Human Development
As a student of human development, you will draw on many different disciplines, including psychology, human biology and anthropology, in your exploration of human experience and behavior. You will explore ideas about the experience, growth and behavior of human beings, their patterns of development in various life stages, individual, group and cultural similarities and differences and health and mental-health issues in society. You also will develop valuable research, analytical and communications skills as, together with a faculty mentor, you create a program to meet your specific needs and goals.
Why a degree in human development?
Students of human development pursue this area of study in order to prepare for:
- a career in human development
- advancement to a management position
- graduate school
- work in psychology, counseling or school psychology
- social services delivery or management
- medical school
- teaching
- government service
- public health opportunities
- advocacy for special populations.
Degrees Available
As a regionally accredited college of the State University of New York, Empire State College offers the following degrees in human development:
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Science
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
Taking individual courses as a nondegree student is also possible and will offer you the same range and depth of courses and rigorous standards as matriculated undergraduate students.
Popular Concentrations
- anthropology
- child development
- gender studies
- gerontology
- psychology (because the field of "psychology" has a particular meaning within the academic community, this concentration requires special guidelines)
- focus on a particular age group
- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues
- grieving and loss
- incarceration
- disability
- public health
- family relationships.
You can focus on a single area such as disability services, or create an interdisciplinary concentration that connects or combines perspectives exploring a theme or topic.
Sample Degree Programs
The following illustrate what a degree program might look like. As a student, you will work with a mentor to design a degree plan that meets your educational goals.
- Bachelor of Arts - Human Development (PDF
41kB) - Bachelor of Science - Human Development (PDF 41kB)
- Bachelor of Science - Psychology (PDF 41kB)
Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the degree plans. If Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, you can download it for free from Adobe.
