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:

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

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.
AOD 1166Interpersonal Processes through the Life Span3
HDCE 3332Professional Seminar in Human Development and Community Engagement I1
HDCE 3333Professional Seminar in Human Development and Community Engagement II1
HDCE 3334Professional Seminar in Human Development and Community Engagement III1
Choose two of the following:6
Child Development, Birth to Nine
Adolescent Development for Educators
Adult and Workforce Development
EPSY 2325Statistics for Decision Making3
AOD 3396Organizational Processes (WI)3
HDCE 2304Families and the Community3
EDUC 4441Discourse Practices in Diverse Communities3
HDCE 4305Curriculum and Training Design3
HDCE 4333Program Evaluation3
URBE 4496Understanding Urban Communities (WI)3
HDCE 4187Practicum in Applied Development3
HDCE 4185Community Internship and Seminar6 TO 12
Total Credit Hours42-48

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.)

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours13
Year 2
Fall
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
HDCE 3332 Professional Seminar in Human Development and Community Engagement I 1
Choose one of the following: 3
Child Development, Birth to Nine  
Adolescent Development for Educators  
Adult and Workforce Development  
Content Course 1 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
AOD 1166 Interpersonal Processes through the Life Span 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Content Course 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
HDCE 3334 Professional Seminar in Human Development and Community Engagement III 1
HDCE 2304 Families and the Community 3
EDUC 4441 Discourse Practices in Diverse Communities 3
Choose one of the following: 3
Child Development, Birth to Nine  
Adolescent Development for Educators  
Adult and Workforce Development  
Content Course 1 3
Concentration Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
HDCE 3333 Professional Seminar in Human Development and Community Engagement II 2 1
AOD 3396 Organizational Processes [WI] 3
EPSY 2325 Statistics for Decision Making 3
Content Course 1 3
Concentration Course 3
Concentration Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
URBE 4496 Understanding Urban Communities [WI] 3
HDCE 4187 Practicum in Applied Development 2 3
HDCE 4305 Curriculum and Training Design 3
Concentration Course 3
Concentration Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
HDCE 4185 Community Internship and Seminar (6, 9, or 12 credits) 3 6-12
HDCE 4333 Program Evaluation 3
Elective credits to meet 122 minimum credits 6-0
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours122
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:
ABA 2103Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis3
ABA 3301Understanding Autism3
ABA 3302Analyzing and Changing Behavior3
ABA 3303Evaluating Behavior Change Intervention3
ABA 3304Ethics and Applied Behavior Analysis3
Total Credit Hours15
Community Education Concentration:
AOD 2218Leadership in Organizations3
SPED 2231Introduction to Special Education3
EDUC 2296Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice3
URBE 4301Partnerships between Schools and Communities3
HDCE 4302Economics for Education3
Total Credit Hours15
Human Services Concentration:
SPED 2231Introduction to Special Education3
CPSY 2301Helping Professions for Diverse Populations3
CPSY 2302Can We Talk? Real World Interviewing3
SPSY 2303The Impact of Trauma on the Individual and Society3
ABA 3301Understanding Autism3
Total Credit Hours15
Non-Profit Management and Social Entreprenuership Concentration:
AOD 2176Team Process in Education3
AOD 2218Leadership in Organizations3
AOD 3318Systems Approach to Organizational Change3
AOD 3319Skill Building for Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement3
AOD 4376Innovation and Mission-Driven Organizations3
Total Credit Hours15

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