Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University

Areas of Study & Certificates

The undergraduate program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Human Development. Human Development majors can elect to specialize in one of five content areas: Adolescence,  Early Childhood Education, Family StudiesGerontology, and Human Services Case Management and Administration. A teaching certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences is also available. Certificate offerings vary by campus location.

Non-human development majors may also pursue a certificate with their degree or independently of a degree. Please contact the Department of Human Development to begin working towards a certificate.

Why a certificate?

  • Helps students focus their course of study
  • Provides students with substantive training in a concentrated course of study.
  • Demonstrates an additional area of specialization to potential employers. The certificate appears on the student’s transcript and students can include the certificate as part of their resume and/or application for graduate school.

How do I pursue a certificate?

  • Select an area of specialty in consultation with a human development academic advisor.
  • Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 in the courses selected for your specialty area.