The Graduate School Bulletin
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
248 Stone Building
(336) 334-5307
http://www.uncg.edu/hdf
Graduate Programs:
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership in Early Care and Education (jointly with the Department of Specialized Education Services), 18 hours
Master of Education (MEd) in Birth-Kindergarten: Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development (jointly with the Department of Specialized Education Services), 37 hours
Master of Science (MS) in Human Development and Family Studies, 38 hours
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Development and Family Studies, 51 hours
Graduate Faculty
Overview
HDF Human Development and Family Studies Courses
Graduate Faculty
Professors
Cheryl Buehler, PhD, Interparental conflict, adolescence, parenting.
Susan D. Calkins, PhD, Social and emotional development in infancy and early childhood.
Deborah J. Cassidy, PhD, Child-care quality, early childhood professional development, developmentally appropriate practices.
David H. Demo, PhD, Family diversity, family relationships and children’s well-being; parent-child interaction; family transitions (Director of Graduate Study).
Marion O’Brien, PhD, Child care, school environments, and children’s development; parenting and children’s socioemotional development; infant-toddler behavior and development.
Daniel Perlman, PhD, Intimate relationships and friendships including initiation, maintenance, and termination; the dark side of relationships; loneliness.
Jonathan Tudge, PhD, Ecological and socio-cultural theory; children’s development in ethnic, social, and cross-cultural contexts; links between home, preschool and school; development of gratitude in children and adolescents.
Associate Professors
Stephanie I. Coard, PhD, Socio-cultural influences on child mental health, racial/ethnic socialization processes, racial/ethnic identity development.
Richard A. Faldowski, PhD, Research methodology, design, and quantitative analysis; evaluation of prevention/intervention services for low-income children/families; early care and education programs.
Anne C. Fletcher, PhD, Parental and peer influences on adolescent adjustment, parent and adolescent social integration, social network closure.
Heather Helms, PhD, Marriage, friendship, work and family in dual-earner couples; midlife parenting and relationships.
Linda Lott Hestenes, PhD, Child care quality, outdoor environments for young children, inclusive classrooms.
Andrea Hunter, PhD, Diversity in children’s living arrangements, grandparenthood, multigeneration family systems, constructions of gender.
Karen LaParo, PhD, Childcare quality, early elementary classroom quality, inclusive classrooms, early intervention, teacher-child relationships.
Esther M. Leerkes, PhD, Parent-child interaction in infancy/early childhood and links with children’s social-emotional well-being; child influences on parents and family.
Mary Y. Morgan, PhD, Women’s everyday lived experiences using feminist research approaches and exploring ethnic and racial diversity.
Catherine Scott-Little, PhD, Early childhood education standards and assessments, school readiness and after-school programs.
Sudha Shreeniwas, PhD, Well-being and health over the life course; ethnicity, culture, and health among the elderly.
Andrew J. Supple, PhD, Youth and adolescent development, parent-child relationships, cultural variations, research methods.
Assistant Professor
Danielle Crosby, PhD, Effects of welfare and employment policies on young children in low-income families.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Rosemarie Vardell, PhD, Multicultural perspectives, professional development in early childhood education.
Overview
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies faculty have a wide range of research interests and methodological approaches. The faculty's research interests cluster in five focal areas:
- Early childhood development, care, and education including social, emotional, and cognitive development in young children, child care, and early childhood education;
- Parent-child relationships;
- Adolescence;
- Close relationships, marriage, and divorce; and
- Human development and family diversity in sociocultural context.
Faculty use a variety of quantitative and qualitative approaches including tests of children’s social and cognitive development, micro-analytic analyses of peer and parent-child interactions, surveys, interviews, feminist methodologies such as photovoice and interpretive inquiry, and the design and evaluation of educational and intervention programs for children, family members, and educational personnel. The department offers advanced quantitative training in such areas as longitudinal modeling, missing data methods, and the analysis of clustered or dyadic (yoked) data. Within these general areas of concentration and varied methods of inquiry, students focus upon more specific topics of study.
