Students can find human development degree
programs readily available online at the bachelor's degree level. This
type of degree program is applicable to many different types of career
fields.
Bachelor's degree programs in this field might be found under the
titles of Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development, Bachelor
of Science in Human Development and
Family Studies
or a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development. These programs focus on the
development of human life from infancy to death. Students often choose
to specialize in subjects such as development in women or early
childhood development. Course topics include diversity and cultural
awareness.
The programs focus on human development in relation to various social
circumstances. Strong communication skills are obtained and are
necessary for potential careers in counseling, government or social
service. There are also specific bachelor's degree programs available
for aspiring educators who already have a degree in education and wish
to further their knowledge of human development.
These degree programs are generally full-time and can be completed in
four years. Students enroll in around 120 credit hours, including
general education coursework. For students who already have completed
general education courses or hold another degree, there are accelerated
programs available. The accelerated programs can be completed in less
than two years. Human development bachelor's degree programs can be
taken entirely online. Some programs incorporate an on-site learning
experience that allows the student to gain experience working in his or
her respective specialization field. Programs incorporate streaming
video and pre-recorded lectures into the online instruction format.
Students must have a computer that has access to the Internet. Due to
streaming video and other technical demands, it is helpful if the
computer has an up-to-date Web browser and operating system.
Common Human Development Bachelor's Degree Program Online Courses
Most often, the coursework is asynchronous, which means it can be
taken at any time. Coursework includes program-specific courses, as well
as some electives. Typical courses include the following:
Family Development Course
In this course students gain an understanding of how an individual
develops in the context of a family setting. The course focuses on
cognitive and emotional development of individuals, factoring in
variables like culture, education and physical health.
Cultural Dynamics Course
This course focuses on the ideologies of different cultures and their
social impact. Study topics include gender, family structures,
workplace dynamics and social hierarchies.
Adult Development Course
Students learn the process of aging in middle-aged adults and senior
citizens. The course focuses on development issues that this demographic
faces based on social and cultural circumstances, among other factors.
Child Development Course
This course covers the development of a child from infancy to
pre-adolescence. Students learn development principles like parenting
techniques and prenatal care. Topics also include brain structure,
thought patterns and parental conditionings.
Graduates of this type of program are able to use the acquired
knowledge to pursue careers in education, counseling or social work.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, certified counselors
held about 655,500 jobs nationwide in the year 2008. The vast majority
of these counselors worked in education (
www.bls.gov). The same
source states that this occupation is expected to grow by 18% between
the years 2008 and 2018. In May of 2008, the BLS reported an average
annual income of $57,800 for a counselor working in education.
Graduates of a human development program might wish to pursue
additional degrees in fields like education, counseling and social work.
There are online programs in those related fields at the bachelor's,
master's and doctoral degree levels. Students who choose to pursue
education and counseling often must complete state licensing and
certification exams, which are often incorporated into the degree
program, but not necessarily available online. One organization that
offers such a program is the National Board for Certified Counselors.
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