowing Credits: 4
HDE 3900 - Speech and Hearing Science Credits: 4
HDE 4100 - Neuroscience for Speech, Language, Hearing, and Swallowing Credits: 4

Retention for 3+2 Programs

Students will be expected to achieve/maintain:

Grade of B- or better in all HDE courses
3.0 GPA
Interview with Graduate Program Director at the end of sophomore year

Note

After successful completion of the undergraduate portion of the 3+2 programs, students will follow the graduate course requirements for the program of study.