Career Pathways
What career options exist for Human Development majors and minors at different degree levels?
Bachelor’s Degree
- Applied Behavior Specialist
- Admissions Counselor
- Adoption and Foster Agency Case Manager
- Benefits Counselor
- Child Care Program Coordinator
- Child Life Specialist
- Child Welfare Officer
- Clinical Counselor
- Community Outreach Worker
- Community Support Clinician
- Crisis Center Specialist
- Early Childhood Development Manager
- Early Childhood Educator
- Employment Interviewer/Recruiter
- Family Advocate
- Family Services Specialist
- Family Support Worker, Social Services
- Family Therapist
- Health Care Coordinator
- Health Educator
- Health Outreach Worker
- Higher Ed Administration
- Human Resource Manager
- Human Services Worker
- Legislative Aide
- Memory Care Coordinator
- Nonprofit Worker/Director
- Parent Educator
- Parole Officer
- Peace Corps
- Public Health Administrator
- Occupational Therapist Aid
- Recreational Therapist
- Rehabilitation Counselor
- Research Assistant/Project Manager
- Residential Counselor
- School Guidance Counselor
- Social Services Case Worker
- Teacher
- Youth Services Specialist
There are entry-level, assistant, and aid positions within many of the career options above. Some entry-level positions are open to students who are still completing their undergraduate degree.
Master’s Degree or Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program:
- Community Nonprofit Director
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Military Family Life Consultant
- Occupational Therapist
- Research Scientist
- Social Worker
Doctoral Degree:
- Academic Director
- Assistant Professor
- Development and Behavioral Pediatrician
- Gerontologist/geriatric medical professional,
- Medical doctor*
- Nurse / Nurse practitioner**
- Physical Therapist
- Physician assistant
- Senior Research Scientist
- Statistician
* Medical schools don’t necessarily require a degree in a pre-med program. Earning an undergraduate degree in human development is can be a strength and our classes provide areas of knowledge, like sociocultural determinants of health, health disparities, cultural differences, etc., that are demanded on the MCAT. However, HDEV majors and minors should still take handful of courses to fulfill the prerequisites associated with medical school, such as biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics.
** You can become a nurse practitioner without Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). However, you will need an advanced or graduate degree to become licensed as a nurse practitioner. There are registered nurse (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs as well as direct-entry MSN programs that don’t require a BSN.