The Human Development in Context (HDC) program examines how people develop, influence, and shape their social settingsfamilies, communities, educational institutions, and the workplaceacross their lifespan. HDC courses focus on theories of individual and family development, the local and global dynamics of learning, and cognition, social relations, and policy. This interdisciplinary program draws from current and actionable theory, research, and practice from areas as diverse as psychology, sociology, intercultural studies, gender studies, economics, and policy science.
HDC students learn flexible ways of thinking and working with people to better understand development at every stage of life and across diverse contexts. All HDC students complete a one-quarter practicum internship for academic credit during their junior year to apply the skills they developed in the classroom. The program is offered year-round.
Our graduates can step into many different fields and professions. Students often begin working in human resources, customer success management, curriculum development, psychological research, teaching/education, social work, crisis intervention, outreach, and community education.