BS Human Development and Family Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development & Family Studies offers an in-depth education about human development and well-being across the lifespan, with a focus on relational health, including infant mental health, parenting, couples, and other family and social relationships. Students take specialized courses in policymaking, research methods, prevention and intervention, and ethnic/cultural diversity in families. In addition to high-impact learning experiences and coursework, all students engage in a professional semester-long internship in a community or research setting related to their major and career goals.

Faculty: School of Human Ecology | Department: School of Human Ecology BS Requirements | Duration: 120 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: Madison, WI, United States

What you will study

The degree requires 120 credits in total. Courses listed in the requirements include PSYCH 202 Introduction to Psychology; HDFS 174 Introduction into Cultural Diversity of Families; HDFS 262 Development of the Young Child; ED PSYCH 320 Human Development in Infancy and Childhood; PSYCH 460 Child Development; HDFS 263 Development from Adolescence to Old Age.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applies to School of Human Ecology, not specific to this major: Current UW–Madison Students Students within their first 60 GPA credits at UW-Madison No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are able to declare. For information on how to declare, see: https://go.wisc.edu/sohe-declare . Courses required to get in None. GPA requirements to get in First-semester students have no GPA requirement to declare. Non-first-semester students within the first 60 GPA credits: Minimum 2.750 cumulative GPA based on all UW-Madison coursework. Credits required to get in None. Other Must be in good academic standing with their current school or college. All other students (who do not meet the declaration criteria above) How to get in Application required. Meeting the requirements listed below does not guarantee admission.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

First-year entry terms: Fall (Early Action and Regular Decision) and Spring. Transfer entry terms: Fall (Priority and Regular Decision) and Spring.

First-year Fall Early Action: application deadline November 1, materials deadline November 9, decision on or before January 31. Fall Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, materials deadline January 22, decision on or before March 31. Spring Regular Decision: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. First-year fall and spring applications open August 1. Early Action is non-binding.

Transfer Fall Priority: application deadline February 1, materials deadline February 16, decision on or before March 31. Fall Regular: application deadline March 1, materials deadline March 15, decision on or before April 30. Spring Regular: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. Fall transfer applications open December 1; spring transfer applications open August 1.

Apply via the Common Application or the Universities of Wisconsin Application. The application fee is $80 US and is non-refundable; fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. ACT and SAT scores are optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2028 term (application deadline October 1, 2027).

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