Human Development

Career Opportunities

The department pays attention to the role of human development in the arts, humanities and sciences, as well as in career possibilities involving developmental work in a wide range of professions. These latter include the arts, education, speech and language pathology, human resources, family services, student personnel services, social work, psychology, physical and occupational therapy, medicine, gerontology, public health, public policy, and the law.

Employment expectations for qualified human developmentalists are strong because of the variety of application of the knowledge base and because of the anticipated growth in job opportunities.  Some suggestions of places of employment and potential roles are as follows:

FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

• Program Administrator at a Government Agency: i.e. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education
• Child Advocate
• Public Policy Developer
• Adoption/Foster Care Coordinator
• Social Security Benefit Authorizer
• Police Officer
• Juvenile Probation Officer

 EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS - Public/Private

• Teacher - Early Childhood, Child Care, Primary, Secondary - Regular classroom and special education
• Administrator
• Curriculum Developer
• Reading/Language Specialist
• Special Education Teacher
• School Psychologist
• School Social Worker
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Speech and Language Pathology
• Adaptive Physical Education

EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS - College and University

• Professor
• Researcher
• Student Life Specialist
• Career Counselor
• Admissions Officer
• Program Administrator
• Human Resource Administrator
• Community Learning Coordinator

MEDICAL AND ALLIED HEALTH

• Pediatrician
• Child Life Specialist
• Pediatric Nurse
• Nutritionist
• Midwife
• Physician’s Assistant
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Speech and Language Pathologist
• Social Worker
• Family Therapist
• Geriatric Specialist
• Family Planning Counselor 
• Community Health Educator
• Oncology Social Worker
• Patient Services Coordinator
• Crisis Intervention Counselor
• Alcoholism Therapist
• Hospice Counselor
• Substance Abuse Counselor

ARTS

• Movement and Dance Therapist
• Music Therapist/Art Therapist
• Music, Art, Dance Teacher
• Program Administrator
• Outreach Specialist
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Museum Educator
• Museum Administrator

COMMUNICATIONS

• Children’s Books and Magazine:  Author, Illustrator, Publisher
• Public Relations Coordinator for Child and Family Organizations
• Children’s Television Network Programmer
• School Computer Specialist
• School Library Media Specialist
• Public Affairs Consultant
• Radio Promotions Coordinator

SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

• State Social Service Provider
• Camp Programmer
• Before and After School Programmer
• Parent Education
• Family Therapist
• Group Home Coordinator
• Mental Health Therapist
• Youth Recreation Coordinator
• Public Health Worker
• Senior Center Administrator or Program Coordinator
• Supervisor, Shelter for the Homeless
• Director of Social Services
• Job Placement Specialist
• Case Manager
• Respite Caregiver
• Home Care Provider

RESEARCH ON VARIOUS TOPICS INCLUDING

• Human Development – language, cognition, attachment
• Education – classroom inclusion, bilingualism
• Medicine – SIDS, AIDS, hospitals, environments
• Government – court environments, protection laws, policy