Frequently Asked Questions


Pre-major FAQs

Do I have to take classes for a letter grade?

Is HDP 1 only offered once a year?

Does the HDP major have restrictions?

Can I use AP credit for admitance into HDP?

What if I took a class Pass/no pass prior to pursuing an HDP major?

Can I take a pre-major course at another school?

When can I declare the HDP major?

I am finished with the pre-major, will my major change automatically?

HOW do I declare the HDP major?

What if I have reached 90 units as “undeclared,” but I am still not ready to declare the HDP major?

 

Major FAQs

OK, I’m in the major. Which courses should I take first?
Do I have to take classes for a letter grade?
Now that I’m in the major, can I use a C- for HDP?
I’m trying to add HDP 181, but Tritonlink won’t let me. What’s wrong?
I’m trying to add HDP 150, but Tritonlink won’t let me. What’s wrong?
I want to go abroad. Can I take courses for HDP while I’m there?
Can I take courses for HDP at another UC or other school in the US?

 

HDP 191 FAQs


What is HDP 191?
When should I take HDP 191?
Do I really have to apply a year in advance to take HDP 191?
Do I have to be in the major yet to apply for HDP 191?
What if I miss the application period for HDP 191?
I have been approved to take HDP 191 this quarter, but Tritonlink won’t let me enroll. What is wrong?
Is HDP 191 really as much work as they say it is?

 

Pre-major FAQs

 

Do I have to take classes for a letter grade?


Yes--ALL courses for the HDP program (major, pre-major, and minor) must be taken for a letter grade.

Is HDP 1 only offered once a year?


Yes, HDP 1 is ONLY offered in the FALL.
Junior college transfer students should consider the UCSD Cross Enrollment Program if they wish to complete this course prior to transferring to UCSD.

Does the HDP major have restrictions?


Yes. You cannot directly declare into the HDP major.
To meet entrance requirements you must fulfill the eight lower division requirements for admittance, with a letter grade of C or better (no C minuses).
The combined GPA for these eight courses must equal or exceed 2.75.
Until you meet the admissions criteria, you may declare “pre-human development” (HD01) as you major designation.

NOTE--Transfer students need to verify the completion of all lower-division major requirements with an HDP academic advisor. Transfer agreements (TAG or IGETC) do not guarantee completion of all lower-division major requirements.

 

Can I use AP credit for admittance into HDP?

It depends on your grades in the other 8 courses needed for HDP pre-major.

We accept an AP score if it equates one of the courses we allow for the HDP pre-major.
Since AP credit does not equate a letter grade, we must assign it a value for our admittance calculation, which is based on a GPA for 8 courses.
We assign a value of 8 grade points to each AP credit. That is the equivalent of a “C” grade. If your other courses have grades of B or above, this should not present a problem.

If you choose to use an AP credit, a petition is needed.

 

What if I took a class as Pass/no pass prior to pursuing an HDP major?

Only P/NP credit taken PRIOR to pursuing an HDP major can be considered for credit. HDP will assign a value of 8 grade points to an APPROVED pass grade for our admittance calculation (please note a petition is needed for approval, see below). That is the equivalent of a “C” grade. Just as with AP credit, if your other courses in the pre-major have grades of B or above, this should not present a problem.

NOTE: Using P/NP credit requires you to submit a petition to HDP. P/NP grades are approved under the following conditions ONLY:
*the course is on our approved course list.
*the ACTUAL grade earned in the course was a “C” or above (please note that it cannot be a C- to qualify).
*You can verify the ACTUAL grade with the professor and submit documentation with your petition. Verification can be provided though a letter from the course professor that is on official deptartment letterhead. E-mail verification is not acceptable.

 

Can I take pre-major courses at another school?

Yes, with the exception of HDP 1, which must be taken at UCSD.
Junior College courses taken for HDP must articulate to one of our approved courses via Assist.org, or be approved for HDP via petition. Classes can also be taken at another university, including abroad, but must be UC transferrable and approved via petition. You MUST take it for a letter grade. Since the Pre-major GPA is a separate calculation from your UCSD GPA, we will factor in the grade points for all transfer work by hand.

 

When can I declare the HDP major?


You can declare once you complete and receive letter grades for all eight lower division requirements, meeting the admissions criteria.
Admission will not be granted until all grades show up in your UCSD academic history, including transfer work.

NOTE--Transfer students need to verify the completion of all lower-division major requirements with an HDP academic advisor. Transfer agreements (TAG or IGETC) do not guarantee completion of all lower-division major requirements.


I am finished with the pre-major, will my major change automatically?

No (see below).


HOW do I declare the HDP major?


Major admission is not automatic. Once all grades are received, you must use the on-line major change tool in Tritonlink to switch into the HDP major (HD25).
Your request will be pending review.
Once your 8 courses are evaluated, we will either approve your request or send you an e-mail explaining why it was denied.
During high volume, this process can take up to a week. Your patience is appreciated.


