Human DevelopmentIcon: three human shapes, small, medium, large.

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Application Deadline

  • Spring: December 8
  • Summer: April 12 (early sessions)
  • Fall: July 19

Class Begins

  • Spring: January 8, 2024
  • Summer: May 6, 2024 (early sessions)
  • Fall: August 19, 2024

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Arts
in Human Development

WSU College

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Live Your Passion for Helping People

From a baby to an adolescent, from middle age to the golden years, human beings are always changing and developing. The question is, how can we help people develop in the best way possible and live up to their full potential? If helping people in this way is something you would like to make into your career, the exceptional faculty members of WSU’s online Human Development program are here to help you get there. 

Why Major in Human Development?

Human development is the study of how children, young people, adults, and families develop, change, and face challenges throughout their life span. While studying human development, you will learn to work with people of all ages and from all walks of life as they develop skills and handle life challenges.

Find out more from a Human Development Outstanding Senior!

What You’ll Learn

The Department of Human Development is a multidisciplinary department devoted to understanding the nature of human development within the context of families, schools, and communities. Students completing a Human Development degree are well prepared for a wide range of careers working with children, adolescents, adults, and/or families in a variety of professional settings.

Human Development majors focus their studies in one of five options through the Global Campus: Lifespan Development, Child and Youth Development, Early Childhood Education, Gerontology, and Human Services.

The Prevention Science Option is in development. Global Campus does not offer the Family and Consumer Science Option provided on other WSU campuses.

Photo: Three generations of a happy family out on a morning walk together.

WSU Human Development Online Degree Strengths

  • Gain a broad perspective on individual and family development by learning from professors who teach and research a wide range of disciplines and professional areas.
  • Develop skills for working in a variety of human service and educational settings and for graduate school.
  • Acquire a focus on physical, social, cognitive, and affective development with an emphasis on development within the family, school, community, and policy environments.
  • Apply your knowledge in real-world internships.
  • Learn from experienced and highly-qualified faculty members from WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. 

Program of Study

All courses are available online

All WSU undergraduates must complete a minimum of 120 semester credits of which 40 credits must be at the 300 – 400 level. Students must also complete the University Common Requirements (UCORE). These can generally be satisfied with a direct transfer degree. For a list of direct-transfer agreements, visit WSU’s Transferring an Associate Degree web page.

Students can be admitted to the major if they have earned 24 credits and have a 2.0 GPA. To retain admission to the major, students must maintain a 2.6 HD GPA.

  • H_D 101 [SSCI] – Human Development Across the Lifespan
  • H_D 200 – Introduction to the Field of Human Development (2 cr)
  • H_D 204 [SSCI] – Family Interactions
  • H_D 220 – Human Development Theories

  • H_D 310 [M] – Research Methods
  • H_D 350 [DIVR] – Family Diversity
  • H_D 410 [M] – Public Policy and Issues in Human Development

Program Options

Select one program option from the choices below:

The Lifespan Development option is for students who desire to deepen their understanding of the foundations of development from childhood, adolescence, to adulthood. Students in this option will gain psychosocial and bioecological perspectives on the interrelationships between individuals, families, organizations, and communities. A Lifespan Development focus opens the doors for many helping professions. Students are ready for careers in public and private human service agencies, and local, state and federal government.

Lifespan Core

  • H_D 306 – Child Development
  • H_D 307 – Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
  • H_D 308 – Adult Development

Lifespan Electives – select two classes

(Additional electives are offered at other WSU campuses: HD 480)

  • H_D 300 – Child and Family Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
  • H_D 301 – Family Stress and Coping
  • HD 320 [M] – Resource Management
  • H_D 341 – Guidance in Early Childhood Programs
  • H_D 360 – Death and Dying
  • H_D 403 [CAPS] – Families in Poverty
  • H_D 405 – Gerontology
  • H_D 406 – Work and Family
  • H_D 408 – Advanced Adolescent Development
  • H_D 479 – Planning and Evaluation in Human Development

Culminating Experience

  • H_D 497 – Professional Preparation Seminar
  • H_D 498 – Field Placement (135 hours)

The Human Services Option is for students who wish to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities through direct service, advocacy or policy. Students will gain an understanding of the foundations of human development, including conditions which support or limit optimal functioning, family functioning and family dynamics. They will learn about how those conditions relate to human development across the lifespan, as well as service delivery systems and strategies for working with diverse clientele. Students in this option may be interested in careers including family social services, advocacy and nonprofit work, community education, and counseling support. This option will also prepare students for advanced education in social work, counseling, and family law. 

Human Development Introductory and Advanced Core and:

Human Services Core

  • H_D 300 – Child and Family Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
  • H_D 301 – Family Stress & Coping
  • H_D 302 – Parent-Child Relationship
  • H_D 384 – Prevention & Intervention in Human Development
  • H_D 385 – Perspectives in Human Services

Human Services Electives – select three classes

(Additional electives are offered at other WSU campuses:  H_D 334, and PSYCH 444 [M])

  • H_D 306 – Child Development
  • H_D 307 – Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
  • H_D 308 – Adult Development
  • H_D 320 [M] – Resource Management
  • H_D 360 – Death & Dying
  • H_D 403 [CAP] – Families in Poverty
  • H_D 405 – Gerontology
  • H_D 406 – Work & Family
  • H_D 408 – Advanced Adolescent Development
  • H_D 479 – Planning & Evaluation in Human Development

Culminating Experience

  • H_D 497 – Professional Preparation Seminar
  • H_D 498 – Field Placement (135 hours)

Note: The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Option is available only to students residing in the state of Washington.

