Your  Account:

Human Development

Offerings: Bachelor

Course Description

The human development major is an multidisciplinary program that focuses on human growth and development throughout the life span, and on the familial, social, cultural, and political networks in which individuals develop. The human development major is designed to prepare undergraduates to succeed in an increasingly diverse cultural, ethnic, economic, and political environment. Respect for those differences in the context of human service settings is an integral part of our program.

The mission of the Human Development Program at California State University San Marcos is to promote a lifespan understanding of human development using multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and multicultural perspectives. Students in the Human Development Program explore the complex interplay of body, mind, culture, and social/environmental factors and its influence on developmental processes, outcomes, and service delivery by surveying the subject matter from the perspectives of psychology, sociology, biology, and anthropology, as well as integrative coursework. Students also acquire this knowledge through applied learning experiences using problem-based learning and field experience methods. In support of this mission, the Human Development Program engages students in a challenging academic curriculum which combines traditional classroom learning with experiential problem-based and field experience opportunities in human development-related professions in diverse settings.

In addition to completing required core coursework, each student completes a set of approximately six courses chosen from one of four concentrations: Health Services, Children’s Services, Adult and Gerontological Services, and Counseling Services. Courses within each of these concentrations have been selected to provide a solid educational foundation for students wishing to pursue careers in each of these arenas. Experiential learning is gained from field experience where students participate in community service learning activities related to their career and intellectual interests in human development. Students also conduct an applied research study on subject matter in human development of particular interest to them. These field activities are combined with classroom-based reflection exercises facilitated by Human Development faculty.

Bachelor of Arts in Human Development Areas of concentration:

  • Counseling Services
  • Health Services

College of Education, Health & Human Services (CEHHS)

Careers

  • Adult day care service provider
  • Counselor
  • Early childhood
  • Health educator
  • Journalist
  • Preschool teacher
  • Probation officer
  • Psychiatrist
  • Psychologist
  • Social worker
  • Solicitor
  • Teacher
  • Therapist

Industry

  • Adult services
  • Education
  • Mental health
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Therapy

Key-Terms

Addiction, Adolescent, Adult services, Childcare, Children, Cognitive, Counsel, Counseling, Geriatric, Human services, Juvenile, Nonprofit, Non-profit, Probation, Rehab, Rehabilitate, Rehabilitation, Senior citizen, Seniors, Social service, Welfare, Youth