Human Development & Family Science

Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Science
Format: In person or online- see below
Credit Hours: 124

Do you have a passion for working with children, families and adults to help them grow throughout the different stages of life?

Georgia Southern University’s Human Development & Family Science degree program takes a family-oriented approach to lifespan development. Designed to provide a strong background in the social and behavioral sciences related to child development, family development and the administration of programs for children and families. The Human Development & Family Science major gives you the tools you need to make an immediate and profound difference in the lives of others. A minor in Human Development & Family Science is also available if your major is in another discipline.

Careers in Human Development & Family Science

With a major Human Development & Family Science , you can begin a career that will allow you to make an immediate and profound difference in others’ lives, such as:

Adoption and foster care agencies
Assisted Living Activity Coordinators
Crisis and Domestic Violence Shelters
Preschool teacher
Parent educator
Youth development specialist
See more on the Careers page

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Human Development & Family Science majors can choose among a variety of career pathways:

Family Services Career Pathway

Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus or Online
Credit Hours: 124

Currently offered on the Statesboro Campus and Fully Online, the Family Services pathway addresses issues that individuals, families and communities face across the lifespan, with a focus on empowerment and reinforcing existing strengths. The goal of this program is to prepare you for employment in a variety of settings, such as social work, legal and public policy, case management or direct service.

Family Services Internship Opportunities

Social work agencies (adoption and foster care)
Parent educator
Crisis centers
Cooperative Extension
Assisted living centers

Child Development Career Pathway

Child Development Video

Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus
Credit Hours: 124

The Child Development career pathways prepares you to work professionally in diverse settings with young children — infants, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners — and their families to promote child and youth development. The Child Development curriculum focuses on putting developmental theory into practice and promoting optimal development of all young children including those with special needs in inclusive settings.

Child Development Internship Opportunities

Early intervention programs working with children with disabilities
After school/camp youth development programs
Child development centers
Childcare centers
Preschools
Head Start
4-H programs

Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus or online
Credit Hours: 124

Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Education Degree Concentration

Format: In person on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah
Credit Hours: 124

The goal of the Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Education concentration is to prepare you to work professionally with children and their families in a variety of settings, including serving children with special needs. This early childhood education program takes a holistic approach to addressing the diverse needs of children and families to ensure high quality and equitable classroom experiences for each and every child. This degree concentration can lead to initial birth through kindergarten teaching certification and will be offered only on the Armstrong Campus starting in Fall 2020. Applications for the first cohort are currently being accepted.

Students graduating with a degree in Human Development and Family Science with a concentration in Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Education are eligible to apply for a Georgia teaching certificate.

Practicum and Student Teaching Opportunities

Public prekindergarten and kindergarten
Head Start and Early Head Start
Child development centers
Preschool programs

BK Video

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Get Hands-On Experience in Georgia Southern’s On-site Child Development Center

Georgia Southern offers you hands-on learning opportunities at the Georgia Southern University Child Development Center located on the Statesboro Campus. The center houses observation areas and laboratory facilities that offer you real world experiences working directly with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years to prepare you for your future career.