The Early Childhood Education option focuses on children birth-age 5. Students gain a deeper understanding of the importance of building relationships with children, observing and documenting their development and learning, planning and implementing age-appropriate curricula and assessing the success of the planned curricula. This option prepares students to be early childhood educators as they complete a 270-hour practicum in a high-quality, early childhood classroom. While this option focuses on preparing for a teaching role, students are also ready for careers outside of the classroom working with young children and their families.

Early Childhood Core

  • H_D 235 – Introduction to Early Childhood Programs (1 credit)
  • H_D 306 – Child Development
  • H_D 341 – Guidance in Early Childhood Programs
  • H_D 342 – Curriculum for Early Childhood Programs (4 credits)

Family Requirements

  • H_D 300 – Child and Family Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
  • H_D 302 – Parent-Child Relationships
  • H_D 403 [CAPS] – Families in Poverty

Assessment and Evaluation

  • H_D 482 – Child Assessment and Evaluation

Culminating Experience

  • H_D 445 – Early Childhood Professional Preparation Seminar
  • H_D 446 – Practicum in Early Childhood Programs (270 hours)

The Child/Youth Development option is designed for students preparing for careers or graduate education focused primarily on children and adolescents. Examples include careers developing programming for youth (e.g., parks and recreation, after-school programs, youth development programs); working with youth engaged in systems of care, including those who have experienced trauma (e.g., residential treatment facilities, foster care systems, behavioral health or developmental services); working in the juvenile justice system; counseling youth and families.  

Child/Youth Core – select two classes

  • H_D 306 – Child Development
  • H_D 307 – Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
  • H_D 408 – Advanced Adolescence  Development

Child & Youth Electives – select three classes

  • H_D 300 – Child and Family Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
  • H_D 301 – Family Stress and Coping
  • H_D 302 – Parent-Child Relationships
  • H_D 341 – Guidance in Early Childhood Programs
  • H_D 360 – Death and Dying
  • ANTH 302 – Childhood and Culture
  • H_D 418 [CAPS] Health Equity
  • H_D 430 [M] Professional and Grant Writing Skills
  • PSYCH 464 – Behavior Disorders of Children and Adolescents
  • SOC 352 – Youth and Society
  • SOC 362 – Juvenile Delinquency
  • CRM_J 365/SOC 367 – Juvenile Justice and Corrections (cross-listed as CRM_J 365)

Planning and Evaluation

  • H_D 479 – Planning & Evaluation in Human Development

Culminating Experience

  • H_D 497 – Professional Preparation Seminar
  • H_D 498 – Field Placement (135 hours)

The Gerontology option is for students who desire to deepen their understanding of the foundations of development across the entire lifespan, particularly in adulthood to later life. Students in this option will gain an overview of the interdisciplinary field of gerontology and explore psychosocial and bioecological perspectives on adult development and aging over the life course as it affects individuals, families, and communities and has social, political, and economic implications world-wide. Examples of careers in Gerontology include working directly with older adults in a variety of settings and administering programs for older adults.

Gerontology Core

  • H_D 308 – Adult Development
  • H_D 360 – Death and Dying
  • H_D 405 – Gerontology

Gerontology Electives – select three classes

(Additional electives are offered at other WSU campuses: PSYCH 444 [M])

  • H_D 301 – Family Stress and Coping
  • H_D 302 – Parent-Child Relationship
  • H_D 320 [M] – Resource Management
  • H_D 430 [M] Professional and Grant Writing Skills
  • H_D 479 – Planning and Evaluation in Human Development
  • HBM 375 – Introduction to Senior Living Management
  • PSYCH 320 – Health Psychology

Culminating Experience

  • H_D 497 – Professional Preparation Seminar
  • H_D 498 – Field Placement (135 hours)

The Prevention Science option is designed for students who are interested in taking a developmental approach to improving public health. Specifically, the Prevention Science option focuses on (a) identifying risk and protective factors that shape human development throughout the lifespan, and (b) designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions, programs, and policies that promote well-being for individuals, families, and communities. The option in Prevention Science is a good fit for students interested in graduate studies in fields such as Prevention Science, Public Health, and Community Psychology; in addition, this option will prepare students for careers in fields such as community coalition coordinator, public health prevention coordinator, and residential youth counselor.

Prevention Science Core

  • H_D 384 – Prevention & Intervention in Human Development
  • H_D 418 [CAPS] – Early Experiences & Lifespan Health
  • H_D 430 [M] – Professional and Grant-Writing Skills
  • H_D 479 – Planning & Evaluation in Human Development

Culminating Experience

  • H_D 497 – Professional Preparation Seminar
  • H_D 498 – Field Placement/Internship (135 hours)

AND Choose One Human Development Focus

Lifespan

  • H_D 306 – Child Development
  • H_D 307 – Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
  • H_D 308 – Adult Development

Child and Youth

  • H_D 306 – Child Development
  • H_D 307 – Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

And choose one course from:

  • H_D 341 – Guidance in Early Childhood Programs OR
  • H_D 408 – Advanced Adolescence Development

Gerontology

  • H_D 308 – Adult Development
  • H_D 360 – Death and Dying
  • H_D 405 – Gerontology

Family

  • H_D 300 – Child and Family Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
  • H_D 301 – Family Stress and Coping
  • H_D 302 – Parent-Child Relationships

Review the online WSU Catalog for additional information about specific degree requirements.


Related Certificates

Global Campus offers these related undergraduate certificate programs that you can consider pairing with your Human Development degree.