What Can You Do With a Human Lifespan Development Degree?

With a human lifespan development degree from Pacific Oaks College, you open the door to a variety of fulfilling career paths. Graduates often find opportunities in fields such as social work, counseling, education, organization consultation, and human resources. The skills and knowledge gained from this degree are applicable in professions that involve understanding and working with people across different life stages. For more detailed information, please read “5 Careers for a B.A. in Human Development Degree.”

How Long Does It Take to Complete the Human Development Across Lifespan Program?

The duration of the B.A. Human Development program at Pacific Oaks College typically depends on the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time) and any transfer credits applied. Generally, completing the required 120 credits takes about four years for full-time students. However, with our Credit for Learning from Experience Units, students may have the opportunity to accelerate this timeline.

Are the Lifespan Human Development Courses Offered Online?

Yes, Pacific Oaks College offers the flexibility of pursuing the Lifespan Human Development bachelor's degree both on-campus and online. Our online courses are designed to provide the same level of engagement and learning as our on-campus programs, ensuring that students have access to quality education regardless of their location.

What Is the Active Learning Across the Lifespan Concentration?

The Active Learning Across the Lifespan concentration in the Human Lifespan Development program focuses on understanding the continuous process of growth and change that occurs from infancy to old age. This concentration is particularly beneficial for those interested in careers that involve working with individuals at different stages of their lives.

Are There Any Special Requirements for Admission to the Human Development Program?

Applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Human Development program must meet the general admission requirements of Pacific Oaks College. These include a minimum high school GPA, submission of all relevant transcripts, and a personal statement.

What Scholarship and Grant Options are Available for Students in the Human Development Across Lifespan Program?

At Pacific Oaks College, we offer a variety of scholarships and grants to support our students financially. These include Institutional Scholarships for new students and Donor Scholarships for current and active students.. Additionally, students may be eligible for federal and state grants, such as Pell Grants, FSEOG, and Cal Grants, based on financial need.nnFor more detailed information on eligibility, application processes, and deadlines, please visit our Scholarships and Grants page.

B.A. Human Development | Online Human Development Degree

Explore Human Development Across the Lifespan

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. You will study the foundational knowledge for human development, including typical and diverse developmental pathways, across the entire lifespan.

Applied learning is a key component of the human development bachelor’s degree programs at Pacific Oaks. Supervised fieldwork is intentionally built into our curriculum, offering you the chance to gain hands-on training in a community-based setting that aligns with your academic interests and professional goals.

The B.A. in Human Development degree is ideal for those drawn to people-centered, community-focused work, as well as those planning to pursue graduate study.

Choose Your Concentration

Focus your studies on specific populations, developmental stages, or social and community systems by choosing one of three available concentrations: Child Development, Lifespan Development, or Social Change.

Child Development Concentration

The Child Development Concentration focuses on how children grow and develop during the earliest stages of life, emphasizing the role family, culture, diversity, and community play in shaping children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.

This concentration is well suited for students interested in working with children in community, early learning, and human services settings. Upon completion, graduates of this concentration may qualify for the Child Development Permit at the Site Supervisor level under Option 2, in accordance with other state requirements.

Lifespan Development Concentration

The Lifespan Development Concentration employs a whole-life perspective, exploring how people grow, adapt, and change from birth to death. Rather than focusing on a single age group, this concentration explores patterns of continuity and transition throughout the entire lived experience.

Students who want a flexible, generalist foundation in human development and are interested in working with diverse populations across all age groups will find this concentration to be a strong fit.

Social Change Concentration

Human development is shaped not only by individual experience but also by the systems and structures that surround it. The Social Change Concentration examines how social, political, and cultural forces influence development and how communities can work collectively to create more just and equitable conditions.

Students explore how policy, institutions, and historical context affect individuals and groups, with particular attention to power, privilege, and structural inequality. This concentration is ideal for students who wish to acquire the skills to create and implement large-scale social change in organizations, schools, communities, and society at large.

Flexible Learning Options

The B.A. in Human Development program is offered online with full-time and part-time options available, giving you the flexibility to balance your education with work, family, and other responsibilities.

