Students with specific career goals have an opportunity to develop an innovative program of study with a focus on at least one of the following disciplines within the College of Human Environmental Sciences: addiction and recovery; athletic training; clothing and textiles, consumer sciences; early childhood education; human development and family studies; human nutrition; hospitality management; interior design; public health; and sport management. Most students drawn to this degree share the goal of improving the quality of life of individuals, families and communities.
The minimum requirements for a degree in the Human Environmental Sciences major at The University of Alabama include:
- An approved program of study prior to the completion of 100 hours and in accordance with the HES guidelines and courses selected in consultation with the student's adviser
- A minimum of 120 earned semester credit hours, including all University Core Curriculum requirements and a minimum of 30 hours of coursework in disciplines offered by the College of Human Environmental Sciences. This must include college-specific core courses (HES 310 Improving Lives: Professionalism and Multidisciplinary Collaboration for all students and HES 100 Freshman Compass Human Environmental Sciences for new freshmen on campus OR HES 103 Distance Compass HES for new online students) and 12 hours of 300-400 level courses, including HES 485 and HES 490.
- A 2.0 or higher grade point average for all college-level courses attempted, all courses attempted at The University of Alabama and all courses attempted in the major field of study
Proposal Guidelines:
- The proposal must demonstrate that the proposed program could not be better served by an existing major program within the College.
- At the time of submission, the proposal must include a statement of approval by a faculty advisor chosen from the discipline of focus.
- The proposal must indicate that the student has examined the consequences of the proposed program in relation to career goals and post-graduation plans.
- All exceptions must be approved by the department chair.
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that all degree requirements have been met. Students should review the academic requirements of this catalog and under DegreeWorks through their myBama account. They must meet with their academic advisers within the college two semesters before graduation to verify that all requirements will have been fulfilled by the expected date of graduation. In order to graduate, a student must submit an application for degree, using the online application for degree available through myBama no later than the time he or she registers for their final semester at UA.
The major in human environmental sciences is designed for those interested in careers that combine aspects of more than one discipline within HES and that focus on improving the lives of individuals, families and communities. Courses are selected in consultation with an adviser in Student Services in HES. The purpose of this program is to give the student with specific career goals an opportunity to develop an innovative program of study with a focus on at least one area within the College.
Types of Jobs Accepted
Graduates are employed across a range of professional positions in areas including education, social services, healthcare and business. You will find alumni of the human environmental sciences degree program working with large multi-national organizations, non-profit agencies, start-ups, local businesses and governmental organizations.
Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center
