Human Development ProgramOFFICE: 2839 AP&M Annex, Muir College The Human Development MajorThe scientific study of human development focuses on issues of growth, development, and behavioral change across the lifespan. The Human Development Program is interdisciplinary, incorporating courses from the Departments of Anthropology, Biology, Cognitive Science, Communication, Ethnic Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, Psychology, Sociology, the Teacher Education Program, and Urban Studies and Planning Program. The curriculum is designed to emphasize the idea of development as an essential perspective from which to understand human behavior. The courses cover a broad spectrum of issues in human development—from brain and perceptual development, to reasoning and problem solving, to social interaction and the evolution of cultural systems. The Human Development Program unifies and coordinates the excellent research and teaching resources currently available on campus in this area and profiles the factors which influence the ways in which humans develop and change. Human development is a very large field, but there is a set of basic questions which serve to define and integrate it: What underlies the development of human knowledge? To what extent is the capacity to know, indeed the concepts themselves, encoded in the genes? How is the role of learning and environmental influences accounted for? How do we learn? What are the ways in which children become competent participants in their social groups? What is the origin and nature of social interaction and organization? The study of human development has become increasingly central to a wide range of important issues affecting infants, young children and adolescents, as well as the changing structure of the American family and public policy on children and education. An understanding of the processes which underlie human development is crucial to our evaluation of these issues and to our ability to offer avenues for remediation of the attendant problems. The three major areas of study within the Human Development Program are: Biological Development, Ontogenetic Development, and Socio-Cultural Development. These areas consider issues which pertain to development of specific neural and cognitive processes and development within a larger social and cultural context. Career GuidanceA degree in human development offers training of special interest to those considering admission to graduate or professional schools and careers in medicine, law, education, counseling, clinical psychology, public health, public policy, public administration, or social work. Students who are interested in these areas are advised to see a Human Development Program adviser for assistance in selecting elective and major courses. A major in human development is designed to impart fundamental skills in critical thinking, comparative analysis, research analysis, and written expression. A human development major can offer preparation for teaching in elementary schools. However, if you are interested in earning a California teaching credential from UCSD, contact the Teacher Education Program (TEP) for information about prerequisite and professional preparation requirements. It is recommended you contact TEP as early as possible in your academic career. Education AbroadStudents are often able to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) and UCSD’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) while still making progress towards the major. Students interested in studying abroad should see a Human Development Program adviser to discuss curriculum plans and appropriate courses. Information on EAP/OAP is detailed in the Education Abroad Program section of the UCSD General Catalog. Interested students should contact the Programs Abroad Office in the International Center and visit the Web site at http://www/icenter/pao. Financial aid is applicable and special study abroad scholarships are available. Prerequisites for Human Development MajorsA bachelor of arts degree in human development will be given to students who satisfactorily complete the general-education and graduation requirements of Marshall, Muir, Revelle, Roosevelt, Sixth, or Warren College in addition to the Human Development Program requirements. In accordance with UCSD academic regulations, upper-division courses used to satisfy major requirements cannot be applied towards minors (please note there is some overlap permitted for double majors). See college and major advisers for questions and restrictions. Applying for the HDP MajorStudents who wish to declare the Human Development Program major must meet premajor requirements and apply for entrance into the major. All lower-division requirements must be fulfilled before applying for the major. All lower-division courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. The cumulative GPA for the eight lower-division courses must equal or exceed 2.75. Students must meet with an HDP adviser and obtain approval to declare the human development major. Grade Requirements for the MajorA minimum grade-point average of 2.0 is required in the major. Students must receive a grade of C- or better in any course counted toward fulfillment of the major requirements. All courses taken to satisfy the program’s lower- and upper-division requirements must be taken for a letter grade. HDP 1, HDP 150, and HDP 191 must be taken in residence. Lower-Division Requirements
Upper-Division Requirements for the HDP Major:
(Full information follows)
Advanced Human Development Requirement HDP 150Seminar for graduating HDP seniors. Readings and discussion of special topics in human development. Provides advanced-level study on subfields of human development. Topics vary quarterly. Prerequisites: HDP1, HDP 191, senior standing, and department approval one quarter prior to enrollment. Field Research Requirement HDP 191This course provides students with the opportunity to participate jointly in a research project in conjunction with a mentor/collaborator from a local service site. This applied research experience allows students to design and conduct research projects in a variety of settings ranging from laboratory research settings to service oriented placements. In addition to literature research and a final paper at the end of the quarter, students will participate at an off-campus site for a minimum of four hours per week. Research sites are prearranged one quarter in advance (see the student affairs office or the HDP Web site for enrollment information). Students’ interests and future career plans are considered for site placement. Various research orientations and methodologies are reviewed in class. Prerequisites: HDP 1 and department approval one quarter prior to enrollment. Honors in Human Development HDP 194A-B-CThe Human Development Program offers an honors option for those students who have demonstrated excellence in the human development major. The honors program allows eligible undergraduates to explore advanced issues in the field through an honors thesis on a topic of their choice and under faculty supervision. In order to be admitted to the honors program, students must have 1) junior standing and 2) maintained a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2, and a 3.5 GPA for courses taken in the human development major. Interested students need to apply for departmental honors in spring quarter of their junior year. Students in the honors program are expected to complete the following additional requirements:
The Minor ProgramA total of seven courses are required to complete a minor in human development. These include Introduction to Human Development (HDP 1), and six developmental courses, one from each major area of study from the developmental course list. FINISH-IN-FOUR PLANThis plan is provided to help students fit the human development major requirements into a four-year schedule. Students interested in a particular career field should see the student affairs office for more specific Finish-in-Four plans for their particular college.
** Required only for students participating in the HDP Honor Program. |
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