Sonoma State University
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BA in Human Development

Catalog Year 2023-2024 or Later

Core (20 units)

Students must earn a C in all courses applied to the human development major.

  • HD 200 Introduction to Human Aging (GE-E) (3 units)
  • ANTH 200 Introduction to Language Studies (GE-C2) (3 units) OR ANTH 203 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (GE-D) (3 units)
  • ANTH 318 Human Development in Evolutionary Perspective (GE-B) (3 units)
  • HD 321 Social Science Theory and the Life Course [formally Human Development Core Concepts] (4 units)
  • HD 322 Politics and Ethics of Service in the Helping Professions [formally Applied Human Development] (4 units)
  • HD 450 Producing Research on the Life Course [formally Qualitative Research Design] (4 units)

Topical Areas

Four courses, one from each topical area, taken from at least three different departments. For these purposes, EDXX courses count as the 'same department' (Education).

Childhood and Adolescence (at least 1 course)

  • EDSS 418 Development in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood (GE-E) (3 units)
  • HD 330 Unequal Childhoods in the United States (4 units)
  • HD 325 Topics in Human Development: Childhood and Adolescence (3-4 units)

Adulthood and Lifespan (at least 1 course)

  • HD 331 Diversity and Inequity in American Aging (4 units)
  • HD 333 Language Socialization in Contexts of Immigration (4 units)
  • HD 335 Topics in Human Development: Adulthood and Lifespan (3-4 units)
  • KIN 410 Lifespan Motor Development (3 units)

Gender and Sexuality (at least 1 course)

  • ANTH 302 The Evolution of Males and Females (4 units)
  • NURS 480 Health, Sexuality and Society (GE-D) (3 units)
  • WGS 325 Youth: Gender Perspectives (3-4 units)
  • WGS 375 Gender, Power and Freedom in U.S History (GE-D & Critical Race Studies) (3 units)
  • WGS 385 Transnational Feminisms (3-4 units)
  • WGS 390 Gender and Work (4 units)
  • HD 365 Topics in Human Development: Gender and Sexuality (3-4 units)

Society, Culture and Language (at least 1 course)

  • ANTH 380 Language, Culture and Society (4 units)
  • ANTH 383 Language in Sociopolitical Context (4 units)
  • ANTH 386 Sign Language and Signing Communities (4 units)
  • HD 340 Culture and Language of Biomedicine (4 units)
  • HD 341 Mental Health in Culture (4 units)
  • HD 375 Topics in Human Development: Society, Culture and Language (3-4 units)

Electives (select any of the following to get to 40 units)

  • ANTH 240 Living in Our Globalized World (GE-E) (3 units)
  • ANTH 451 Applied Ethnographic Methods (4 units)
  • ANTH 480 Studies of Language Use (4 units)
  • BIOL 218 Biology of Aging (GE-E) (3 units)
  • EDEC 460 Introduction to Research in Early Childhood Studies (4 units)
  • EDEC 490 Special Topics in Early Childhood Studies (1-4 units) [topic varies]
  • HD 495 Special Studies (1-4 units)
  • HD 496 Internship (1-4 units)
  • Any courses listed above that are not applied to topical areas or the core (3-4 units)


Catalog Year Prior to 2023-2024

Core (20 units)

Students must earn a C in all courses applied to the human development major.

  • ANTH 318 Human Development in Evolutionary Perspective (GE-B) (3 units)
  • HD 320 Culture and the Life Course (topic varies with each offering) (4 units)
  • HD 321 Social Science Theory and the Life Course [formally Human Development Core Concepts] (4 units)
  • HD 322 Politics and Ethics of Service in the Helping Professions [formally Applied Human Development] (4 units)
  • HD 450 Producing Research on the Life Course [formally Qualitative Research Design] (4 units)
  • HD 490 Senior Project (1 unit)

Topical Areas

Four courses, one from each topical area, taken from at least three different departments. For these purposes, EDXX courses count as the 'same department' (Education).

Childhood and Adolescence (at least 1 course)

  • EDEC 220 Child Observation with Field Experience (4 units)
  • EDEC 435 Leadership on Behalf of Children and Families (4 units)
  • EDEC 437 Integrated Curriculum with Field Experience (4 units)
  • EDSS 418 Development in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood (GE-E) (3 units)
  • HD 325 Topics in Human Development: Childhood and Adolescence (3-4 units)

Adulthood and Lifespan (at least 1 course)

  • ANTH 303 Human Behavioral Ecology (4 units)
  • BIOL 218 Biology of Aging (GE-E) (3 units)
  • HD 200 Introduction to Human Aging (GE-E) (3 units)
  • SOCI 319 Aging and Society (GE-D) (4 units)
  • KIN 410 Lifespan Motor Development (3 units)
  • HD 335 Topics in Human Development: Adulthood and Lifespan (3-4 units)

Gender and Sexuality (at least 1 course)

  • ANTH 302 The Evolution of Males and Females (4 units)
  • NURS 480 Health, Sexuality and Society (GE-D) (3 units)
  • WGS 325 Youth: Gender Perspectives (3-4 units)
  • WGS 375 Gender, Power and Freedom in U.S History (GE-D & Critical Race Studies) (3 units)
  • WGS 385 Transnational Feminisms (3-4 units)
  • WGS 390 Gender and Work (4 units)
  • HD 365 Topics in Human Development: Gender and Sexuality (3-4 units)

Society, Culture and Language (at least 1 course)

  • ANTH 240 Living in our Globalized World (GE-E) (3 units)
  • ANTH 380 Language, Culture and Society (4 units)
  • ANTH 383 Language in Sociopolitical Context (4 units)
  • ANTH 386 Sign Language and Signing Communities (4 units)
  • EDMS 419 Identity and Agency for Socially Just Classrooms and Communities (3 units)
  • EDUC 417 School and Society (GE-D) (3 units)
  • SOCI 326 Social Psychology (GE-D) (3 units)
  • HD 375 Topics in Human Development: Society, Culture and Language (3-4 units)

Electives (select any of the following to get to 40 units)

  • ANTH 451 Applied Ethnographic Methods (4 units)
  • ANTH 480 Studies of Language Use (4 units)
  • EDEC 460 Introduction to Research in Early Childhood Studies (4 units)
  • EDEC 490 Special Topics in Early Childhood Studies (1-4 units) [topic varies]
  • HD 496 Internship (1-4 units)
  • HD 495 Special Studies (1-4 units)
  • Any courses listed above that are not applied to topical areas or the core (3-4 units)