Earn your human development degree with the help of Pacific Oaks College, the college is known for serving diverse communities in the fields of human development, education, and related family studies. For more information visit http://www.pacificoaks.edu/Resource_Room/Courses_Involved_In_Obtaining_a_Human_Development_Degree

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Courses Involved In Obtaining a Human
Development Degree
A human development degree combines a variety of disciplines such as biology, psychology, anthropology,
linguistics, and sociology as a means to better understand the lifespan and development of various types of
people. Entry level positions for this field typically require at least a bachelor’s degree. Those wishing to
pursue a career in human development should earn a Bachelor’s of Arts in Human Development, a human
development masters degree (a Master’s of Science in Human Development and Family Resources), or a
Ph.D. in Human Development.
The bachelor’s degree in human development typically centers on learning strategies for working with
children, adults, and elderly people. There is a high concentration placed on working with families, as well as
some individual development.
The actual human development degree program coursework is comprised of learning to understand the often
complex issues that people deal with throughout a lifetime. This can include physical, family, cognitive, and
social development. These courses may include:
Relationships between parents and children;
Child assessment and evaluation;
Child abuse and neglect;
Gerontology;
Families and work;
Dying and death;
Early childhood development;
Human development applications and theories;
Counseling for families and individuals;
Families in financial distress.
The human development masters degree program is intended for those who wish to become administrators,
program directors, and case managers. These students must learn about human development topics, as
well as the administration and organization of early childhood programs. Participants in the programs must
learn how to work with children, couples, and families.
In order to enroll in the master’s program, GPA standards are enforced, and GRE scores that meet the
school’s requirements must be submitted. Letters of recommendation, as well as entrance essays may also
be required.
While master’s programs continue on with human development theory, they also explore issues such as
education, public policy, and counseling. Courses are comprised of the following:
Child life studies;
Family crises;
Relationships between couples;
Later life issues for families;
Basic counseling practices;
Aging health phases;
Decision making for consumers;
Organization and administration of vocational cooperative education programs;
Applications for child development;
Public policies for consumers and families.
Martha Clark
B.A. '88/M.A. '90, HUMAN

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DEVELOPMENT
"If you're
interested in
trans-
formation,
you've come
to the right
place. Be
open to the disequilibrium and
trust the process."
»Martha Clark
Susan Bernheimer,
Ph.D.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FACULTY
"Early
childhood
education has
always been
a field based
on the vision
of new
possibilities for a more humane
and peaceful world. It was
during my years as a college
instructor for women in poverty
entering early childhood
education that I began to
explore and develop new ways
of teaching that recognize the
strengths and gifts of our
nontraditional students."
»Read more