Graduate course work in human development and family studies focuses on individuals and families as they relate to friendship and kinship networks, the workplace, and economic, human service, health, and formal and informal educational systems. Graduate students have considerable flexibility in tailoring their studies to special interests and career goals. Broad areas of concentration include child and adolescent development, child care and early childhood education, adult development and aging, divorce/remarriage, and family relationships.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership in Early Care and Education
The online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Early Care and Education Leadership requires 18 semester hours and is offered jointly by the departments of Human Development and Family Studies and Specialized Education Services. The program is designed to provide students with graduate level training and a credential to pursue careers in leadership positions in early care and education settings including early intervention, Smart Start, resource and referral, and community college instruction.
Application and Admission
Applicants must submit all application materials required by The Graduate School by the appropriate deadline.
The certificate is available to students with a bachelor’s or masters’ degree who do not plan to pursue a degree program or for students who are pursuing a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies or Specialized Education Services. If pursuing a master’s degree simultaneously, students must meet all requirements for admission to The Graduate School, Human Development and Family Studies, and Specialized Education Services. The Certificate is also open to graduate students with background knowledge in early childhood education, child development, early childhood special education, or a closely related field.
Certificate Requirements
Required Courses (15 hours)
HDF 634 Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Policy (3)
HDF 636 Leadership and Mentoring in Educating Young Children (3)
HDF 650 Theory and Research in Early Childhood (3)
SES 601 Introduction to Inclusive Birth-Kindergarten Services (3)
SES 605 Diversity and Inclusive Early Care and Education (3)
Electives (3 hours)
With the approval of the advisor, students choose 3 hours of electives at the 500 or 600 level.
MED - Master of Education in Birth-Kindergarten: Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development
The online MEd in Birth-Kindergarten: Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development requires 37 semester hours and is offered jointly by the departments of Human Development and Family Studies and Specialized Education Services. Those who do not have initial teaching license in B-K will be required to take prerequisite courses to fulfill this requirement. Upon completion of this program of study, students will be eligible for “M” license in birth-kindergarten.
Application and Admission
Applicants must submit all materials required by The Graduate School by May 1 for Fall admission.
Degree Requirements
Research Requirements (6 hours)
ERM 604 Methods of Educational Research (3)
HDF 650 Theory and Research in Early Childhood (3)
Theory and Practice Requirements (18 hours)
HDF 606 Teaching Methods in Inclusive Early Childhood Services (4)
HDF 636 Leadership and Mentoring in Educating Young Children (3)
SES 601 Introduction to Inclusive Birth-Kindergarten Services (3)
SES 602 Inclusive Family-Centered Practices in Early Childhood (3)
SES 603 Screening/Assessment in Inclusive Early Childhood Services (3)
SES 633 Advanced Curriculum in Early Childhood Education (3)
Practicum (6 hours)
SES 604 Internship in Inclusive Early Childhood (6)
Electives (9 hours)
HDF 610 Child Development in Cultural Context (3)
HDF 621 Applied Theories and Principles of Parenting (3)
HDF 634 Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Policy (3)
HDF 653 Contemporary Research in Family Studies (3)
HDF 667 Infant Development (3)
SES 608 Seminar in Early Childhood (3)
SES 605 Diversity and Inclusive Early Care and Education (3)
SES 647 Collaboration and Consultation in Education (3)
SES 662 Assistive Technology for Inclusive Education (3)
Other courses as approved by advisor.
Professional Portfolio (Capstone Experience)
The final portfolio is the culminating experience. It includes two components: 1) a written document that includes a series of reflective essays and 2) oral defense, discussing the content of the essays and rationale for the use of documents. This portfolio will demonstrate the mastery of skills and knowledge in the program competency areas. It is submitted on TaskStream and evaluated by a team of two faculty and one practicing professional. If the portfolio and presentation do not meet departmental standards, one revision is allowed. The final portfolio is required of all students graduating from the BKISED program.
MS - Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies
The MS in Human Development and Family Studies requires a minimum of 38 hours (including thesis) and prepares graduates to conduct research or to embark on a doctoral program of study.
Application and Admission
In addition to a review of the admission materials required by The Graduate School, the department considers the compatibility of the student's interest areas with those of the faculty and with curriculum emphasis, as well as the student's availability for full-time graduate study.
