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 choose 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
- 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.
Students that matriculated before January 1, 2020, were able to pursue a concentration in psyhology. Students matriculating after that date who wish to pursue studies in psychology should consider enrolling in our B.A. in Psychology degree program.