Human Development, M.A.
Program Description
This 30-hour Master of Arts (MA) degree in Human Development offers a holistic approach to understanding human behavior and interactions, offering students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of themselves and others. Students will learn about human development across the lifespan, including how individuals are influenced physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially, and morally. This degree would be advantageous for students who are wishing to work in the helping profession or who hold positions that require the utilization of interpersonal skills. This program will assist in the preparation for employment in human resources, community support programs, non-profit agencies serving children, adolescents, and adults with special needs, and a variety of additional settings ranging from coaching to criminal justice.
Program Objectives:
1. To provide students desiring to attend a Christian university with an opportunity to earn a master’s degree in human development that will allow for them to apply knowledge gained in a variety of employment settings.
2. To provide introduction to counseling/helping skills that can be used in jobs that emphasize understanding of human relationships.
3. To offer opportunities for personal and professional growth for students to develop themselves as persons equipped to work in setting that emphasize knowledge of human behavior.
Potential Employment Opportunities
• Coaching positions in colleges and universities
• Administration and program development positions in community agencies such as residential treatment centers
• Sexual abuse prevention educators
• Organization and management of volunteer programs (after school programs, mentors, Big Brothers/Sisters)
• Senior centers and assisted living facilities
• Health promotion educators
• Business settings requiring excellent interpersonal skills
• Behavior technicians in school settings
• Employment settings that reward the completion of a graduate degree
Course Schedule
Note: By action of the Graduate Council and graduate faculty, all students must have a minimum of 50% of their curriculum in 6000 level courses.
| Fall |
May |
| COHD 6315 Human Growth and Development |
CCMF 6356 Cultural and Community Counseling |
| COHD 6365 Assessment in Professional Counseling I |
|
| COHD 6335 Professional Counseling I |
|
| CCMF 6358 Vocational Dev/Choice |
|
| Spring |
Summer |
| COHD 6330 Psychology of Mental Health |
CCMF 6360 Addictions |
| COHD 6353 Counseling with Couples and Families |
|
| COHD 6320 Psychological Aspects of Adult Development |
|
| CCMF 6304 Basic Skills & Techniques in Counseling |
|
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the MA degree in Human Development, a candidate must hold or be near completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The candidate would need a required 2.7 GPA overall or a 3.0 GPA in all upper level undergraduate work to be considered for full admission. No GRE scores are required. Seniors currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree from Hardin Simmons University may apply for early admission through requesting EAGL admission status to the MAHD program. If granted, students may complete a maximum of 6 semester hours towards the MS degree in Human Development during their final undergraduate semester.
Transfer Information
Students with prior graduate work that meets University transfer requirements may make a request that up to 12 hours be transferred. The request must be approved by the Program Director, as courses must be considered equivalent to required program courses.
Curriculum for 30 hour MA program:
10 Required Courses:
Total Credit Hours: 30