Family and Human Development, BS
Do you have a passion for helping children and families succeed? Explore human development across every stage of life, from infancy through older adulthood. Discover how relationships shape well-being, and gain versatile skills that apply across the helping professions, business, education and health care.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Family and Human Development degree description
The Bachelor of Science program in family and human development focuses on helping children and families thrive in the modern world by teaching you how to encourage healthy relationships and tackle contemporary societal issues.
You study the stages of human development throughout the life span and gain a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of human relationships in families, workplaces and communities. You also become proficient in written communication, research methodology and data analysis.
Elective courses provide a specialized skill set in areas such as infancy, adolescence and aging. You may also participate in learning experiences outside the classroom, such as working in the Child Development Lab, working as a research assistant and completing an internship.
In addition to reviewing the guidelines in the Concurrent Program Options section below, if you're interested in pursuing concurrent or second baccalaureate degrees in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, you can visit The College's website for more information and requirements.
Why study family and human development at ASU?
At ASU's Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, you learn from faculty who research the hands-on challenges facing children, families and communities today. Your fellow students are from diverse backgrounds including, working professionals, parents, military-connected students and career changers. If you choose to pursue the degree through ASU Online, you earn the same faculty-taught degree while bringing your own professional and life experiences into the classroom.
This program is a Certified Family Life Educator approved program through the National Council on Family Relations. Complete the required coursework and you can fast-track your CFLE application without sitting the exam. If becoming a Family Life Educator interests you, meet with an academic advisor to confirm you're a viable candidate and to choose the right courses.
Additional details
Show mastery of course concepts and you can apply directly through your instructor to be considered as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant.
The Sanford School Leadership Club gives you another way to build connections, develop leadership skills and engage with the community beyond the classroom. Through service projects, networking opportunities, guest speakers and social events, you gain experience working with others while exploring issues that matter to individuals, families and communities.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| CDE 232 Human Development |
| FAS 101 Personal Growth and Relationships |
| FAS 201 Careers in Family and Human Development |
| FAS 290 Introduction to Social Science Research |
| FAS 331 Modern Family Relationships |
| FAS 370 Family Ethnic and Cultural Diversity |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply developmental theory to the stages and domains of human development over the lifespan.
- Describe theory and research on relational and family processes and the contexts in which they occur.
- Analyze variations in family communication and relational patterns across different contexts.
- Analyze social science research to determine the quality of the findings.
Apply developmental theory to the stages and domains of human development over the lifespan. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Through study abroad, students can explore different cultures and social dynamics while developing in-demand professional skills, including teamwork and problem-solving. Opportunities include homestays, which enable students to make connections with families in other countries. Students can stay on track academically while earning ASU credit over winter or spring break trips. More information is available on the Global Education website.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recommends these programs to students majoring in family and human development.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocate | 7.4% | $45,930 | Learn more |
| Government Programs Specialist | 1.6% | $54,210 | Learn more |
| Guidance Counselor | 2.9% | $64,330 | Learn more |
| Human Behavior Researcher | 5.0% | $61,990 | Learn more |
| Human Resources Specialist (HR Specialist) | 6.4% | $75,940 | Learn more |
| Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) | 13.5% | $66,940 | Learn more |
| Mental Health Counselor | 18.4% | $59,350 | Learn more |
| Preschool Teacher | 4.5% | $38,140 | Learn more |
| Social Services Director | 7.2% | $80,390 | Learn more |
| Social Worker | 4.4% | $59,550 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this family and human development degree prepares you for
Graduates with a BS degree in family and human development are prepared for a rewarding career in:
- business
- child and family advocacy
- education
- government
- social services
This program also provides excellent preparation for future graduate work in:
- counseling
- health-related professions
- law
- social work
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics
|
WLSN 300L
advisor@asu.edu
480-965-6978
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