What if I have reached 90 units as “undeclared,” but I am still not ready to declare the HDP major?


Until you meet the admissions criteria, you may declare “pre-human development” (HD01) as you major designation. This major designation will satisfy the university requirement that you “declare” a major by 90 units.

 

Major FAQs

 

OK, I’m in the major. Which courses should I take first?


You should focus on completing your 3 core courses first. These provide the basics of developmental theory in the 3 domains. You can also begin your methods sequence at this time, either with HDP 181 or the methods elective.

Your six development courses can begin at any time, but ideally, should be completed after your core courses.
HDP 191 should occur after completing HDP 181, your core courses, and at least 1 or 2 development courses.
HDP 150, the senior seminar, is the capstone course. It should be taken at the end of the major.


Do I have to take classes for a letter grade?


Yes--ALL courses for the HDP program (major, pre-major, and minor) must be taken for a letter grade.


Now that I’m in the major, can I use a C- for HDP?


Yes. Once you have been admitted to HDP, your requirements for a bachelors in Human development are the same as the general university requirements: C minus or above, minimum 2.0 GPA.


I’m trying to add HDP 181, but Tritonlink won’t let me. What’s wrong?


Have you officially switched into the HDP major? Major admission is not automatic. Once all pre-major grades are received, you can request to switch into the major. If you are work in progress for your last pre-major courses when trying to enroll, you will have to be pre-authorized to enroll in HDP 181 .



I’m trying to add HDP 150, but Tritonlink won’t let me. What’s wrong?


You have to be pre-authorized to enroll in HDP 150. HDP 150, the Senior Seminar, is one of the last classes for HDP majors to take, so we need to verify you are indeed ready for it by requiring a degree check prior to enrollment. Graduating seniors receive priority enrollment.



I want to go abroad. Can I take courses for HDP while I’m there?


Yes. The only HDP courses you MUST take at UCSD (no exceptions) are HDP 1, HDP 181, HDP 191, and HDP 150. For more information on HDP study abroad, see http://www.hdp.ucsd.edu/undergrad/sabroad.shtml


Can I take courses for HDP at another UC or other school in the US?


Yes. The only HDP courses you MUST take at UCSD (no exceptions) are HDP 1, HDP 181, HDP 191, and HDP 150. All upper division courses from other universities must be approved via petition.

 

 

HDP 191 FAQs

 

What is HDP 191?

This course combines lectures on research methodology with an a actual field research position at a site somewhere in San Diego county.  It includes three hours/week in class, and four hours/week at a pre-approved study site.  This course is different from HDP 181 in that you are not in a laboratory setting (i.e. a controlled environment).  The research phenomenon you are observing is studied in a naturally occurring environment.

 


When should I take HDP 191?


By the time you are ENROLLING in HDP 191, you should have completed HDP 181 and a significant number of upper division core and/or development courses, with at least one course in each area of focus: Biological, Ontogenetic, Socio-cultural. You do not need to wait until your last quarter to take HDP 191.


Do I really have to apply a year in advance to take HDP 191?


Not exactly one whole year--Your application has to be submitted in the spring quarter prior to your HDP 191 enrollment. If you are requesting a placement for the following fall, that is only 5 months away. If you are requesting spring…then yes, it is a year in advance.

There are 150 positions available for HDP 191 each year: 50 in fall, 50 in winter, and 50 in spring. In order to make sure theses are evenly distributed and that everyone who needs a placement gets one, we take enrollment requests during the month of May and fill all 150 positions for the following academic year. We always take into consideration your desired quarter, site location, academic plans, career & research interests, and special requirements when making your placement.



Do I have to be in the major yet to apply for HDP 191


NO. You are welcome to submit your application regardless of your status—so please do. Course Prerequisites and restrictions need to be cleared before your first day of class, which could be almost a year away, depending on which quarter you are placed. So, if you think you may take the course any time next year, APPLY! You can always withdraw your application (and make someone on our waitlist very happy) if your plans change.


What if I miss the application period for HDP 191?


You will be placed on our internal waitlist for an opening during the academic year.

However, if you can do summer session, we also offer the course in summer during a normal 10-week session. And –for summer positions only--we accept applications on a rolling basis, beginning April, until the course fills.


I have been approved to take HDP 191 this quarter, but Tritonlink won’t let me enroll. What is wrong?


You must be pre-authorized to enroll in one of the two sections. Pre-authorization does not occur until all 191 students have HAD their enrollment appointment and determined their schedules for the following quarter. Because your enrollment in 191 has been approved in advance, you are guaranteed a seat…but not your section of choice. Students with genuine course schedule conflicts that prevent them from enrolling in EITHER 191 section will receive priority for section enrollment. Once all legitimate schedule conflicts are resolved, then remaining students will be allowed to enroll.

Is HDP 191 really as much work as they say it is?

Yes... but you learn a LOT.