If you’re interested in a career involving working with individuals, families, and systems in an effort to improve their overall well-being and quality of life, then a human development and family studies (HDFS) degree may be the right one for you. Human development and family studies is a diverse field and includes child-parent relationships (couples) as well as familial relationships between brothers/sisters. It focuses on children, adolescents, adults, entire families, and intimate partner’s relationships.
A degree in Human Development and Family Studies can lead to a variety of career opportunities. Whether you choose to work in one specific area or shift between several, this type of degree can be very beneficial.
Careers with a human development and family studies degree
Are you a student exploring your career options after obtaining a degree in human development and family studies? It is critical that you find a job that fits your skills and passions. Here are four of the top jobs HDS graduates take on right after graduation.
Human development and family studies degree programs are offered in a variety of educational environments, including community colleges, state universities, and small colleges. Should you work on your degree in this field at the undergraduate or graduate level? I’ll cover both options.
If you have a knack for working with families, people, and children, consider human development and family studies as your major at one of these colleges.
Human development and family studies is a school of thought that looks at the course of a person’s life. This includes the period from conception to death, as well as childhood and adulthood. The program focuses on issues such as aging, child development, human services and family relationships.
Ultimately, there is a wide range of careers for those with a human development and family studies degree. In addition to the examples we’ve listed above, some possible other career choices include social worker, teacher, counselor, or maybe marriage and family therapist. There are even several options overseas; working with international governments on public programs can help create positive change within developing countries. Whatever choice you make, it’s a good idea to keep your eyes open for opportunities—and don’t stop learning!
The number of careers that a degree in human development and family studies can lead you to is surprising. A good mentor from your local university will be invaluable to you in getting the experience necessary for securing the job of your dreams. The best way to do this, besides actually going to college, is to earn an internship or two. There are two ways you can go about doing this. The first way is by completing community service hours. This will help you boost your resume and give you a valuable amount of experience as well. If you want to impress your potential company more than just with paper work however, it is important to find a company that you really want to work for and spend more than just hours at their place of business. Find one that you like so much that you don’t mind applying there time and time again without pay. Loyalty will always be rewarded.
In conclusion, human development and family studies provide a holistic approach to looking at the role of the human being in society. According to the Department of Human Development at University of Wisconsin-Platteville, individuals will have an array of opportunities available to them following graduation. This includes such different paths as social work, marriage and family therapy, careers in education, raising children and teaching, religious education, and many more. The skills you learn pursuing this degree can truly be applied to any area you choose to enter into. If a family is not something you wish to pursue on your own, there are also many other career options open to you including working with individuals with disabilities as well as seniors in assisted living homes.
With so much to recommend it, we can certainly understand the allure of human development and family studies as a potential career choice. As with any degree program, however, it’s important to consider the various options you have at your disposal. For instance, if you’re interested in having an academic career that combines research and teaching, you might want to consider a PhD program focused on family studies or human development. In addition to coursework, these programs offer ample opportunity for conducting research as well.
After you’ve narrowed down your list, try your hand at cold calling. It’s a tedious task, and most of the time you’ll find yourself speaking with someone who is not interested in hearing about your services—but every once in a while you’ll get a bite, and that has to be worth it.
