• Apply coursework during a semester of student teaching in a middle school or high school setting.
• Develop skills for working in a variety of human service and educational settings.
• Gain a broad perspective on individual and family development through faculty from a range of disciplines and professional areas.
• Students can become state certified as family and consumer sciences teachers in junior or senior high schools.
• Focus on physical, social, cognitive, and affective development with an emphasis on development within the family.

Bachelor of arts in human development with teacher certification endorsement in family and consumer sciences education

Students in this program complete courses in human development; apparel, merchandising, design, and textiles; hospitality business management; biology; teaching and learning; and agricultural education.

Requirements for joining the program

Students can certify as a human development major after taking 24 credit hours and earning at least a 2.35 GPA.

Upon completing a set of prerequisite courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, students can apply for admission to the teacher education program.

See the human development website for details.

Core courses in human development

HD 101—Human Development Across the Lifespan
HD 200—Introduction to the Field of Human Development
HD 204—Family Interactions 
HD 220—Human Development Theories 

HD 302—Parent-Child Relationships
HD 306—Child Development
HD 307—Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development 
HD 310—Research Methods

HD 320—Resource Management and Problem Solving

HD 350—Family Diversity

HD 410—Public Policy Issues in Human Development

HD 407—Student Teaching for Family and Consumer Sciences

HD 479—Program Planning for Family and Consumer Sciences
HD 480—Instructional Strategies in Human Development

Graduation requirements

See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

For family and consumer sciences education students

The Department of Human Development awarded more than $14,000 in scholarships for the 2001-02 academic year. Students in the program are also eligible to compete for the College of Agriculture and Home Economics’ Dean’s Merit Scholarship, and for general University scholarships. Details regarding scholarship criteria are available on the CAHE and human development Web sites.

For all students

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs. Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

Students should complete the Washington State University general scholarship application and the FAFSA to ensure their eligibility for the widest range of scholarships and need-based financial aid.

For information or to apply for financial aid and scholarships from WSU, see the Scholarships and Finances section of the WSU website.

• Desire to strengthen individuals, families, and communities
• Desire to work with adolescents
• Interest in current social issues and policies that impact families or individual family members
• Sensitivity to the valuable contributions and unique needs of all people
• Desire to learn about the development of individuals, families, and communities
• Desire to learn how a variety of educational approaches, social policies, and prevention/intervention strategies can influence the development of children, youth, and families

Human development graduates with a family and consumer sciences certification are employed primarily as family and consumer sciences teachers in public and private junior high and high schools. Some graduates have worked with community organizations serving families, youth groups, and family and consumer sciences related businesses.