By enrolling in an undergraduate degree program in a field such as family studies or child development, individuals can start their journey toward joining this growing workforce and making a difference in the lives of children and families. 

3 Careers in Human Development and Family Studies 

Jobs in human development and family studies are meaningful careers that impact the lives of individuals, couples and families. An education in human development and family studies can lead to a wide range of professions. Jobs that focus on child development include child life specialist, adoption counselor, early childhood interventionist, preschool director and community service manager. Jobs that focus on family studies include family life educator, advocacy agent, caseworker, marriage counselor and senior center director. 

The three careers below are common outcomes for individuals with a background in human development and family studies. The median annual salaries and expected growth rates for the roles are based on 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Social and Community Service Manager 

Social and community service managers work with community members, organization leaders and other stakeholders to identify the needs of a certain population. They develop and implement a program to address these needs, teach the public about the program through outreach efforts, write proposals to secure funding and evaluate the program for effectiveness. 

The skills needed to become a social and community service manager include the following: 

• Managerial: These managers spend much of their time overseeing other workers and must be good delegators and motivators. 

• Analytical: These managers must be able to analyze their programs for effectiveness to demonstrate their value to the community, stakeholders and organizations that may help fund the program. 

• Communication: These managers need to be good public speakers and communicators to participate in outreach efforts. 

• Multitasking: These managers often wear many different hats and must be able to effectively pivot between tasks and projects, especially when working with a smaller organization. 

Social and community service managers typically need a bachelor’s degree in a field such as social services, social work, public policy, child development or family studies. As this role is managerial, work experience in community projects is required, such as in social work or counseling. Some employers may require a master’s degree.  

A social and community service manager’s salary and job outlook are as follows: 

• Median annual salary (2024): $78,240, higher than the national average wage 

• Career growth rate (2024-2034): 6 percent, outpacing the national average 

Marriage and Family Therapist 

Marriage and family therapist is a human development and family studies job that allows mental health professionals to work with individuals, couples and families of all kinds to identify and address their emotional, behavioral and psychological needs in the context of relationships. These therapists meet with clients to discuss their family systems, evaluate how these relationships impact their mental health and develop unique treatment plans. 

The skills needed to become a marriage and family therapist include the following: 

• Empathy: These therapists must be empathetic to clients who may be struggling with difficult situations. 

• Interpersonal: These therapists must be able to help people of all backgrounds create and maintain healthy, fruitful relationships. 

• Administrative: These therapists must maintain clear records of patient interactions, track payments and share the proper records with insurance companies, especially those in private practice. 

• Communication: These therapists need to be strong and adaptive communicators who can convey treatment plans to clients with diverse needs. 

Marriage and family therapists start learning these skills through undergraduate programs in fields such as psychology, human development or family studies. They also need to: 

• Earn a master’s degree in psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related field 

• Complete supervised clinical work 

• Obtain a state-specific license as a marriage and family therapist 

• Pass a state-recognized exam 

• Complete annual continuing education classes 

A marriage and family therapist’s salary and job outlook are as follows:  

• Median annual salary (2024): $63,780, higher than the national average wage 

• Career growth rate (2024-2034): 13 percent, much faster than the national average 

School Counselor 

School counselors help students reach their academic, social or career goals. They work with students to identify challenges in their current success plan, such as chronic absenteeism. The goal of a school counselor is to set students on a path to success in all facets of their academic career. They typically work in high school settings, though they may also be found at lower grade levels. 

The skills needed to become a school counselor include the following: 

• Analytical: These counselors need to be able to interpret a wide variety of student records to better advise the student and their needs. 

• Empathy: These counselors must be compassionate and patient because high school can be a challenging time socially, emotionally and academically. 

• Listening: These counselors must be good listeners to ensure that they’re properly giving students the care they need. 

• Collaboration: These counselors work with parents, teachers and administrators to ensure that students receive the attention and advice they need to succeed. 

Becoming a school counselor requires a bachelor’s degree in child development, family studies, psychology or a related field. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, a school counselor needs: 

• A master’s degree in school counseling or a related field 

• A state-issued credential, which may be called a certification, license or endorsement, depending on the state 

• To complete an internship or practicum under the supervision of a licensed school counselor 

• To complete a state-specific test 

• An active teaching license or, in some cases, classroom teaching experience 

A school counselor’s salary and job outlook are as follows: 

• Median annual salary (2024): $65,140, higher than the national average wage 

• Career growth rate (2024-2034): 4 percent, about as fast as the average 

Make a Difference for Children and Families With SEMO Online 

The number of human development and family studies jobs is on the rise, making now an ideal time to transition to this impactful field. With SEMO Online’s Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies: Family Studies and Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies: Child Development programs, students learn from industry leaders to prepare them for impactful careers in child development, social work, therapy and beyond. 

SEMO Online’s undergraduate program in family studies is an accredited Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) program, overseen by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Students in this program gain a deep understanding of diverse family structures and real-world experience through placement in agencies and programs serving children and families of all kinds. 

Through SEMO Online’s undergraduate program in child development, students learn about the stages of development, from conception to adolescence. They follow one of two track options: administrative or child and youth services, preparing them for various human development and family studies jobs. With this unique degree program’s stackable degree path, students can earn their associate degree in child care and guidance while working toward their bachelor’s degree at no extra cost. 

Set children and families on the path to success with SEMO Online.