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Undergraduate Catalog

2008 - 2009

      
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BS in Family Life: Human Development Emphasis (45 hours*)



The Discipline

The human development emphasis centers on theories, research, and practices related to optimal human development within the context of family life. Human development scholarship provides a life-span perspective for understanding human development within the family by helping students learn how children, youth, and adults develop, change, and face challenges throughout the life course (infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood). Our teaching strategy reflects a strong commitment to better critical thinking and problem solving skills as students become involved in mentored learning research, internships, and outreach experiences.

Careers

The program in human development is a broad, liberal arts training designed to assist students as they seek professional activity (as volunteers or for pay) in settings where knowledge of human development and behavior is valued. An emphasis in human development prepares graduates to make significant contributions locally (e.g., one's own family, church, and local community) and professionally (e.g., working in the community services profession, volunteer or paid professionals for worldwide human service-based organizations).

Some graduates with a human development emphasis are employed in community action centers, childcare centers, residential treatment centers, programs for the elderly, juvenile correction programs, and youth programs. Still other students prepare for volunteer-based community intervention (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, and The Muscular Dystrophy Association).

Additionally, a human development emphasis is an excellent undergraduate preparation for those pursuing graduate school in human development research. Others seek professional certification by obtaining advanced degrees in school counseling, special education, clinical gerontology, and clinical psychology.

For students who are interested in teaching opportunities in public schools, a major in early childhood education teacher certification is available through the Teacher Education Department in the McKay School of Education. This certification qualifies individuals to teach kindergarten through third grade in public and private schools. The human development emphasis provides foundation courses for those preparing to enter early childhood education teacher certification programs (see Teacher Education Department for a list of these courses).

In addition, an early childhood focus within the human development emphasis prepares students for vocations that do not require teacher certifications (e.g., Head Start).

Program Requirements    |    View MAP

  1. At least 18 hours of upper-division major course work must be taken in residency at BYU. (This requirement includes taking at least 12 hours minimum of the human development core in residency at BYU.)

  2. Students who do not plan to pursue a graduate program beyond the bachelor's degree should take other courses that will enhance their employment opportunities. Consult a faculty advisor or your academic advisor for suggested minors, majors, and skills. Students are encouraged to take student development courses related to career planning in their junior or senior year.

  3. Complete the following family life core courses:

  4. Complete 18 hours from the following human development core courses:

  5. Complete 9 hours of upper-division electives from the following:

  6. Complete three hours of a capstone experience from the following:

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



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