B.S.in Human Development and Family Science
Experiential Experience
The HDF major provides many opportunities for applied, practical experiences—offering you direct exposure to the HDF professional world. These educational experiences may be embedded in courses (i.e., curricular) or as a result of other forms of involvement at URI related to your academic interests (i.e., co-curricular).
Curricular Opportunities
Applied Development I & II
Select courses in the HDF curriculum emphasis the integration of theory and research with experiential learning. These courses are referred to as Applied Development I and II, and provide built-in opportunities to learn in-depth about specific developmental periods of life.
| Select one of the following: | ||
| HDF 306 | Infant & Toddler Development | 3 credits |
| HDF 308 | Early Childhood Development | 3 credits |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| HDF 310 | Middle Childhood & Adolescent Development | 3 credits |
| HDF 312 | Emerging & Early Adult Development | 3 credits |
| HDF 314 | Later Adulthood Growth & Development | 3 credits |
Exploring Internship Course
In the semester before your senior field internship, you take HDF381 Exploring Internships in Human Service Agencies, a 1-credit course designed to help you find an internship site that aligns with your professional interests.
Senior Internship
The senior field internship is an immersive experience at a human service agency. There you shadow professionals and gain applied knowledge through direct experience. This course also serves as your capstone course, integrating theory and practice.
- How to register for your senior field internship
- Please note that all HDF majors are required to complete HDF 480/481. In extenuating circumstances, ITR 302/304 will be substituted for HDF480/481 and will not count as a D1 requirement. Please email the HDF Department Chair at skyeleedahl@uri.edu for the waiver application.
Additional Course-Related Opportunities
Many HDF courses offer students opportunities to develop knowledge and skills through class activities such as site visits, observations, interviews, engagement with guest speakers, event participation, and project work assignments. For example, in HDF 434: Children & Families in Poverty, students may organize food drives or serve in a local shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Independent Study credits may be an option for students who work with faculty in their research labs or provide instructional support as undergraduate Teaching Assistants (TAs). See HDF 495-498 for these experiential education possibilities. For example, Dr, Sammy Ahmed mentored undergraduate Alexandra Kenyon (BS, ’24) in research on executive functioning and cognitive development of children.
Co-Curricular Opportunities
Students can join the HDF Club, a URI student organization. Additionally, HDF supports a chapter of the academic honor society Kappa Omicron Nu (KON).
In consultation with advisors in URI’s Office of International Education and National Student Exchange, HDF students can incorporate a study away experience into their undergraduate careers.