Diploma in Human Development

The University of Waikato

Human Development investigates how people develop throughout their lives and how cultural and social settings help to shape what is possible.The Human Development programme explores the development of individuals, families, groups and communities throughout the human lifespan. It is important for those wishing to go into professions such as youth work, eldercare, social work, counselling and teaching. An understanding of human development is relevant to many other careers that involve working with or for people.Papers develop skills relevant to career objectives such as human relations, human services, programme planning, community liaison, counselling, policy and evaluation, administration of programs concerned with the family or other groups and research.Graduates gain a solid foundation in theory and research to understand and explain the development of people from the early years through to old age, have the ability to examine how different contexts influence people's lives, learning and behaviour, and are able to apply this knowledge to specific life situationHuman Development is available as a major and a graduate level subject in the following areas:Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Studies - School of Arts, School of Social Sciences and the School of EducationBachelor of Social Sciences - School of EducationIt may also be taken as a second major or as a supporting subject with other undergraduate degrees (subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies). Human Development papers also count towards Education and Teaching degrees.