Courses on Understanding Cultures

Courses Focused on Understanding Cultures

Penn State is committed to enhancing cultural competence, or the ability to understand and function within cultures other than your own. To this end, all undergraduates are required to take one course with a focus on U. S. cultures and one course with a focus on international cultures. To enhance the competitiveness of HDFS majors in dynamic job markets, the department requires an additional course focusing on U. S. cultures.

HDFS courses fulfilling the United States Cultures (US) and International Cultures (IL) requirements are below. For a full list of courses, visit the University Bulletin.

Sexual Identity Over the Life Span (HDFS 250)

Concepts of affectional and sexual orientation over life span, with emphasis on lesbian and gay male personal, family, and community adaptation.

Three credits
Prerequisite is three credits in HDFS or three credits in social or behavioral sciences
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Reading Our Lives: Understanding Diversity and Human Development Through Memoirs (HDFS 254N)

An exploration of the way people and their environments interact to influence human development through memoirs and other personal narratives, and social science theory and research.

Three credits
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Intercultural Community-Building (HDFS 287)

An experiential introduction to negotiating differences in small groups, families, institutions, and communities.

Three credits
Multiple sections available

Family Development (HDFS 315)

Family functions over the life course; family from a multidisciplinary perspective, emphasizing adaptation and change.

Three credits
Prerequisite is HDFS 129; three credits of social, behavioral, or human biological sciences
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Gender and Social Development (HDFS 405)

A review of gender-related patterns of social development over the lifespan, as influenced by biological, sociological, and psychological factors.

Three credits
Prerequisite is HDFS 129, HDFS 312W; or six credits in social sciences
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Racial and Ethnic Diversity and the American Family (HDFS 416)

This course will explore the nature and determinants of racial and ethnic variation in family processes in the United States.

Three credits
Prerequisite is three credits in sociology
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Biocultural Studies of Family Organization (HDFS 417)

Study of variability in family organization with an emphasis on cultural and economic factors influencing household organization and family roles.

Three credits
Prerequisite is HDFS 129; HDFS 312W; HDFS 315or HDFS 315W; or six credits in sociology or anthropology
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Family Change in the Global Economy (HDFS 469U)

Exploration of how family life, quality, and structures in each region of the world are affected by the new global economy.

Three credits
Prerequisite is HDFS 315 or SOC 030

Family Development in an Economic Context

Economic conditions influencing family functioning; familial effects on the economy; strategies to enhance work-family relations.

Three credits
Prerequisite is HDFS 312W; HDFS 315 or HDFS 315W