An HDF minor provides a program of study with a focus on the development of children, families, and adults. The HDF minor is a natural complement for many majors, such as psychology, nursing, health studies and communicative disorders, among others.
Once you have completed the majority of the courses, please fill out the Minor Field of Study form and email it to the HDF Department Chair for their signature. Please include all completed and planned courses. Approval of a minor does not guarantee space in any course required or selected for the minor.
Received forms will be forwarded to and reviewed by the HDF Undergraduate Director, who will contact you if there are any concerns. If your major is in the College of Health Sciences, the signed Minor Form will be forwarded to our Assistant Dean for final approval. If your major is in another college, the signed form will be emailed back to you so that you can then submit it to the academic dean of your home college.
Requirements
The minor field of study requires 18 credits in courses with an HDF code.
- At least half of the credits must be earned at the University of Rhode Island.
- At least 12 of the 18 credits required for the minor should be at the 200 level or above, with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in those courses.
- HDF 200 and HDF 201 or equivalent are prerequisites for many of the upper level HDF courses.
Please note that the HDF 480/481 Senior Field Internship cannot be used for the minor.
Recommended courses for minor
Please see the HDF Course Rotation, which indicates when courses will be offered, to help you plan your minor.
Courses denoted with * are larger section courses that often have space for non-HDF majors. Since HDF majors have first priority in our courses, we cannot guarantee you will receive permission for a number of our highly sought after, smaller-section courses.
Family Finance
Students outside the Department of Human Development and Family Science may declare a minor in family finance by completing 18 credits from any of the following: HDF 205G, 225, 318G, 418, 434, 450, and 451. The overall URI minimum requirements for a minor apply.
Minor in Gerontology
Students who declare a minor in gerontology must take HDF 314, at least two courses from the foundation courses list, and additional courses from the electives list in order to reach the requirements of 18 credits. Students may also enroll in a directed study or special problems course that focuses on a topic relevant to older adults and aging. Other courses may be used in consultation with academic advisors.
- Foundation courses: HDF 421; HDF/SOC 431; HDF 440.
- Elective courses: BPS 205G; CMD 454; HDF 201; HDF/PSC 405; HDF 450; HDF 480; KIN 375G; KIN 381; KIN 420; KIN 464G; NFS 207; NFS 395; NUR 360; PHP 207G; PHP 505; PHP 509; PSY 232; PSY 432; SOC 438; WRT 306.
Several of the courses have prerequisites not included in this program; students are responsible for completing these prerequisites prior to enrolling in the course. Interested students should contact Dr. Skye Leedahl at skyeleedahl@uri.edu.