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Careers in Human Development
Careers in Human Development
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Prepared by Heather A. Holmes-Lonergan, Ph.D.
2005
Careers in Human Development
The Human Development major is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on the development of individuals across the lifespan. The major prepares students to work with individuals in a broad range of settings, depending upon the track within the major that they choose. However, there are skills that all Human Development majors acquire no matter which track they select. These are skills that students can use to build a resume or vitae and that students can discuss in interviews with potential employers. These skills are applicable to jobs in Human Development and related fields, but would also apply to jobs in the legal or business realms.
Skills/Knowledge Acquired as a Human Development Major
- Theory and Research
- Communication Skills
- Observation and Assessment; Problem-Solving
- Human Relationships
- Diversity
- Team Building
 Theory and Research: Students demonstrate understanding of life span changesand majortheoretical perspectives in the human development field. Students gain an understanding of the major developmental theoriesthathelp to explain changes in physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. In addition, students understand how to conduct andevaluate human development research.  Communication: The human development major requires students to complete both termpapers and oral presentations. As a result, students gain excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Communication skillsare the most important and sought after quality that employers look for in job candidates.
 Observation and Assessment; Problem Solving: Students understand how to observehuman behavior systematically, including skills for identifying and solving problems. Students can assess a situation, determine what kinds of observations need to be made, and then design a plan to conduct those observations. These skills can be used to design programs or interventions for children, adults, or families, to evaluate the effectiveness of such programs. Planning and organizing are skills that emerge from learning about research methods, but they are skills that are beneficial in any job. Someone working in a business setting might use these skills to determine, for example, why sales have gone down or why production is declining in a company.-
 Knowledge of human relationships: Students learn about stages and processes ofdevelopment, but in that context they also learn to understand more about interactions between people. This is a skill that students can use to understand the causes of people’s behavior, but also to be able to create change in people’s lives. Knowledge of parenting and family relationships, for example, means that students can develop a course for parents that talks about topics such as attachment and parenting styles to help them interact with their children in more effective ways. Or, students might use their knowledge about the struggles and challenges of older people as they retire, experience illness or declining health, or adjust to society’s expectations of the aged in working with individuals who are depressed, or in designing interventions or activity programs. In business, these are skills that students can use to manage others in the workplace, or perhaps to improve employee morale.
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 Knowledge of diversity: An awareness of how people from different cultures andbackgrounds develop is a skill that can be applied to many different kinds of working environments. Whether students are in counseling, social work, or business, the ability to work with people from different backgrounds is essential. It allows students to think about the wider context of human development and to bring that perspective to the task or problem they are faced with in the workplace.
 Team Building: Together, all of the above-mentioned skills help students to work as partof a team—another essential skill no matter where they are employed. Team building and the ability to motivate others are highly desired by most employers.
Career Planning Sequence
- Investigate Possible Opportunities
- Gather Information
- Join Professional Organizations
- Consider a complementary minor
- Write your resume and cover letter carefully
 Investigate possible career opportunities: A great place to start is the CareerServicesCenter (seecontact information below). They provide services such as: career counseling and planning, resume workshops and help with resume writing, information on applying to graduate school, tips and resources for job hunting, etc.
 Gather information about your selected career: If there is a company or organizationyou are interested in working with, begin by investigating their website if they have one. Often it will list positions that are available and the necessary criteria that applicants should possess. The same advice would apply for those who are interested in graduate school. Read about the programs online, paying particular attention to the program requirements and the admissions standards.
In addition, you can conduct an informational interview. This is an opportunity to visit with or call someone from the company or organization to learn more about the company, what job opportunities are available, and what they look for in prospective employees. More specific questions would include the responsibilities associated with particular positions, and what majors/coursework would best prepare you for those positions. You can also ask about what kinds of work/internship experience they would look for in a candidate.