Degree Requirements
Core Content (14 hours)
HDF 640 Professional Seminar I (1)
HDF 653 Contemporary Research in Family Studies (3)
HDF 651 Contemporary Research in Human Development (3)
HDF 652 Theories of Human Development (3)
HDF 655 Family Theory (3)
HDF 661 Professional Seminar II (1)
Area of Specialization (9 hours)
Area of specialization courses are selected jointly by the student and the faculty advisory committee. All 9 hours must be fulfilled through content courses, and at least 6 of the 9 hours must be taken within the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
Statistics and Methodology (9 hours)
ERM 680 Intermediate Statistical Methods in Education (3)
ERM 681 Design and Analysis of Educational Experiments (3)
HDF 658 Research Methods in HDFS (3)
Research (6 hours) (Capstone Experience)
HDF 699 Thesis (6) and oral examination
PHD - Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development and Family Studies
The PhD in Human Development and Family Studies requires 89 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree (for students entering the program in the MS/PhD track) or a minimum of 51 hours beyond a master's degree program. Required and elective course work and research are listed below. Entering doctoral students who have completed a master's degree program at another institution or department must fulfill (or have comparable substitutions for) all of the requirements of the HDFS MS Thesis Option degree program. Assessment of prerequisite courses occurs at the time of admission to the program. These requirements must be fulfilled in addition to completing the minimum of 51 hours of course work and research shown below.
Application and Admission
In addition to a review of the admission materials required by The Graduate School, the department considers the compatibility of the student's interest areas with those of the faculty and with curriculum emphasis, as well as the student's availability for full-time graduate study.
Degree Requirements
Area of Specialization (18 hours)
The PhD program requires the completion of 18 hours of elective course work (selected jointly by the student and the faculty advisory committee) beyond the minimum of 9 hours of specialization course work taken for the MS Thesis Option. Of the 18 hours to be taken for the PhD, 9 hours must be fulfilled through content knowledge courses.
Professional Development (1 hour)/Teaching Practicum (5 hours)
All doctoral students will complete a two-semester teaching practicum supervised by the student's advisor, or the advisor's designee. The practicum requires the student to serve as an assistant, then as a co-instructor of a course (or courses) at the 200, 300, or 400 level.
HDF 700 College Teaching Practicum in Human Development and Family Studies I (2)
HDF 750 Professional Seminar III (1)
HDF 765 College Teaching Practicum in Human Development and Family Studies II (3)
Statistics and Methodology (15 hours)
STA 671 Multivariate Analysis (3)
HDF 712 Advanced Research Design in Human Development and Family Studies (3)
One additional content course in statistical analysis (3)
One additional content course in research methodology (3)
One additional content course in either statistical analysis or research methodology (3)
Preliminary Examination
Written and oral preliminary examinations of the student's knowledge of the specialization area and of research methods, design, and statistical analyses, must be passed prior to commencing the dissertation research.
Research (12 hours)
HDF 799 Dissertation (12)
Requirements for the MS and PhD program of study are specified further in departmental curriculum guides. A majority of students enter the MS/PhD track.
HDF Human Development and Family Studies Courses
502 Gender in Families (3:3)
Pr. 211, 212, 410 or permission of instructor
Influence of social, philosophical, political, and technological change on gender relationships in families in the past, present, and future.
510 Child and Family Ecology (3:3)
Pr. 452 or graduate standing
Study of children and families in their social contexts; examination of issues such as parent-child relations, child maltreatment, divorce and single-parent families, and work-family linkages.
527 Problems in Human Development and Family Studies (2-6)
Pr. permission of instructor
Designated special problems.
589 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings.
601 Directed Individual Study in Human Development and Family Studies (1-6)
Pr. 6 semester hours of HDF graduate courses and permission of instructor
602 Problems in Human Development and Family Studies (2-4)
Designated special problems such as Child Care Administration, Parent Education, Practicum, Child Guidance. May be repeated for credit.
603 Research Laboratory Practicum in Human Development and Family Studies (1:0:3)
Supervised practicum experiences in planning, designing, and implementing research investigations in the field of human development and family studies. Students must obtain approval of a supervising graduate faculty member before registering. May be repeated for credit; credit can not be used to meet minimum hour requirements of a degree program. (Graded on S-U basis)
606 Teaching Methods in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings (4:3:3)
Pr. admission to BKISED degree program and SES 601
In-depth exploration of the principles of early childhood care and education and learning strategies for young children with and without disabilities. Field placements in BK setting are required. (Same as SES 606)
610 Child Development in Cultural Context (3:3)
Examines how culture influences children's development and is simultaneously influenced by members of that culture.
