Human Development provides students with a strong background in development across the life span, within a variety of contexts including the family, the community, and society. Through course work selection, students may stress family studies or a particular segment of the lifespan such as early childhood, adolescence, or later adulthood.
The Family and Consumer Education teaching certificate program prepares students to instruct junior and senior high school students and adults in family and consumer sciences, which may cover subjects as parenting, leadership, health, family financial management and nutrition. Many students also choose to obtain supporting endorsement in areas such as health or Spanish education.
Human development graduates are ready for careers in public and private human service agencies and local, state, and federal government in:
- Case management and human services
- Child and family advocacy
- Domestic violence services
- Early childhood education
- Family and consumer sciences
- Health services
- Hospice and bereavement
- Justice and correction services
- Mental health agencies
- Parks and recreation programming
- Services for adolescents and older adults
- Special needs services
The human development major also provides a strong foundation for students seeking graduate or professional degrees in areas such as health sciences, psychology, counseling, and prevention science.
Job Titles by Area of Specialization
- YMCA Youth or Teen Program Coordinator
- Teen Parent Educator
- Residential Treatment Milieu Counselor
- Planned Parenthood Counselor
- Juvenile Justice Probation Officer
- Mental Health Children/Youth Case Aide
- Head Start, ECEAP Teacher
- Preschool or Child Care Center Teacher
- Elementary School Teacher’s Aide
- Early Childhood Program Director/Assistant Director
- Early Childhood Curriculum Coordinator
- Early Childhood Teacher Trainer
- Before/After School Site Coordinator
- Child Care Resource and Referral Counselor
- State Child Care Licensor
- Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher
- High School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher
- Alternative School Parent Educator
- DSHS Social Worker:
Child Protective Services, Foster Care Social Worker
Adoption, Family Reconciliation Social Worker - Community Action Center:
Parent Educator, Job Trainer
Family Support Worker - Domestic Violence:
Case Worker, Shelter Coordinator - Head Start Family Services Coordinator
- Developmental Disabilities:
Case Worker, Job Trainer, Housing Program Coordinator - Probation, Diversion, Corrections Officer
- Social Security Claims Representative
- Homeless Family Program Case Manager
- Career Services Coordinator
- Social Security Claims Representative
- DSHS Aging and Adult Services:
Social Worker, Licensor - Adult Day Care Manager
- Council on Aging Case Worker
- Senior Center Coordinator
- Nursing Home Recreation Coordinator
- Hospice Volunteer Coordinator