What You Can Do with Your Degree: Human Development and Family Science
Uses Human Development, Family Science Skills in Career
"A child life specialist must have a strong child development background in order to meet the psychosocial needs of the hospitalized child. The Human Development and Family Science program perfectly connects child development and family relation courses to prepare students for any work with children, families, and the community."
Stephanie Colaberardino CCLS, CIMI, Child Development and Family Relations alumna, is the Child Life, Volunteer Services, and Family Resource Center manager at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Professional Opportunities Greet Child and Family Advocates
If you want to support positive development and learning across the lifespan, then human development and family science is the major for you. With the Human Development and Family Science, BS, you gain unlimited career potential that spans private businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit groups.
Many of the professional opportunities in this field fall into three areas: social work, education, and health.
Career Opportunities
Social Work
- Caseworker
- Child or Family Development Specialist
- Program or Service Coordinator
- Intake Specialist
- Permanency Specialist
- Youth Counselor
- Child Advocate
- Juvenile Justice Worker
Education
- Childcare/Head Start/ Early Childhood Teacher
- Childcare/Head Start/Early Childhood Administrator
- Life Skills Instructor
- Family Life Educator
- K-12 Paraprofessional
Health
- Crisis Counselor
- Community Health Worker
- Therapeutic Staff Support Worker
- Direct Care Staff
- Residential Counselor
- Child Life Assistant/Specialist
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Child Development Specialist/Screener
Path to Higher Degrees
If you wish, you can continue your education with graduate studies that lead to professions including, but not limited to, juvenile justice, school psychology, counseling, and marriage and family therapy.
- MS in Child Development
- PhD in Child Development
- MEd in School Counseling
- MA in Community Counseling
- MA inHuman Resources and Employment Relations
- MA in Student Affairs in Higher Education
- MEd in Early Childhood Education
- MS in Marriage and Family Therapy