621 Applied Theories and Principles of Parenting (3:3)
Examination of established parenting models and programs. Theoretical foundations and issues related to program development, adaptation, and implementation. Implications for outcome analyses and program evaluation.
624 Feminist Theory and Research Methodologies (3:3)
Research issues associated with the study of women and families from a feminist perspective on scholarship. Examination of feminist research methods focusing on interpretive inquiry and critical science. (formerly HDF 607)
626 Social and Economic Problems of the Family (3:3)
Social and economic conditions in the U.S. as they affect the welfare of families in general and influence or interact with an individual family's values, goals, and resource development and use. (formerly HDF 606)
631 Families of Individuals with Special Needs (3:3)
Pr. HDF major or permission of instructor
Current theory, research and intervention models concerning family coping and adaptation to children's exceptional development: physical handicaps, developmental disabilities, chronic illness, and psychiatric disorders. (formerly HDF 660)
634 Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Policy (3:3)
Analysis of how federal, state, and local policies impact early childhood programs, early childhood professionals, children, and families. (formerly HDF 684)
636 Leadership and Mentoring Roles in Educating Young Children (3:3)
Examination of advanced leadership, mentoring, lifelong learning, and teaching skills for those who develop and implement early childhood programs. (formerly HDF 683)
640 Professional Seminar I (1:1)
Conceptual and methodological perspectives of multidisciplinary study in the field of human development and family studies. Required of all first-year master's and doctoral students. (formerly HDF 689)
644 Applications of Theory and Research in Family Studies (3:3)
Abbreviated examination of theories that relate to family studies and contemporary research findings in the areas of family studies relevant to family life/parent education.
650 Theory and Research in Early Childhood (3:3)
Pr. ERM 604, SES 601
Examination of theory and current research pertaining to the development of children from birth through kindergarten within the context of the family, community, and larger society.
651 Contemporary Research in Human Development (3:3)
Pr. HDF major or permission of instructor
Examination of contemporary research findings in the field of human development.
652 Theories of Human Development (3:3)
Pr. HDF major or permission of instructor
Survey of selected theories of individual development.
653 Contemporary Research in Family Studies (3:3)
Pr. HDF major or permission of instructor
Examination of contemporary research findings in the field of family studies. (formerly HDF 641)
654 Applications of Theory and Research in Human Development (3:3)
Abbreviated examination of theories that relate to human development and contemporary research findings in the areas of human development relevant to family life/parent education.
655 Family Theory (3:3)
Pr. HDF major and 653 or permission of instructor
Theories that relate to studying families; linking conceptual ideas, theorizing, and research examples relevant to families. (formerly HDF 642)
658 Research Methods in Human Development and Family Studies (3:3)
Research methods and designs of research with children and families. Core requirement for MS and PhD degrees. (formerly HDF 630)
660 Families in Middle and Later Life (3:3)
Pr. admitted to a graduate program or permission of instructor
Examination of family configurations and relationships as individuals move through middle and later life.
661 Professional Seminar II (1:1)
Professional activities and ethical responsibilities of university teachers and research scholars; professional writing, peer-review, extramural funding, and research practices with human subjects. Core requirement for MS and PhD degrees. (formerly HDF 690)
665 Personality and Social Development (3:3)
Pr. 651 (or 650 or 654) and 652, or permission of instructor
Integrates theory and research focusing on dimensions of normal personal-social growth from infancy through childhood. Importance of peer and family relations in the development of social attitudes, self-concept, prosocial behaviors, social conformity, and moral reasoning. (Same as PSY 608) (formerly HDF 608)
666 Intellectual Development in Young Children (3:3)
Pr. 651 (or 650 or 654), 652, or permission of instructor
Current theories and recent research on intellectual development from infancy through middle childhood; language acquisition, thinking, conceptual representation, learning, memory, and perceptual development. (formerly HDF 618)
667 Infant Development (3:2:3)
Pr. 651 (or 650 or 654), 652, or permission of instructor
Principles of perceptual, motor, cognitive and socio-emotional development in infants and very young children. (formerly HDF 632)
668 Seminar in Adolescence (3:3)
Pr. 651 (or 650 or 654) or permission of instructor
Integrates theory, research, and practice focusing on dimensions of normative and problematic adolescent development within its ecological contexts. (formerly HDF 635)
671 Contemporary Family Life (3:3)
Pr. 653, 655, or permission of instructor
Contemporary families; the nature of family dynamics and the needs of family members in a changing social context. (formerly HDF 692)
672 Divorce and Remarriage (3:3)
Pr. 653 (or 644) or permission of instructor
Trends in divorce and remarriage. Critique of theory and research and study of relationships in the reorganization of the family.
