Students select course work according to their interests in human development, such as infancy, early childhood or adolescence, or family studies, such as the marital relationship, parent-child interaction, family change or conflict and conflict management in the family. Basic courses in these areas are linked to practical experiences in educational and community settings, and most courses emphasize issues related to cultural diversity and gender. 

Students select one of two concentrations within this major: Child and Adolescent Development or Family Studies. Completion of the Family Studies option may qualify some graduates for provisional certification as a Family Life Educator by the National Council on Family Relations