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Human Development and Family Science Minor

Improve the quality of life for individuals and families when you pair your undergraduate degree with a minor in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Central Missouri. If you plan to work with children or families, this minor will help you understand the social and behavioral sciences related to human development and family science so you’re ready to administer programs that serve diverse populations.

Advocate for justice and promote the development of children and families in public and private arenas. Whether you want to work with individuals one-on-one or lead change through program and policy development, our program equips you for a career in which you can have a direct impact in your community.

Complementary majors 

Knowledge of human development and interpersonal relationships is applicable to a variety of fields. Our Human Development and Family Science minor would especially complement majors such as:

  • Business: Understand children and families as consumers
  • Criminal Justice and Criminology: Serve your community through helping youth within the justice system
  • Education: Create programming to support child development and relationship-building
  • Nursing: Provide developmentally appropriate care
  • Psychology: Better understand family dynamics and how interpersonal relationships affect development.

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Highly ranked program

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Complements various majors

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Tailored to your interests

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On-campus and online courses

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Program-specific student organizations

 

 

What you will study

The University of Central Missouri offers a comprehensive curriculum to give you foundational and practical knowledge in the field. You’ll take core courses on child and family development and relationships. The remaining program courses are electives that you can select based on your interests, such as divorce, youth culture and health issues. Some of our most popular courses include:

  • Child and Adolescent Development: Get an introduction to major theories and research on child and adolescent development. You’ll learn the dynamic forces underlying growth and change, such as physical, cognitive and psychosocial development.
  • Family Systems and Lifespan Development: Study family relationships and human development with a focus on change over the course of the family life cycle. You’ll complete a family genogram — a graphic representation of the patterns and psychological factors that affect relationships.
  • Addiction and the Family: Learn about various addictions, with an emphasis on substance use disorders and their effect on individuals, families and communities. You’ll participate in support group and community agency visits.
  • Resilience in Children and Adolescents: Study selected theories and research on situations that place children and adolescents at risk for emotional, behavioral and academic problems. In addition, you’ll discuss research on stress/coping and resilience.

 

Excellence in Human Development and Family Science

  • A Best Value School based on academic quality and cost of attendance (U.S. News & World Report, 2022)
  • #5: Best Child Development Degree Program based on flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost and reputation (Intelligent.com, 2022)
  • A Plains States Region, Most Focused College for Human Development & Family Studies (College Factual, 2022)
  • Top 15%: Most Popular College for Child Development ranked (College Factual, 2022)
  • Top 15%: Most Popular College for Human Development & Family Studies (College Factual, 2022)

 

Unique learning opportunities in human development and family science

The University of Central Missouri’s Human Development and Family Science minor offers a comprehensive curriculum rooted in sound theoretical framework and contemporary research, hands-on professional learning experiences with children and families in varied settings, strong support and valuable guidance and leadership opportunities.

In addition to classroom experiences, you’ll learn and grow through extracurricular opportunities such as student organizations. Through these activities, you can socialize and learn with peers and build your professional network. Central’s Society for Child and Family Development, Children in Health Care and Medical Play, Recovery Central and Pre-Marriage and Family Therapy are some of the student organizations we offer.

 

What can you do with a minor in Human Development and Family Science from UCM?

After finishing a minor in Human Development and Family Science, along with a bachelor’s degree, many of our graduates go on to pursue graduate degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Mental Health and Human Development and Family Science. If you plan to enter the job market right after earning your undergraduate degree, you’ll be well-suited for a career in a variety of settings, such as:

  • Childcare centers
  • Churches
  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Shelters
  • Government agencies

Explore careers related to human development and family science

Use the tool below to explore career pathways related to human development and family science. Explore income potential, projected job growth and related employment data.

 

 
 


 

Financial assistance options for your Human Development and Family Science minor

The University of Central Missouri offers multiple ways for you to finance your college education through scholarships, work-study opportunities, grants and awards. In addition to our already low tuition, 94% of UCM undergraduates receive financial aid. In fact, UCM has been ranked as a top overall university nationally for low student debt by LendEDU.

In addition to the scholarships available through the university, many program-specific scholarships are available based on your undergraduate major and academic achievements. Check with your bachelor’s degree program to learn about scholarships available or for assistance in finding external scholarships related to your industry. You can learn more about program-specific scholarships with the .

 

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Explore programs related to human development and family science. 
 

Explore different perspectives and applications of human development and relationships with one of our other minors:

 

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UCM's Human Development and Family Science program is a National Council on Family Relations Certified Family Life Educator approved program. When you pursue a minor in Human Development and Family Science at UCM, you are on the path to earning your Certified Family Life Educator credential. 

 

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