Complementary Minors and Certificates

Students often opt to strengthen their marketability by augmenting their major with a minor or a concentration in a different program area. This can add value to any undergraduate degree because employers desire employees who are well-rounded. HDFS students might augment their degree by minoring or pursuing a concentration in:

Certificate of Youth Development and Social Justice

The 18-credit certificate program was designed to help you understand the unique challenges facing adolescents and young adults in our rapidly changing world. Intended for counselors, educators, family therapists, social workers and other professionals dedicated to serving the developmental needs of youth in contemporary society, the program provides an overview of the major issues that impact youth development from a social justice perspective.

Students enter our program with the desire to nurture the adolescents and youth of their community; they graduate with the skills and knowledge to do so effectively. The program can be completed for 18 undergraduate credits or a non-credit professional development certificate.

Begin with the end in mind

A minor or certificate is a specialization of at least 18 credits that supplements your major. In addition to providing you with deeper insight into a particular area of interest, completing a major or certificate distinguishes your academic record from those who only completed requirements for their major. Although completing a minor or certificate may entail an extra semester of course work, this can often be avoided with careful planning. In fact, with most minors and certificates it is possible to double count credits that satisfy major and minor requirements.

Undergraduates should work with their adviser to develop a course plan to meet their individual interests and professional goals. If you are interested in a specialization, consider a minor. Additional information about minors and certificates that can be fairly easily integrated with HDFS major requirements is also available.