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Adolescence

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

	QUICK JUMP
	Adolescence
	Requirements and Core Courses
	Careers in Adolescence Human Development
	Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation
	Scholarships and Financial Aid
	Related Fields of Study That May Interest You
	Contact Information

Adolescence

Adolescence is a specialty area within the human development major that prepares students for careers working with teens and youth. This area focuses on the complex ways in which adolescent development is influenced by biological, family, neighborhood, school, and community factors, and how this knowledge can be applied toward designing innovative and effective programs for young people and their families. • Offered at WSU: Bachelor of arts in human development with a specialty in adolescence, master of arts • Available at: Pullman

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Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a specialty in Adolescence REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINING PROGRAM Students can certify as a human development major after taking 24 credit hours and earning at least a 2.0 GPA. Students completing a bachelor of arts degree in human development are required to complete a certified minor or approved certificate of study in another department. Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate. REQUIRED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COURSES HD 201—Prenatal Through Age 8 HD 202—Middle Childhood Through Adolescence HD 203—Adulthood Through Older Years HD 204—Family Systems: Understanding Family Interaction HD 310—Research Approaches to Human Development HD 330—Professional Preparation HD 320—Resource Management and Problem Solving      or HD 420—Theories of Human Development HD 410—Public Policy Issues Impacting Families and Individuals HD 498—Field Placement REQUIRED COURSES FOR THE ADOLESCENCE SPECIALTY HD 302—Parent-Child Relationships HD 304—Intimate Relationships Across the Life Span HD 408—Advanced Adolescent Development Psych 230—Human Sexuality Soc 362—Juvenile Delinquency

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Careers in Adolescence Human Development

Human development graduates with an adolescence specialty are employed in community action centers, family support centers, adolescent counseling centers, residential treatment centers, juvenile correction programs, and other youth programs. Students are also prepared to pursue graduate education in family therapy and human development.

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Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation

• Desire to strengthen individuals, families, and communities • Interest in current social issues and policies that impact families or individual family members • Sensitivity to the valuable contributions and unique needs of all people • Desire to learn about the development of individuals, families, and communities • Desire to learn how a variety of educational approaches, social policies, and prevention/intervention strategies can influence the development of children, youth, and families

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Department of Human Development awarded more than $14,000 in scholarships for the 2001-02 academic year. Students in the program are also eligible to compete for the College of Agriculture and Home Economics’ Dean’s Merit Scholarship and for general University scholarships. Details regarding scholarship criteria are available on the CAHNRS and Human Development Web sites.

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Related Fields of Study That May Interest You

• Education • Psychology • Sociology • Criminal justice • Family studies • Family and consumer sciences teaching • Human development

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Contact Information

Department of Human Development

Washington State University PO Box 646236 Pullman, WA 99164-6236

rodgersk@wsu.edu

509-335-8439

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Strengths of the Program

• Focus on physical, social, cognitive, and affective development with an emphasis on development within the family.
• Gain a broad perspective on individual and family development through faculty from a range of disciplines and professional areas.
• Develop skills for working in a variety of human service and educational settings.
• Gain valuable career experiences during the final year of the program through a semester-long internship in an employment setting serving youth.

Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us