Such careers require a master's or doctoral degree, and students with these interests should plan their programs carefully with their advisers in order to be prepared to apply to graduate school programs. Admission to graduate school is highly selective and requires very strong academic credentials. It is advisable that students with career goals of this type combine human development with a minor or second major in psychology. Still others are interested in studying development within the context of the family, and they choose courses that will prepare them for careers such as parent educator, human services worker, family therapist or counselor, or childbirth instructor. Their undergraduate program is seen as preparation for graduate work in family and human development, marriage and family therapy, developmental psychology, and related areas.
Some jobs require master's degrees or doctoral-level preparation.
Program advisers can help students tailor their choice of electives to their individual career goals. In fact, an adviser can help to put together a program with any number of possibilities. One particular advantage of the human development program is the opportunity for undergraduate students to gain practical experience, and many work with faculty on independent research projects. Human development strives to educate students who are committed to and engaged in their communities. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship in an approved community agency.