Human Development is the study of how people change and grow over time. This multidisciplinary program will give you an understanding of individual development across people’s life span within the context of diverse families and communities. The program prepares you to work with families, children, adolescents, adults and older adults.
At WSU Vancouver, you will study the complexity of human development, including physical, social, cognitive and affective development in a variety of contexts.
- Skills for helping individuals, families or communities through prevention programs and intervention techniques
- How to apply a scientific approach to evaluating, analyzing and interpreting information gathered from everyday life
- Appropriate and effective communication with a wide range of people, both verbally and in writing
- Appreciation and respect for diversity and the value of individual differences
- Professional attitude and commitment to high standards and ethics in your chosen career
Teacher, family services administrator or provider, youth program director, community agency program specialist, marriage and family counselor, family public policy advocate, child development specialist, family financial planner, senior center coordinator, youth program specialist
Choose from four options:
Life Span Development
- Focus on studying individuals across the life span.
- Careers include a variety of human services, nonprofit and educational settings.
Human Services
- Focus on case work and community services.
- Careers include family services case manager, behavioral skill specialist, family advocate, family support specialist, family liaison and advocacy work.
Child and Youth Development
- Focus on adolescence and changes in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.
- Careers include 4-H, YMCA, juvenile justice, parks and recreation, behavioral health and mental health promotion.
Early Childhood Education
- Focus on NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards for education.
- Careers include teaching young children in group settings, roles in administration and program directors.
“I enjoyed studying human development, gaining instrumental knowledge, which helped me get my current job as a Disability Mobility Initiative fellow at Disability Rights Washington. Some of my favorite courses were family and diversity, perspectives in human development, child development, human development theory, and family stress and coping. All of my professors were very supportive, and the WSU Access Center staff are lovely.”
—Abby Griffith, B.A. human development
Contact us
For more information, email us or call 360-546-9710.