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

Ready to Apply?

Loading…

Or, you can:

Request Information

Visit Campus

Support GS and Give Today

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

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

Online option

Are you interested in, or already working in, the child development or family service field?

If so, whether you live inside or outside of Georgia, the fully online Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) might be the degree for you. We require only five specific HDFS courses and then you can choose among a variety of courses in HDFS or another field based on the course content that would be helpful to your career goals, For those of you who are unclear of your career goals, we offer career pathways in Family Services and Child Development with suggested courses.

The online curriculum is designed to provide students with a great deal of flexibility to complete their degree related to their own interest area. You might want to be a Child Care or Pre K teacher, work as an Applied Behavior Analyst, work for the Division of Family and Children Services, or be an advocate for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Both the online and in person HDFS degree empowers students to guide individuals, families, and the community towards better lives. View the complete program of study here. Note the option for an Advanced Bachelor to Master degree (ABM) option too.

Explore More Career Opportunities

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.