Family, Community and Human Development
Bennion
Center
Capstones
Program
LEAP
292
Declared
Majors
24
Average
Class Size
Courses
Getting Started
- Meet with an advisor
- Consider a learning community like LEAP, BlockU, Diversity Scholars, or the Honors College
- Consider an emphasis in Child Life, Early Childhood Education, or Financial Planning
- Dive in by taking FCS 1500 - Lifespan Human Development & FCS 2400 - Modern Family
Making Progress
- Continue to meet with an academic advisor to choose appropriate courses for your major & career goals
- Learn to generate & read your Degree Audit Report
- Earn credit for Undergraduate Research via FCS 5950
- Earn credit for internship experience via FCS 4890
- Decide if you will pursue a second major, minor, or certificate & take courses for that program
Finishing Up
- Apply for graduation
- Take necessary capstone course
- Complete academic designation requirements
Community
Getting Started
- Explore learning community housing
- Find student groups via PlazaFest & the ASUU website
- Explore the Bennion Community Service Center
- Attend MUSE casual Fridays
- Follow the Family & Consumer Studies Department on Facebook
Making Progress
Engage in leadership opportunities:- Engage in leadership opportunities by joining ASUU
- Become an Orientation Leader, LEAP peer mentor, Bennion Center Scholar, and/or college ambassador
- Join the FCS Department's Student Advisory Committee
- Become a student member of a professional association aligned with your major; talk to an academic advisor to learn about your options
- If you live on campus, participate in the Residence Hall Association
Finishing Up
- Mentor underclassmen in student organizations or take on roles with ASUU, FCS Student Advisory Committee, Residence Hall Association, teaching assistant, and/or intern/volunteer in a campus office
- Participate in a conference
- Join AlumniFire
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Connect with faculty members to identify possible research opportunities
- Become familiar with academic resources like the Marriott Library, Knowledge Commons, the Writing Center, the MathLab, & the Learning Center
- Explore internship opportunities
Making Progress
- Become a research assistant; learn coding, participant recruitment/intake, etc.
- Complete an internship through the FCS Department or Hinckley Institute of Politics
- Take advantage of the Financial Wellness Center
- FCS 5282 - Conflict & Mediation
- FCS 3430 - Family Advocacy & Policy
- FCS 2620 - Child Development Practicum
- FCS 3510 - Tax Prep in the Community
Finishing Up
- Turn your research experience into a thesis or UGS capstone project
- Explore graduate programs that will take your knowledge and skills to the next level
Transformation
Getting Started
- Meet with an academic advisor, a Career Coach, and a Student Success Advocate
- Learn about & use your U Arts Pass
- Explore learning abroad opportunities
Making Progress
- Get to know your faculty & find a mentor
- Keep copies of the projects & assignments you are most proud of
- Participate in undergraduate research
- Talk to your academic advisor about which Community Engaged Learning (CEL) classes are available in your major
- Embark on a learning abroad experience
Finishing Up
- Participate in graduation ceremonies
- Compile your favorite projects, assignments, & experience into a portfolio (hard copy or digital)
Impact
Getting Started
- Explore programs like Undergraduate Research Opportunities, Solution Scholars, Bennion Center Scholars, Honors College, & Lassonde+X
- Attend MUSE lunchtime lectures
Making Progress
- Learn about the Undergraduate Studies (UGS) Capstone Programs
- Become a MUSE Scholar
- Consider an Alternative Spring or Fall Break through the Bennion Center
- Options include the Financial Wellness Center, HeadStart, Utah Foster Care Foundation, Primary Children's Medical Center, & Healthy Relationships Utah
Finishing Up
- Complete a project or thesis
- Lead an Alternative Spring/Fall Break group
- Present your research/project at a conference
- Publish your research
Careers
Getting Started
- Meet with a Career Coach to begin career exploration & identify your strengths, interests, personality, and values
- Take FCS 3010 - Introduction to FCS & Career Development
Making Progress
- Attend career fairs & expos
- Go to CPDC events like Meet & Eats and Career Treks
- Create a resume & have it reviewed by a Career Coach
- Meet with a Career Coach & academic advisor to discuss informational interviews & make any needed adjustments to your academic/career plan
- Secure an internship or part-time job in an area of interest
- Create a LinkedIn & Handshake account
Finishing Up
Meet with a Career Coach to:- Determine jobs to apply for
- Refine your resume/application materials
- Practice interviewing
- Explore & apply for graduate programs
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
The Family, Community, and Human Development (FCHD) major at the U examines how individuals and families are affected by their complex social, economic, political, and physical environments. You will learn about how personal development is impacted by forces in our community and broader society.
The general FCHD major is very flexible and can be tailored to your interests, passions, and future goals. It is easily combined with more focused emphases in Child Life, which involves meeting children and their families' cognitive, social, and emotional needs in medical settings; Early Childhood Education, which provides foundations of caring for and educating children ages birth through 3rd grade; or Financial Planning, which prepares you for a career as a Certified Financial Planner. An academic advisor can help you decide which FCHD major is right for you.
No matter what you choose, the FCHD major will provide you with a strong foundation for pursuing careers or continuing on to graduate school in multiple related fields such as counseling, human development and family studies, sociology, social work, and public policy.
The general FCHD major is very flexible and can be tailored to your interests, passions, and future goals. It is easily combined with more focused emphases in Child Life, which involves meeting children and their families' cognitive, social, and emotional needs in medical settings; Early Childhood Education, which provides foundations of caring for and educating children ages birth through 3rd grade; or Financial Planning, which prepares you for a career as a Certified Financial Planner. An academic advisor can help you decide which FCHD major is right for you.
No matter what you choose, the FCHD major will provide you with a strong foundation for pursuing careers or continuing on to graduate school in multiple related fields such as counseling, human development and family studies, sociology, social work, and public policy.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand developmental changes of individuals in families throughout the lifespan including physical, emotional, cognitive, personality, social, and moral aspects.
- Learn how family members develop and maintain diverse interpersonal relationships within and across generations.
- Understand the decisions individuals and families make about developing and allocating resources- including time, money, and material assets- to meet their goals.
- Engage with social, environmental, economic, and policy contexts as a means of understanding human well-being.
- Understand the local, national, and international policies and laws influencing individual, family, and community well-being.
- Learn the ways social scientific knowledge is generated and evaluated and how this knowledge is used to enhance the well-being of individuals and families.
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.