Explore opportunities for gaining work-related experience while still in school. Contact the Cooperative Education office at MSCD (see contact information below). They can help place you in an internship or paid position that is related to your career goals. You must have sophomore or junior standing and a 2.5 GPA in order to receive their services. A career survey from Virginia Tech University (http://www.career.vt.edu) reveals that about half of graduates in the College of Human Sciences and Education had a career-related internship experience by the time they graduated.-
 Join professional organizations: Consider joining professional organizations in yourarea of interest. Some possibilities are listed below for each track. You mayalso refer to:
National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States, 2000
State and Regional Associations of the United States, 1999
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 Consider a complementary minor: Consider how your minor might complement your major. Someone with a sociology or criminal justice minor might be competitive for jobs in the legal field—youth corrections, probation, etc. Coursework that allows you to focus on at-risk youth and/or diverse communities and cultures is often helpful. A Spanish minor can be an advantage in the Denver area—many agencies are looking for bilingual employees. A health care management or holistic health minor could be an asset for someone in the gerontology track. Some possible minors are listed below for each track, but consult with a Human Development advisor before selecting a minor.
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 Write your resume and cover letter carefully: In your cover letter and resume, make it clear why you chose a Human Development major—how it distinguishes you from other candidates. Talk about your relevant coursework, and how it applies to the specific job for which you are applying. In addition, discuss the body of knowledge you’ve acquired in this major using some of the suggested topics in the Skills and Knowledge section of this document. Based on your research of the particular job you’re applying for, you should have some keywords that indicate the skills or types of experience the employer is looking for. Find a way to work those in to your resume/vitae and cover letter, and relate them to your experiences as a Human Development major.
Campus Resources:
MSCD Office of Career Services
Central Classroom 203, (303) 556-3664
Main website: http://www.mscd.edu/~career/pg1.htm
Resources and services for students looking for a job: http://www.mscd.edu/~career/students.html
MSCD Office of Cooperative Education
1045 Ninth Street Park, (303) 556-3290
Main website: http://www.mscd.edu/~cooped/
Websites of Interest:
Career Information: www.collegegrad.com/careers; www.monster.com/
Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco or http://stats.bls.gov/
O*NET Dictionairy of Occupational Titles: http://online.onetcenter.org
Career Options by Track:
 Applied Track (HDV 1) This track is designed for students who want to earn a terminal bachelor’s degree and work with children/families immediately following graduation. The kinds of jobs that are available for students in this track are typically jobs with nonprofit or social service agencies. Some examples are: Girl & Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, residential treatment facilities or group homes, shelters, before and after school programs, programs offered through the United Way, etc. Americorps also has a number of jobs that would be a good fit with this track, however, you may need to commit to spending a certain amount of time in the position. Some possible jobs with these types of agencies would be: caseworker, parent educator, working with family assistance programs, recreation programmer for children or adults, working for youth agencies or intervention programs.
Although many positions are entry level, with some organizations there is the opportunity to move up within the organization. You may also decide to apply for graduate school, and a position such as those mentioned above can be excellent preparation. Many social service agencies require an MSW (Masters in Social Work) for higher level positions, and many MSW programs require you to have work experience before you apply.
Possible Minors
- African American Studies
- Art
- Chicano Studies
- Criminal Justice
- Family Support in Social Work
- Human Performance & Sport
- Human Services
- Music
- Nonprofit Administration (Certificate program)
- Nutrition
- Parent Education
- Public Administration
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Women’s Studies
Websites
 Graduate School Track (HDV 2) In this track, the coursework is designed to prepare students to enter a graduate program in psychology, counseling, social work, human development, etc. Most graduate programs are looking for students with a strong foundation in statistics and research methods, so this track includes additional coursework in these areas.
We have a booklet in the psychology department that lists graduate schools in Colorado. Most are psychology programs, but there are some listings for counseling and social work programs as well. Most master’s programs in psychology and counseling don’t require the bachelor’s degree to be in psychology. However, there may be certain courses they are looking for, such as abnormal or history/systems, that are not part of the HDV degree. Students might consider a psychology minor in that case.
To search for graduate programs online, consult Peterson’s Guide and GradSchools.com (see below). On these sites, you can search for graduate programs based on your area of interest.
Graduate programs in Human Development are seeking students with related coursework at the undergraduate level. These are primarily programs for students who want to conduct research and teach human development courses at the college level. However, some of them include programs in marriage and family therapy and further training in gerontology.
For students interested in graduate programs in social work, the most common degree that students obtain is the MSW (Master’s in Social Work). MSW programs typically require a bachelor’s degree and work experience that’s related to social work. Students interested in an MSW program might consider a minor in Family Support in Social Work, Human Services, or Psychology.
