Human Development Major

Exciting Curriculum

Students in the Human Development major study human growth and development from the complementary perspectives of psychology and sociology, with an emphasis on children and families in relation to culture. Human Development is the largest department at Wheelock and offers a broad array of courses.

Major Courses

A few of the many courses available to students include: Children and the Media; Language Development; Psychology of Gender; Studying the Social Worlds of Children; Theories of Emotional Development; Cognitive Development; Children and Families in American Culture; and Women, Culture, and Society.

Additional Degree Options

Students can major in Human Development with or without a professional concentration. A minor is also available in Psychology.

Professional Advantages

The Human Development major provides an excellent foundation for prospective teachers and each of the Wheelock human services professions. You will come to understand human development across the lifespan. The Human Development major provides the underpinnings for becoming a well-educated professional, leader, and citizen of the world.

Faculty Highlights

Faculty members in Human Development conduct research across a broad range of topics across different disciplines. Janine Bempechat studies achievement motivation; Emily Cahan specializes in the history of children and child psychology; Detris Adelabu specializes in school achievement; Tina Durand examines the relationship between culture and cognition; Gail Dines specializes in human development in relation to race, class, and culture; Petra Hesse focuses on the political lives of children and children and the media; Maya Honda specializes in language development; Eleonora Villegas-Reimers does research on moral development; Fran Waksler writes about the lives of children from children's perspectives; and Shirley Malone-Fenner specializes in post traumatic stress and child psychology. Faculty are actively involved in contributing to their fields, and many work with students engaged in undergraduate research.

Who You Can Become

Studying Human Development broadens your perspective on what it means to live, grow, and develop in different cultural contexts. In addition to working in the professions that Wheelock offers, some of our graduates have pursued careers in school psychology, clinical psychology, child advocacy, and many other professions that concern children and families.

Why Wheelock

Human Development is the largest and most diverse major at Wheelock. Because of our size we have many more faculty members teaching and doing research across a wide range of specialties in Human Development than other colleges. Human Development enjoys an excellent reputation as a major and relates directly to Wheelock's mission of improving the lives of children and families.

Contact Information:

For any questions or further information concerning this or any Wheelock College major or concentration, please contact:

Wheelock College
Undergraduate Admissions
200 The Riverway
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 879-2206
1-800-734-5212
undergrad@wheelock.edu
www.wheelock.edu