673 The Family in Comparative Perspective (3:3)
Pr. 652, 653 (or 644), or permission of instructor
Family patterns in different cultures; viewing family systems within their cultural contexts. (formerly HDF 662)
674 Close Relationships in Adulthood (3:3)
Pr. 653 or 644 or permission of instructor
Interdisciplinary introduction to close relationships in adulthood, including the major theoretical perspectives scholars use to examine close relationships, the methods researchers employ, and the substantive foci that characterize the field. (formerly HDF 643)
675a Family Conflict Resolution (3:3)
Pr. for HDF majors, HDF 672; for CNR majors, CNR 600; for all others, permission of instructor
Explores the theory, research and methods of working with family conflicts related to divorce (financial and parenting), parent-child, and older adult issues. Assignments include reading, case studies, and role plays. (Same as CNR 675)
675b Divorce Mediation Practicum (3)
Pr. 675a or permission of instructor
Skill development and application of theory to practice in divorce mediation through supervised work with clients in a laboratory setting. (Graded on S-U basis)
695 Professional Seminar in Family Life and Parent Education (1:1)
Professional issues and career development skills in the field of family life and parent education.
696 Supervised Professional Experience in Human Development and Family Studies (1-6:0:3-12)
Pr. permission of instructor
Supervised professional experience in selected commercial or industrial organizations, public or private agencies. Completion of a major project or activities appropriate to the goals of the agencies. (formerly HDF 600)
699 Thesis (1-6)
Pr. permission of instructor
Required of all candidates for the Master of Science degree. Credit may be divided over two or more semesters.
700 College Teaching in Human Development and Family Studies I (2:1:3)
Introduction to college teaching through observation and exploration of issues for beginning teachers. Students are assigned to work with graduate faculty members. May be repeated with a different member of the graduate faculty. (Graded on S-U basis) (formerly HDF 664)
701 Minor Research (2-6)
Pr. permission of instructor
(formerly HDF 670)
710 The Ecology of Human Development (3:3)
For advanced level graduate students in human development and family studies, sociology, psychology, and counseling education. Urie Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Systems Theory is a major contemporary theory in the field of human development. Course deals with its theoretical foundations, its development, and related contemporary empirical research.
711 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to Course Schedule for current offerings.
712 Advanced Research Design in Human Development and Family Studies (3:3)
Pr. HDF core requirements and two graduate statistics courses or permission of instructor
Methods and designs of research with individuals and families from problem specification, data collection and reduction, to data analysis. Core requirement for PhD degree.
721 Seminar in Parent-Child Relations (3:3)
Pr. 651 (or 650 or 654), 652, and 653 (or 644); or permission of instructor
Current theoretical and research perspectives on parent-child relations. Child-rearing practices and socialization processes. (formerly HDF 612)
750 Professional Seminar III (1:1)
Pr. 640, 661
Job search methods and strategies in human development and family studies for doctoral students. (formerly HDF 691)
765 College Teaching Practicum in Human Development and Family Studies II (3:1:6)
Supervised experiences in planning, teaching, and evaluating a college-level course. Student must obtain the approval of a supervising graduate faculty member before registering. May be repeated with a different member of the graduate faculty.
790 Independent Doctoral Research (1-6)
Individual work on problems related to the student's primary area(s) of specialization. Work may consist of empirical research or of critical reviews and integrations of existing literature.
799 Dissertation Problem (1-12)
Pr. permission of instructor
Required of all candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Credit may be divided over two or more semesters.
801 Thesis Extension (1-3)
802 Dissertation Extension (1-3)
803 Research Extension (1-3)