If you plan to apply to graduate school, it is very important that you obtain not only practical or clinical experience, but also additional research experience. Find professors who are conducting research and volunteer to help them with their projects. Initiate your own research and ask a professor in a related area if he/she would be willing to supervise your project. Look for volunteer or paid positions at other institutions or in the community that involve research. It is also important to seek teaching experience for some graduate programs. PSY 4970, Teaching of Psychology, is a course that provides experience as a teaching assistant for selected students. Contact one of the Human Development advisors for more information.
Possible Minors
- Biology
- Criminal Justice
- Family Support in Social Work
- Human Services
- Parent Education
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Women’s Studies
- Human Development, Psychology, or Social Work:
- Child/Human Development:
- Psychology and Social Work:
- Online/Distance graduate programs: http://distance.gradschools.com/
 Gerontology Track (HDV 3) People with a background in gerontology work with older people in a variety of capacities, such as:
Administration—Students would be involved in administering a program or organization that works with older people. This may include managing the day to day operations of the organization, supervising employees, planning and supervising activities, seeking funding opportunities, etc.
Health care/Mental Health care—Students may need additional training in nursing, social work, or counseling if they are interested in providing these services. Some students complete the Hospice volunteer training program, which does not require an additional degree but does require training through a Hospice organization.
Leisure/Recreation—Students may wish to become an activities director at a nursing home or adult day care and be involved in developing and/or supervising activity programs for older adults.
Legal/Policy—Students may be interested in working for various committees and advisory boards that set policies on aging. Graduates may be involved in advocating with or on behalf of older persons before legislative bodies or in institutional settings. Some students become volunteer ombudsmen, and advocate for the rights of older residents in assisted living or nursing homes. If students are interested in pursuing a law degree, there are professionals who provide legal services to the aging.
Research and Teaching—Students may wish to pursue a graduate degree in gerontology and engage in research and teaching involving older persons.
Possible Minors
- Art
- Biology
- Family Support in Social Work
- Health Care Management
- Holistic Health & Wellness Education
- Human Performance & Sport
- Human Services
- Language & Linguistics
- Leisure Services
- Music
- Nonprofit Administration (Certificate program)
- Nutrition
- Public Administration
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Women’s Studies
Websites
 Early Childhood Education Track & Elementary Education Track (HDV 4 & HDV 5) Students who are pursuing licensure will be involved in job searching through the teacher education department during their student teaching semester. The teacher education department conducts workshops on interviewing and resume writing, and also conducts mock interviews. These are activities that are geared specifically to interviewing with the schools.
Greater Denver Teacher’s Fair—This is a two day teaching fair held in the spring each year. Approximately 90 districts and 250 schools are represented. Students sign up for the fair, prepare their resumes, and determine ahead of time what districts they want to talk with. At the fair, students sign up for interview times with the districts they are hoping to work for.
Many students also search for jobs through the Colorado Department of Education website (see below). Individual School Districts and schools also publish job vacancies on their websites, so students can search those as well. Students are also encouraged to make contacts in their field experiences and student teaching that may provide job leads.
There are more applicants for the primary grades (K-3) than for the higher grade levels in elementary school, so students who want to teach at those grades are facing more competition.
For ECE students, there is an added endorsement that you can obtain for your licensure through teacher education. It involves 14 hours of additional coursework plus an additional 105 hours of field experience in the upper elementary grades. If you complete the requirements, you can be licensed for both ECE and Elem. Ed. See the Teacher Education Department for more information.
Possible Minors
- Early Childhood Education (Necessary to complete a degree with the HDV 4 track in 8 semesters)
- Elementary Education (Necessary to complete a degree with the HDV 5 track in 8 semesters)
- Health & Safety
- Human Performance & Sport
- Instructional Technology
- Language & Linguistics
- Nutrition
- Parent Education
- Reading
- Spanish
- Special Education
- Links to many websites regarding careers in early childhood and elementary education can be found on the MSCD Career Services webpage for career opportunities under the Teacher Education Program: http://www.mscd.edu/~career/educ.htm. This website also has information on various types of careers within the education field, such as: Special Education Teacher, Assistant Principal, Librarian, School Counselor, Superintendent, etc.
- Colorado Department of Education:
- Greater Denver Teacher’s Fair: http://www.colorado.edu/careerservices/teacherfair/Fair_files/frame.htm
- National Association for the Education of Young Children: www.naeyc.org
- National Education Association: www.nea.org
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Degree Requirements