Family and Human Development

About this opportunity

The T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University offers unique majors and minors that provide students with an excellent liberal arts education, as well as pre-professional training for those interested in social sciences graduate study or other professional programs, including medicine and family law.

Students not only study the historical, theoretical and academic frameworks used to explain social and family behavior, but also acquire practical knowledge and skills that can be applied in their daily lives and occupations.

The Bachelor of Science in family and human development program focuses on helping children and families thrive in the modern world by encouraging healthy relationships and tackling contemporary societal issues.

Students study the stages of human development throughout the life span and gain a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of human relationships in families, workplaces and communities. They also become proficient in written communication, research methodology and data analysis.

Elective courses provide a specialized skill set in areas such as infancy, adolescence and aging. Students may also participate in learning experiences outside the classroom, such as working in the Child Development Lab, working as a research assistant and completing an internship.

Come visit the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics on the third floor of Wilson Hall or for more information, visit our website https://thesanfordschool.asu.edu/degrees/undergraduate

Thesis

Theses may include quantitative research, qualitative research, creative, and applied learning projects. The unit has the same requirements as Barrett of an ASU faculty member thesis director and a second committee member who can be faculty, staff, or a qualified professional in the field of study. 

Barrett Thesis Committee Standards

An honors thesis committee is comprised of a Thesis Director and a Second Committee Member who collaborate with their student(s) to help them set project expectations, guidance throughout the thesis process, and evaluation of their final work. 

Thesis Director: Any member of the ASU faculty with professional expertise in the project area. This excludes graduate students.

Second Committee Member: A member of the ASU faculty or staff, including graduate students, or a qualified local professional who the student and Thesis Director decide is appropriate to serve based on their professional expertise in the project area. 

Third Committee Member (Optional): Any individual with sufficient expertise or experience relevant to the project area as determined by the student and Thesis Director.

In addition to the standards listed above, an honors thesis committee member may not be an undergraduate peer or direct relative of the student. 

Academic Preparation

Students must have good knowledge of theories in either Sociology or Family and Human Development and Research Methods when they start thesis work. We encourage student to get involved in research and internship experiences which can also lead to thesis topic ideas. 

Recommended Timeline

Students should be prepared to develop their topic and committee by Spring of their Junior Year and to work on the thesis in the Summer, Fall, and Spring of their Senior year.

Other Honors Opportunities

Other Honors Opportunities Honors sections (seminars) are available for FAS 498, CDE 232, CDE 430. 

We have an exciting certificate program to pursue careers working with military personnel and their families. 

Through the generosity of special contributors, the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics is able to provide our students with funding. Undergraduate students majoring in family/human development or sociology for the next academic year (Fall and Spring) are encouraged to apply for these scholarships.