Program Overview
The Human Development Undergraduate Minor provides a rigorous foundation in Human Development for students who wish to support their major field of study with knowledge of human growth and development across multiple domains and developmental stages, as well as knowledge related to principles of teaching and learning and/or who desire active participation in human development research under the supervision of Human Development faculty in laboratory settings.
“By studying human development, I am hoping to get to a point in which I can help advocate for young BIPOC children to get the education they deserve through creating programs that can help them.”
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
- Understand human growth and development across diverse domains and life stages.
- Develop critical thinking skills to analyze theories and research in human development.
- Apply knowledge to real-world challenges in education, healthcare, and public policy.
- Cultivate empathy and cultural competence for diverse populations.
Careers
Career Options
A minor in Human Development is valuable to advanced degrees and careers in many fields, including:
- Education: Teaching, educational administration, curriculum development
- Healthcare: Health education, patient advocacy, hospital administration
- Social Services: Case management, counseling, social work
- Public Policy: Policy analysis, advocacy, program management
- Psychology: Clinical psychology, counseling, research
- Law: Family law, mediation, legal advocacy
- Human Resources: Employee relations, training, organizational development
- Government Agencies: Program coordination, community outreach, public health
- Marketing & Communications: Market research, public relations, community engagement
- Medicine & Neuroscience: Doctor, research scientist
How to Apply
How to Apply
Application Process
Students interested in declaring a minor in Human Development should know the following:
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- The minor is capped at 300 students.
- Once all spaces are filled, applications will be held on a waitlist and students will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
You will be notified by email once their application has been reviewed and accepted.
Human Development Minor Application
Admission Requirements
Students with a 2.0 minimum grade point average may seek enrollment in the program, during which they must complete 15-24 credits of coursework. Only courses in which the student has earned a grade of "C-" or higher will count toward the minor.
Requirements
Program Requirements
This curriculum is designed to give you a solid introduction to human development concepts. In addition to required courses, you can choose courses from at least two of four focus areas:
- Cognitive
- Social
- Research
- Lifespan
The minor in Human Development requires:
- A minimum of 15 hours of course credit.
- A grade of "C-" or better in a given course for the course to be counted toward the minor.
- No more than three credits (one course) from another institution or department will be accepted for transfer credit into the HD minor.
- All students must take EDHD 200, EDHD 306*, and choose other courses from at least two of the following areas: Cognitive, Social, Research, and Lifespan
- FMSC Majors may substitute FMSC 302 for EDHD 306.
- PSYC Majors may substitute PSYC 300 for EDHD 306.
- NEUR Majors may substitute PSYC 300 for EDHD 306.
- Any Student who has taken FMSC 332 must choose a course other than EDHD 411 from the Lifespan Area.
- At least nine credits must be taken at the 300 or 400 level.
- Prior approval from Human Development must be obtained for any course other than FMSC 302 or PSYC 300.
Contact
Contact
For more information, please contact:
educminors@umd.edu
An advisor in the Office of Student Services, College of Education, will respond to your request for information. You may also visit the Office of Student Services in 1204 Benjamin Building for assistance.