Human Development

Chair: Carl Fisher

Department Office: Liberal Arts 3 (LA3) - 202

Telephone: (562) 985‑4344
FAX: (562) 985‑4237
Website: http://www.cla.csulb.edu/departments/hdev/

Faculty: Lauren Heidbrink, Jeffrey P. Davis, Christine El Ouardani, Shelley J. Eriksen, Kimberly Kelly, H. Isabella Lanza, Beth Manke, Pamela Roberts, Heather Rae-Espinoza, Emily Schryer, Judith Stevenson

Administrative Support Coordinator: Wendy Lopez

Undergraduate Advisor: Rachna Soni

Career Possibilities

Elementary or Secondary School Teacher • Occupational Therapist • Physical Therapist • Parent Educator • Health Educator • Student Services • School Administration • Social Worker • Program Evaluator • Human Resources • Consumer Research • Health Administrator • Educational Counseling • Admissions or Academic Advising • Youth Program Specialist • Recreation Specialist • Community Organization Worker • Child Life Specialist • Training and Development Specialist • Senior Citizen Center Director • Gerontologist • Victim Witness Case Worker • Peace Corps Worker • Personnel Specialist • Teacher • Adoption Counselor • Marriage and Family Counselor • School Psychologist (Some of these, and other careers, require additional education or experience. For more information, see www.careers.csulb.edu.)

Introduction

The field of Human Development studies lifespan development within societal and cultural contexts. Accordingly, Human Development is interdisciplinary, examining development primarily from the perspectives of its component disciplines: Anthropology, Biology, Psychology and Sociology.

The department offers a B.A. in Human Development and supervises the Human/Child Development concentrations in the Liberal Studies Program. The B.A. allows students to choose from a wide variety of Foundation Area courses. Careful selection of Foundation courses allows students to make significant progress in a minor or certificate while completing the major. In addition to academic training, students are taught to apply their knowledge through a semester Practicum.

The faculty of Human Development are active researchers, who regularly include interested students in their research programs. Students who are considering graduate school have the opportunity to work as research assistants on a variety of projects and can help present the findings of those projects at professional conferences. Research experience of this type enhances the likelihood that students will be accepted into a graduate program.

The Human Development Student Association (HDSA) is an active student club open to all students enrolled in Human Development courses and has regularly scheduled meetings. HDSA activities are posted outside the department office.

For more information, visit the office (LA3-202) or visit the department website. Students who wish to major in Human Development should seek early advising from the Undergraduate Advisor.

Programs

• Human Development, B.A.

• Human Development Minor