Human Development Major

• What is Human Development?
• What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Human Development?
• What Courses Do Human Development Majors Take?
• List of Human Development Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Human Development Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Human Development?

Providing leadership in preparing professionals to meet the society-relevant challenges and opportunities of the future is a prime focus of this major. This major prepares students to work with individuals of all ages and their families. Students investigate the ways individuals interact within the family system and with the larger socio-economic environment. An area of concentration may be selected in early development and education, adolescence, adult development and aging, family studies, consumer studies, or general human development and family studies. Very much like the social worker, this position is focused on the benefit of others.

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What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

Various specializations related to a major in Human Development may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of these specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Early Childhood Education	Family Sciences
Family Studies	Human Ecology

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What Kinds of Students Major in Human Development?

People who like being able to exert a positive influence on others in need are suited well for this major. Strengthening and empowering individuals and families to interact effectively with their environments are the primary goals of these majors.

Is Human Development the right major for you?
Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it is one of your top recommended majors!

What Courses Do Human Development Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Human Development majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

The Consumer in Society	Administration of Child and Family Services
Child Guidance and Parenting	Consumer Credit
Death and Dying Families in a Multiethnic Society	Early Childhood Education
Family Education and Intervention Programs	Family Resource Management
Financial Planning for Individuals and Families	Housing and Public Policy
Introduction to Families	Issues in Family Health
Lifespan Human Development	Personal Finance
Perspectives on Aging

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List of Potential Jobs in Human Development

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Program Director for the Elderly	Program Staff Member for Youth
4-H Youth Agent	Administrator Of Child Development Services
Administrator Of Family Services	Child Development Specialist
Community Agency Program	Consumer Advocate
Cooperative Extension Service Agent	Family Financial Planner
Family Public Policy Advocate	Family Services Program
Marriage And Family Counseling	Program Director for Youth
Senior Center Coordinator	Teacher
Teacher In Programs For Young Children	Youth Program Specialist

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What is the Median Salary Range for Human Development Careers?

Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Colleges and Universities offering majors in Human Development

MyMajors complete list has 187 schools in the USA with a major in Human Development.
-View the national listing!

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