Why study family and human development at the Sanford School?
As a Family and Human Development major, you’ll participate in classes on fascinating topics such as development through the lifespan, intimate relationships, and family functioning. You’ll learn about healthy personal and relationship functioning, find creative solutions for problems affecting individuals and families, and prepare for a career path in your choice of fields, including healthcare, education, social services, family law and research/advocacy.
Alumni perspectives
How can I use Family and Human Development?
When you graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and skills needed to be a competitive applicant to graduate school or land a job in diverse fields including social work, community service, counseling and law. No matter your career path, the skills you'll gain in our school will allow you to adapt throughout your life and change the world for the better.
Direct care:
- Counseling
- Psychotherapy
- Applied behavior analysis
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Case management
- Mental health services
Direct care (continued):
- Physical health and wellness
- Crisis work
- Rehabilitation services (e.g., speech, physical, vocational therapies)
- Performance enhancement
- Testing/Assessment
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Law enforcement
Administration:
- Advocacy
- Programming
- Community relations
- Management
- Development/Fundraising
- Grant writing
Immerse yourself in engaging and topical courses
- Human Development Through the Lifecourse
- Modern Family Relationships
- Childhood Disorders and Family Functioning
- Early Childhood Intervention
- Family Ethnic and Cultural Diversity
- Careers in Family and Human Development
- Adolescence
- Infants and Toddlers in the Family
- The School-Aged Child
- Human Sexuality
- Aging Through the Lifecourse
Research opportunities
In the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, your experiences are not limited to the classroom. Our students are contributing to innovative research, holding internships, working with the children in our Child Development Lab, and taking part in community-based projects — such as the Sanford Student Leaders Club — with prominent faculty who are committed to mentoring students.
The Child Development Lab
The Child Development Lab (CDL) plays an integral role in the university's threefold mission of teaching, research, and service. Licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services, the CDL provides a unique opportunity for early childhood professionals to gain real-world experience while helping children and families participate in safe, child-centered research studies conducted by faculty and graduate students.
Center for Child and Family Success (CCFS)
The CCFS is an interdisciplinary research center focused on producing pioneering research on the structures and processes that impact daily life for children and families in a rapidly evolving world.
Internships
Internships are a great way to earn college credit while developing skills for the global workforce. If you want to enhance your resume with on-the-job experience, apply for an internship in your field of study.