Child Development
HDFS Undergraduate Option
Help children reach their full potential
Corvallis Campus
Study child development to help children thrive
With the child development option, within the human development and family sciences major at Oregon State, you’ll learn how to help children reach their full potential and to support their development in early childhood settings.
Sample child development courses
- Children and youth with disabilities
- Families and poverty
- Family, school and community collaboration
- Family policy
- Fostering learning in early childhood development
With the child development option, you’ll ...
- Learn about different stages of development, from infancy to adulthood.
- Develop a strong foundation for a career in early childhood programs or classrooms.
- Learn strategies for supporting young children’s development in early childhood settings
Your experience as a HDFS undergrad student
Learn alongside curious peers and faculty while building the real-world skills needed to lead change and promote healthier lives.
Internships
With an internship built into the program, you’ll gain valuable experience and practical skills before you graduate.
Careers in early child development
Once you graduate, you will be prepared to pursue careers in early childhood programs or classrooms.
Or, you may opt for graduate school in education, special education, human development and family sciences, psychology and other areas related to child development.
Study child development to become:
*These roles may require post-baccalaureate/graduate/professional education to qualify.
- Behavioral support specialist
- Child care coordinator
- Early interventionist*
- Early childhood policy advocate
- Elementary teacher—early grades*
- Family support worker
- Head Start teacher
- Home visitor
- Pediatrician*
- Pediatric nurse*
- Preschool teacher
- Speech and language pathologist*
- Special educator*
How to become a teacher
With a double degree in HDFS and Education, you can earn dual licensure at the pre-kindergarten and elementary school levels. You can choose one of these paths:
- Prekindergarten options
- Licensure options, including Pre-K/Elementary, in Oregon
- Early Childhood Special Education/Elementary Special Education Options
Be sure to meet with your advisor to discuss these options.
HDFS undergrad major options
Explore other human development and family sciences major options.
Select an option that matches your interests and career goals, whether it’s working with children or seniors, or providing services for families and communities.
Child development option
Corvallis campus
With the child development option, you’ll learn how to help children reach their full potential and to support their development in early childhood settings.
Human services option
Corvallis campus Ecampus OSU-Cascades
With the human services degree option you’ll help individuals, families and communities survive and thrive.
Early childhood option
OSU-Cascades
The early childhood option prepares students to promote lifelong development, learning, and well-being of children and families.
HDFS undergraduate minor
Corvallis campus Ecampus OSU-Cascades
Add the human development and family sciences minor to learn how people change across their lifespan within the contexts of families, schools and communities.
Accelerated Master's: Applied Behavioral Health
Corvallis campus
The accelerated master’s in applied behavioral health lets you begin graduate-level coursework while still an undergrad — saving you time and money as you work toward your MS in human development and family studies.
Minors and certificates
Corvallis campus Ecampus OSU-Cascades
A health minor or certificate will give you unique skills and perspectives on how to ensure health and well-being for all — in any future career.
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“HDFS teaches you how to turn [our differences] into tools for connection, healing and change. This major gave me space to reflect, to heal and to develop a sense of purpose. I found mentors in my professors who took time to meet with me, challenge me and remind me that I had something valuable to offer.”
Lexi Geampa, '25
Assistant teacher, OSU Child Development Center
Contact us
Have questions about classes, clubs or campus life? Our peer ambassadors are happy to help. Call or email them.
For program or admissions info, email the College of Health recruitment team.