Create meaningful change for individuals and communities by understanding how culture, relationships, and systems shape the way people grow, learn, and develop across the lifespan.
What Is Human Development?
Human development examines the many factors—sociological, emotional, behavioral, biological, and psychological—that contribute to an individual’s growth and learning throughout their life. Encompassing a variety of disciplines, including biology, anthropology, history, genealogy, psychology, sociology, education, and religion, the field of human development understands growth to be a multifaceted process that can produce both negative and positive changes depending on conditions.
Your role as a human development student and professional will be learning to navigate the complex development of people, groups, organizations, and entire communities to better guide them toward positive and beneficial growth.
Human Development Programs at Pacific Oaks
Learn how you learn best; both the M.A. in Human Development and B.A. in Human Development programs are offered entirely online.
Master’s Programs in Human Development
The M.A. in Human Development program at Pacific Oaks College is an advanced study of how individuals, families, organizations, and communities grow and change within complex social systems.
Concentrations: Early Childhood Education and Development; Leadership in Education and Human Services; Social Change.
Bachelor’s Programs in Human Development
The B.A. in Human Development program at Pacific Oaks College focuses on the growth and development of youth, adolescents, adults, older adults, and their families within the social context in which that development occurs.
Concentrations: Child Development; Lifespan Development; Social Change.
What Can You Do With a Human Development Degree?
Graduates of our human development programs apply their training in people-centered roles across education, nonprofit organizations, human and social services, community-based initiatives, and mission-driven organizations.
Career outcomes vary based on degree level, experience, and professional goals.
B.A. in Human Development graduates are suited for:
- Nonprofit management
- Child care
- Teaching
- Community organizing
- Child welfare
- Elder care
M.A. in Human Development graduates are suited for leadership roles in:
- Organizational consulting
- Human resources
- Executive coaching
- Social services
- Agency administration
- Higher education
A Flexible, Applied Approach to Learning
The Pacific Oaks approach to learning is collaborative, reflective, and grounded in real-world experience.
- Flexible learning: Our B.A. and M.A. programs are offered online. Designed for working professionals, the programs offer full-time and part-time enrollment options, making it easier to balance coursework with professional and personal commitments.
- Emergent curriculum: Coursework is shaped by dialogue, shared inquiry, and real-world relevance, allowing you to contribute your perspective and experiences.
- Diverse learning community: You’ll learn alongside peers from various cultural, professional, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Experienced faculty: Courses are led by scholar-practitioners who bring applied insight into every lesson.
At Pacific Oaks, you can engage deeply in your studies while still balancing work, family, and other commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Considering how a Human Development degree might fit into your life? Here are a few questions prospective students often ask.