Degrees and Certificates
Human Development
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Do you want to make a difference in people’s lives? Would you like to make a career of helping people through their developmental achievements and challenges? WSU’s online Bachelor’s degree in human development prepares you to work with children, families, or the elderly.
The study of human development focuses on teaching about individuals and families across the lifespan, with an emphasis on understanding how individuals and families are linked to their communities. Students learn how to work with children, teens, parents, and older family members as they encounter developmental tasks and life changes.
Potential careers
Program prerequisites
Program of study
With a human development degree, you’ll be prepared for work as:
- Head Start teacher (with Early Childhood Development and Care Certificate)
- Domestic violence case worker
- YMCA program manager
- Senior center coordinator
- Positions with local and state programs serving children, families, and the elderly
Visit the DDP Career Services Center to make an appointment with the DDP career counselor to discuss other HD career options.
Before certifying in the major, students must complete two lower-level foundation courses, or their transfer equivalents:
- one in human development (H D 201, Human Development: Prenatal through Age 8, or H D 340, Development in Context), and
- one in family systems (H D 204, Family Systems: Understanding Family Interaction).
These courses develop important concepts and provide a foundation for study in human development.
There are several ways to obtain this foundation. Lower-division human development courses may be taken at a local community college or four-year institution prior to admission to WSU Distance Degree Programs. Some Washington community colleges offer courses equivalent to these prerequisites at a distance. Possible options are available for review online (Lower Division prerequisite courses and alternatives for transfer or substitution).
WSU General Education Requirements (GERs) (Can be satisfied with a direct transfer degree; for a list of direct-transfer agreements, visit WSU’s Transfer Information Web page).
Required Courses: (26 semester credits, including HD 201 or equivalent and HD 204)
- H D 202 - Middle Childhood through Adolescence
or HD 346 - Middle Childhood and School Age Care - H D 203 - Adulthood through the Older Years
or HD 305 - Gerontology - H D 310 [M] - Research Approaches to Human Development
- H D 410 [M] - Public Policy Issues Impacting Families and Individuals
- H D 420 [M] - Application of Human Development Theories
- H D 497 - Professional Preparation for Internship
- H D 498 - Field Placement/Professional Development Internship
Human Development Electives: (15 semester credits; select five courses)
- H D 300 - Child Abuse and Neglect
- H D 301 - Family Stress and Coping
- H D 302 - Parent-Child Relationships
- H D 305 - Gerontology
- H D 341 - Learning and Guidance in Early Childhood
- H D 342 - Curriculum for Early Childhood Programs
- H D 346 - Middle Childhood and School Age Care
- H D 350 [S,D] - Diversity in Contemporary Families
- H D 360 - Death and Dying
- H D 403 [T] - Families in Poverty
- H D 406 - Work and Family
- H D 408 - Advanced Adolescent Development
- H D 464 - Administration of Early Childhood Programs
- H D 482 [M] - Child Assessment and Evaluation
Specialized Courses for Early Childhood Development and Care Certificate (21 semester credits)
- HD 341 – Learning and Guidance in Early Childhood
- HD 342 – Curriculum for Early Childhood Programs (4 credits with community practicum)
- HD 464 – Administration of Early Childhood Programs
- HD 497 – Professional Preparation for Internship (2 credits)
- HD 482 [M] – Child Assessment and Evaluation
- HD 446 – Practicum in Early Childhood Programs (6 credits with community based practicum)
Minor Requirement: Students completing a Human Development degree are required to complete a certified minor or approved certificate of study from another department.
Graduation Requirement: The Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development requires a cumulative gpa of 2.5 or better and a C minimum grade in all HD courses, including substitutions. Of the 42 hours required for the major, a minimum of 21 must be taken in residence (via DDP) at WSU.
Specialized Courses for Early Childhood Development and Care Certificate (21 semester credits)
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