Human Development: Education, Classes & Degrees

The bachelor's degree program in human development focuses on effective strategies for working with children, adults and the elderly. Emphasis is placed on the family with some coursework in individual development. Graduates of the program may find work in public and private organizations. Human development courses focus on understanding the complex issues that occur over an individual's lifespan, including cognitive, physical, social and family development.

Bachelor's Degree Human Development Classes

• Child evaluation and assessment: theory & practice of recognizing safe environments and states of health & well-being
• Death and dying - social, biomedical, and psychological study of human death & bereavement
• Parent and child relationships - contemporary social and cultural practices examined
• Child neglect and abuse - preparation and practice for managing these types of therapies
• Working with individuals and families - research, theory & practice for multiple family dynamics and individual life stages
• Practicum in early childhood programs - early childcare education practices and themes of infancy through childhood are covered

The master's degree program in human development is designed for people pursuing careers as case managers, administrators or program directors. Candidates learn about the organization and administration of early childhood programs as well as human development topics. Students learn to work effectively with couples, families and children; they are introduced to the range of resources available to families in need. In addition to human development theory, master's degree programs will explore topics like public policy, counseling and education.

Master's Program Human Development Courses

• Basic counseling skills: practice of individual and family therapy
• Administration and organization of vocational cooperative education programs: statistical practices to examine quantitative data
• Public policy for families and consumers: exploration of major ethical, legal & professional issues within fieldwork
• Consumer decision-making: basic economic skills to consumer issues in marketplace
• Families in later life: therapy practices for counseling adult families
• Aging health aspects: examination of policies & programs related to individual aging

A doctoral program in human development focuses on theories and research methodologies that can help the student gain increased knowledge of human development from an interdisciplinary perspective. The cognitive, social, emotional and biological aspects of human development are studied. Core human development classes are designed to move the student toward specialization and research interests. The doctoral program is designed so that students can enter into areas of specialized research while completing core coursework.

PhD Human Development Course Descriptions

• Aging and cognition: research focused understanding of cognitive development through different age stages
• Human growth and development research methods: learn univariate & multivariate data analytic techniques
• Individual development: examine current and developing theoretical and conceptual practices
• Cognitive and linguistic development issues: research neurophysiological facets of reading & speaking in varied ages
• Critical and perceptual laterality development: study the development of one side of the brain dominating human functioning
• Behavioral and emotional development in adolescents: both theoretical and research fields examined in class study

Graduates with master's degrees in human development and family resources are qualified to help people deal with personal, social, academic and career issues, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). Some popular career options include the following:

• Labor relations manager
• Special education teachers
• Social workers
• Occupational therapists
• Social service assistants

Employment Outlook and Salary Info

Graduates of doctoral degree programs in human development often seek employment as researchers and administrators, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also stated that many employers look for applicants who have completed post-doctoral fellowships. Human development is a diverse field with many career options, including social work. BLS data indicates employment prospects for social workers during the 2019 to 2029 period were predicted to be favorable, with a projected job growth rate of 13%. In 2019, social workers earned a median annual salary of $61,230, according to the BLS.

Human development programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels explore family relationships, counseling strategies and similar topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. Graduates of bachelor's programs may pursue work in entry-level social service positions, or they may consider enrolling in master's or doctoral programs, which can lead to research or administrative roles.