Multiple start terms throughout the year, including fall, spring, and summer, make it easier to begin or continue your studies on a timeline that works for you.

Sarah Crane
Alumna, B.A. in Human Development

Alumna Sarah Crane was recognized by the California Legislature as a Woman of the Year for her work supporting at-risk and homeless populations.

Learn more about Sarah.

Curriculum

The sample courses below offer a preview of the B.A. in Human Development program’s core curriculum and concentrations. Visit our Academic Catalog to review the entire curriculum.

Core Courses

Early Childhood Themes and Life Cycle Issues: Explore key developmental themes that emerge in early childhood and recur across the lifespan, including attachment, autonomy, accomplishment, and failure.

Social and Political Contexts of Human Development: Examine how social, economic, and political systems shape human development and individual identity.

Human Development - The Elder Years: Investigate later adulthood through developmental theory and lived experience. Consider shifting demographics, caregiving, and social perceptions of aging while exploring challenges and opportunities in later life.

Child Development Concentration Courses

The Earliest Years: Examine early childhood development from birth to age three, with emphasis on trust, autonomy, sensory-motor exploration, and the foundations of language and play.

Developing Anti-Bias Curriculum - Teaching Our Values to Our Children: Analyze how attitudes related to race, gender, culture, ability, and class shape learning environments while developing strategies for inclusive, developmentally appropriate practice and early advocacy.

Lifespan Development Concentration Courses

Play Across the Lifespan: Explore play as a key aspect of human development from infancy through adulthood.

Working with Adults: Investigate adult development and effective approaches to working with adults in educational, professional, and community settings.

Social Change Concentration Courses

Education for Critical Consciousness: Study how educators working with marginalized communities use passion, lived experience, and social context to shape learning, relationships, and moral development.

Human Development and Social Change: Examine the relationship between personal growth and social transformation during times of national and global stress. Use storytelling, the arts, and action research to design a project that proposes meaningful change within an organization, community, or public institution.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the B.A. in Human Development program is open to applicants who meet the requirements outlined below. Applicants are evaluated on their overall ability to successfully complete an undergraduate degree program, based on the following:

Completed application and $55 application fee
Personal statement
Identification verification
Acceptable proof of academic history
Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Pacific Oaks College
Work or Volunteer Experience Summary showing three or more years of significant professional or life experience OR an official transcript confirming 24 transferrable credits from an institutionally accredited institution with a grade of C or better

Applicants with less than 24 credits of transferrable college coursework who do not demonstrate three years of significant professional or life experience outlined on their Work or Volunteer Experience Summary, are required to submit additional documentation:

One letter of support from someone (a non-relative) familiar with your ability to be successful in this program
An additional essay (500-750 words). In your essay, please answer the following questions:
- What life and professional experience do you possess that would enable you to be successful in the Pacific Oaks classroom focused on application of experience to course content?
- Why it is important to you to study this discipline at a school that emphasizes social justice, cultural humility, and respect for every individual (refer to the Mission and Vision statement of Pacific Oaks College)?
Interview with a member of the Admissions Committee

For details about the qualifying academic history, visit Pacific Oaks Admissions.

Graduates of the B.A. in Human Development program are prepared for people-centered, community-based roles and for further study in graduate programs. Career paths may vary based on your chosen concentration and professional goals.

B.A. in Human Development Career Outcomes

Nonprofit management
Child care
Teaching
Community organizing
Child welfare
Elder Care

Pathway to a Master’s Degree

Interested in pursuing an M.A. in Human Development or an M.A. in Marriage Family Therapy after earning your B.A.? There’s no need to wait! You can begin graduate-level coursework while completing your undergraduate degree at Pacific Oaks.

Through this pathway, eligible students may complete up to two master’s-level courses at undergraduate tuition. Those credits will then be applied to the master’s degree upon acceptance into that program.

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“I have always been curious about human behavior and driven by an urge to care for others. These passions inspired me to pursue a career in psychology, but I have found the work of educating students most fulfilling. It has become my identity. I experience no greater reward than seeing my students fulfill their dreams.”

Terry Webster, Ph.D.
Department Chair, Social Work and Human Development

Explore more Human Development faculty at Pacific Oaks.

B.A. in Human Development

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