Careers for Human Development Graduates

A Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development makes you eligible for many careers.

Some careers may require additional experience or training. Consider engaging in part-time work, volunteer work, or internships during your undergraduate years.

The subject areas below feature job titles and resources.

 


  • Assistant Behavior Analyst

    Certified Family Life Educator (requires certification)/ Parent Education Instructor

    Family Resource Management (school staff)

    Head Start Home Visitor

    Advocate Case Manager

    Community Organizer

    Family Support Worker

    Independent Living Specialist (for individuals with disabilities)

    Family Interventionist/ Family Intervention Specialist

    Individual and Family Support Services

    Crisis Hotline Services staff (suicide, substance abuse, interpersonal violence)

    Child Life Specialist

    Addictions Counselor

    Victim Advocate

    Family Services Advocate

    Community Care Coordinator

    Domestic Violence Counselor

    Adoption Specialist

    Child Welfare Specialist

    Life Coach

    Military Family Support Specialist


    Resources for Children and Families Jobs:

    AIDS Community Research Consortium


  • Guardian Ad Litem

    Political Organizer

    Political Analyst

    Consumer Protection Staff/Agent

    Employee Assistance Program Staff

    Family Policy Advocate


    Resources for Public Policy and Advocacy Jobs:


  • Health Educator

    Health Services Analyst

    Outreach Worker

    Research Project Coordinator

    Program Analyst/ Evaluation Specialist

    Grants Management

    Environmental Health Specialist

    IRB/ Regulatory Manager

    Social Caseworker

    Food Assistance Specialist

    Nutrition Educator

    Hospital-based Family Support staff

    Child Life Specialist

    Holistic Health Center staff

    Veterans' Service Officer

    Assistant Behavior Analyst


    Resources for Public Health Jobs:

     

  • For information about becoming a teacher refer to Early Childhood Education and Childcare and Teaching Credentials and Master's Degrees in Education.

    Private Preschools

    Head Start

    Childcare Centers

    After School programming

    Teacher’s Aid/ Para-Educator

    Assistant Behavior Analyst

    Academic Tutor

    College Preparation Coach

    Resources for Education Jobs:


  • Elder Care Provider

    Bereavement Coordinator

    Veterans Service Officer

    Service Coordinator in Senior Housing/

    Senior Housing Service Director

    Adult Daycare Services

    Activities Coordinator in Senior Centers

    Senior Center Director

    Retirement Community Director

    Assisted Living Program Director

    Senior Advocate

    Group Home Worker

    Resources:

  • If you enjoyed your research classes, you might want to consider applying for research assistant jobs at organizations that conduct applied research related to issues like education, health, or workforce development.  It is possible to move up in such organizations based on work experience, although they also hire people with advanced degrees at higher salaries. Working as a research assistant can be good preparation for applying to research-oriented graduate programs.  Typically, in these jobs you might help collect, input, and analyze data. They’re looking for people with research experience beyond what you’ve learned in your classes; the easiest way to initially gain research assistant experience is by volunteering to help a professor with their research.  Sometimes they are looking for specific abilities such as knowledge of how to do statistical analyses, fluency in another language, and/or willingness to travel to a research site.

    IMPAQ International

    Center for Applied Research Solutions

  • California Department of Social Services

    Alameda County Department of Child Support Services

    Children’s Protective Services         

    California Association of Area Agencies on Aging

    California Department of Aging

    Health Departments (local, state or federal)

    Peace Corps

    Human Rights Organizations

    Immigration & Migrant Family Services

    Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)

    Non-profit Organizations (NPOs)

    Private foundations

    Community-based organizations