Overview

Offered by the Department of Psychological Studies in Education, the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Community Engagement (HDCE) is designed to equip students with the skills needed to make a positive impact on people's lives by influencing the programs, policies, and practices of nonprofit organizations, human service agencies, or schools. Founded to address the needs of urban communities, this interdisciplinary degree focuses on facilitating cognitive, physical, and social development in individuals. Covering diverse topics including communication, curriculum and training design, human development, and program evaluation, the program provides a flexible and comprehensive approach to fostering community. The program, with a year-long practicum and internship, emphasizes practical, hands-on experience in serving the local community. Graduates with this major will be prepared for careers in areas such as nonprofit programming and human services.

In order to tailor the degree to students' interests and goals, students are required to select and complete courses in one of the following concentrations:

• Applied Behavior Analysis: Students will specialize their knowledge in Applied Behavior Analysis. They will learn to apply behavior analytic skills to tackle problems important to society in a variety of settings such as educational institutions, behavioral health, and community organizations. This coursework meets the coursework requirements for the Board-Certified assistant Behavior Analyst Examination® and is a BACB-verified course sequence.
• Community Education: Students concentrating in Community Education are interested in working in community-related educational settings. They will explore the theories and techniques of teaching effectively outside the classroom. They will learn to tailor instructional approaches to the unique circumstances of widely diverse communities. Students with this concentration are interested in pursuing job opportunities at out-of-school-time programs, early learning centers, community and recreation centers, museums, and more.
• Human Services: Human services is a broadly defined field that seeks to improve the overall quality of life of individuals (with a particular focus on children and vulnerable populations) through the prevention and remediation of problems. Students will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of various psychological constructs at the individual and societal levels. This concentration prepares students for entry-level positions and graduate degree programs in fields such as school psychology, counseling psychology, and social work.
• Non-Profit Management and Social Entrepreneurship: Students concentrating in Non-Profit Management and Social Entrepreneurship will gain an understanding of the non-profit sector and for-profits focused on social, cultural, and environmental change. They will gain insight into the issues that leaders face in this growing field and learn how to communicate in order to lead systemic change in communities and organizations. They will also learn about the design and structure of financial management, nonprofit and social enterprise organizations, revenue generation, and strategic and project-based management.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: ED-HDCE-BS

Accelerated +1 Programs

The College of Education and Human Development offers accelerated programs, including the opportunity for Human Development and Community Engagement majors to pursue the following +1 Accelerated Programs:

• +1 Accelerated Program in Human Development and Community Engagement BS + Applied Behavior Analysis MSEd
• +1 Accelerated Program in Any Temple Major + Adult Learning, Training and Organizational Development MEd
• +1 Accelerated Program in Any Temple Major + Higher Education MEd
• +1 Accelerated Program in Any Temple Major + Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MSEd

Qualified students earn a bachelor's and a master's degree in a five-year course of study. Learn more about the College of Education and Human Development's +1 Accelerated Programs.

Contact Information

Undergraduate Advising, College of Education and Human Development
edadvising@temple.edu

Kelly McGinn, Program Coordinator
kelly.mcginn@temple.edu

Shanta Hattikudur, Psychological Studies in Education Department Chair
shanta@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Community Engagement.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary Of Requirements

University Requirements

• All students must complete Temple University's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
• All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple University (including transfer students). The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are AOD 3396 and URBE 4496.

College Requirements

• Refer to the College Requirements for specific information.

Program Requirements

• Students must complete 42 credit hours in the major, including a community internship of 6-12 credits.
• All courses in the major must be passed with a grade of "C-" or better and students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Concentration Requirements

• Students must choose one of the following concentrations:
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Community Education
  • Human Services
  • Non-Profit Management and Social Entrepreneurship
• Students must complete the five courses (15 credits) required for the chosen concentration. See the Academic Plan for details.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Community Engagement

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

(Certain courses require that a student secure clearances as per the College of Education and Human Development policy; students should check the current list of courses that require clearances on the College of Education and Human Development web site.)

¹

A content course is a course that is part of any program/major offered in the University. All four content courses must come from the same program/major.

²

All Professional Seminars (HDCE 3332, HDCE 3333, and HDCE 3334) must be completed before taking the Practicum in Applied Development (HDCE 4187).

³

Students are able to elect to take an Internship for 6/9/12 credits and must earn at least 122 credits for this degree.

Students are required to choose one of the following concentrations:

Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration:

Community Education Concentration:

Human Services Concentration:

Non-Profit Management and Social Entreprenuership Concentration:

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated programs are available to students in the Human Development and Community Engagement BS:

College of Education and Human Development

• Adult Training, Learning and Organizational Development MEd
• Applied Behavior Analysis MSEd
• Higher Education MEd
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MSEd