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.
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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
Child development internship
All child development students complete an internship at the Oregon State University Child Development Center while earning college credit.
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*
Jennifer Macias Morris, ’11
Jennifer says that earning her degree in human development and family sciences enabled her to learn about the different stages of development with children and the ability to understand how relationships work within diverse communities.
Jennifer was recently recognized as one of America’s 20 most inspiring educators.
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.
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.
- Early childhood (OSU-Cascades campus only)
- General option (also available 100% online through Ecampus)
- Human services
- HDFS online
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.