COURSE CURRICULUM

A Human Development and Family Science degree with Teacher Certification prepares students to work with children, youth, and families in both educational and community-based settings while also qualifying them for teaching roles depending on certification level. Graduates are equipped to support human development across the lifespan and apply this knowledge in careers that focus on advocacy, education, and family well-being. Career opportunities span a wide range of fields, including advocacy and public policy work where professionals help shape programs and policies that support families and communities, as well as child life roles in hospital settings where specialists help children and families cope with illness, hospitalization, and medical procedures. The degree also prepares students for early childhood intervention roles, working with young children who need developmental support, and for positions in faith-based organizations that provide family and community services. Many graduates pursue careers in health care and family wellness programs that promote healthy living, emotional well-being, and family stability. Others work in human and community service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and non-governmental organizations where they deliver support services, coordinate programs, and assist vulnerable populations. Additional pathways include parent, family life, and relationship education, where professionals teach skills that strengthen family relationships, and roles within school districts or community-based school programs that support students and families beyond the classroom. The teacher certification component also prepares graduates to work directly in schools, depending on certification level, allowing them to combine educational practice with developmental knowledge. Coursework such as Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood, Childhoods Across Time, Space and Place, Parenting, Guidance of Children and Youth, Administration of Programs for Children, Youth and Families, and Family, School and Community provides students with a strong foundation in developmental theory, child guidance, program management, and the relationships between families and educational systems. Overall, this degree combines teaching preparation with human development expertise, enabling graduates to support learning, development, and family well-being in diverse professional environments.