The 20 Best Online Schools for Bachelor's in Family and Human Development for 2023

Are you passionate about serving others and looking out for their welfare? An online Bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Development prepares you for the complexities of the discipline.

On the bachelor’s level, this online degree program explores the dynamics between and among individuals, families, schools, and communities. Typically, Family and Human Development degree holders are proficient in the principles of child development, adolescence, marriage, and parenthood.

Delivered online, the Family and Human Development degree program is a viable option for individuals who seek to earn the degree without disrupting their work and other commitments. Online degree options feature a rigorous curriculum that is no different from on-campus programs, but adult students can take advantage of the flexible format and remote access to the coursework.

In an online Family and Human Development degree program, students gain foundational knowledge on the concepts of family, community, and community. A bachelor’s degree is sufficient for jobs such as childcare director, counselor, social worker, and social service assistant.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting a projected 9% growth in demand in these occupations by 2028. Degree holders that took on professional social worker careers are paid an average of $50,390 per annum.

Page Jumps!

Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development
Frequently Asked Questions

METHODOLOGY

We researched the country’s 20 Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development, emphasizing their coursework and course topics and online program features.

Our list consists of duly accredited colleges, universities, and academic institutions that offer generous transfer credits, and low tuition. In employing faculty members who are experts in the discipline, the schools take pride in the quality of online instruction provided to distance learning students.

Listed in random order, our 20 Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development also highlights the following points:

Provides challenging skills and coursework to become proficient in the field of Family and Human Development through 100% Online learning format,
Affordable Financial Aid options,
Advocates for the betterment of the lives of children and the family unit,
Instructs students on how to make assessments, develop treatment plans, recognize cognitive skills, as well as, build relationships and provide service providers, when needed,
Promotes diversity through cultural sensitivity, intervention strategies, excellent written and oral communication skills, in addition to, respect of the legal and ethical issues pertaining to Family and Human Development,
Students graduate prepared for entry-level positions as a Behavioral Health Specialist, Child Welfare Specialist, Substance Abuse Counselor, Autism Specialist, Juvenile Corrections, or as an advocate for youth or senior adults, as well as many other options,
Networking opportunities through internships, alumni contacts, and career advisors who specialize in the field of Family and Human Development,
Ease of transfer credits into an online Master’s degree program,
Properly Accredited.

For an in-depth look, please see our Methodology page.

**********

Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University has a dedicated platform intended for international students and adult learners who want to earn a degree at their own pace without sacrificing living and working conditions. Interested students can look into SNHU’s online Bachelor of Arts in Human Services with Child and Family Services concentration.

This is 120-credit-hour coursework that covers topics from:

Child Growth and Cognitive Development,
Sociology of Social Problems,
Law and Ethics in Human Services,
to Human Services Organizational Systems.

Previous work experience may be required for enrollment in this course. The school accepts up to 90 transferable credits.

University of Alabama

Hailed as one of the best schools for a fully online Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies: concentration in Child Life, the University of Alabama offers the web-based degree through its Bama By Distance program.

Students of this top-ranking public university may choose from two concentrations:

child life specialists
and child development practitioner.

It is a 120-credit-hour program with fees averaging $364 per hour.

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

Recognized by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is home to 100,000 students attending classes in 24 campuses. To cater to distance and adult learners, the PSU-World Campus covers over 150 degrees and certification programs.

One of its top offerings is the online Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies that students may complete at their own pace. This is a 120-credit course that costs about $555 per credit. Students may be required to complete hours of fieldwork at local agencies, as their specific course may require.

San Diego Christian College

Individuals leaning towards counseling, human resources, and social services may want to look into San Diego Christian College’s Bachelor of Arts in Human Development Degree. This course is delivered on a cohort-based online learning approach for remote students who are required to attend five-week classes with 123-credit hour coursework.

The four-year curriculum covers topics on Motivation and Learning, Lifespan Development, Counseling Theory, and Crisis Intervention. Overall, the online degree at San Diego Christian College costs $34,310.

Oregon State University

Oregon State University is a Corvallis-based school that, through the College of Public Health and Human Sciences, the university delivers the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences degree program online.

This is a 180-credit degree program that touches on problem-solving, writing, and critical thinking skills that are relevant to the discipline. Online students can opt for a minor in public health or sociology.

This undergraduate degree allows them to pursue graduate programs in:

Social Work,
Education,
Counseling,
and Psychology.

Hope International University

The Bachelor of Science in Human Development online program at Hope International University is available for students who want to earn a degree at their own pace. Students with psychology and counseling background can choose from two concentrations:

Community Mental Health
and Counseling or Family Studies.

The courses are delivered from a Christian perspective, which is why Christian worldview, contemporary living, and history subjects are incorporated into the coursework. Remote students at Hope International University pay $21,437 in tuition costs.

De Angela J. Smith speaking on her experience earning her BA in Human Development from HIU.

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

The Fort Collins campus of Colorado State University offers students the opportunity to earn an entirely web-based Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies degree. This flexible curriculum consists of 120 required credits and comes in five concentrations:

Leadership and Entrepreneurial Professions,
Prevention and Intervention Sciences,
Human Development and Family Studies,
and Pre-Health Professions.

Graduates of this degree often find a fulfilling career in the fields of long-term care facilities, social services, and corrections.

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Located in Menomonie, University of Wisconsin-Stout is a polytechnic institution offering some of the best online platforms for global students. UW-Stout online B.S in Human Development and Family Studies is a 120-credit program that allows students to pick their concentration or combine disciplines that are complementary.

Students may expect to graduate from this course within two years on full-time study. Through the National Council on Family Relations, graduates of this course will instantly become a family life educator.

Stephen F. Austin State University

The online Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences: Human Development and Family Studies at the Stephen F. Austin State University is a convenient platform for those who have previously earned a degree from SFASU and other accredited institutions.

The online program’s curriculum involves topics such as:

consumer problems,
infant and child development,
family communication,
family life education,
family communication and parenting.

Students, who complete their internship requirements before graduation, pay $7,716 in tuition.

University of Arizona

Based in Tucson, the University of Arizona is home to some of the best academic degrees for various disciplines. As part of the school’s innovative efforts to bridge the school across the globe using technology, UA runs an online Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Development degree program.

This is a per-credit tuition program that is affordable than out-of-state tuition expenses. Students can finish the course within four years when they satisfy the pre-major prerequisites to start with the upper-division program.

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Students looking to take advantage of flexible academic schedules while earning a degree can look into Concordia University. Specially designed for professionals and distant learners, interested students looking for a fulfilling profession in counseling and work involving family dynamics may want to take advantage of the fully online Bachelor of Arts in Family Science.

This is a 40-credit hour program with two tracks: certified and non-certified. Students opting for the certified route will immediately become an accredited Family Life Educator. General education pre-requisites are required prior enrollment for interested students.

North Dakota State University

Fargo-based North Dakota State University delivers online degree programs through their Distance and Continuing Education, including the 100% online degree Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science.

Students can choose from three concentrations namely:

Adult Development and Aging,
Child and Adolescent Development,
and Family Science.

Upon completion, students earn 20 core credits. They also need to comply with hands-on practicum requirement of completing five-credit field work.

California State University-East Bay

California State University-East Bay offers an online platform for individuals interested to major in Human Development and Women’s Studies. The online undergraduate degree is intended for community college students with full-time jobs.

Students can choose from five 10-12-unit concentrations to complete their major namely:

Early Childhood Development,
Childhood Development,
Adolescent Development,
Adult Development and Gerontology,
and Women’s Development.

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Based in Rexburg, Brigham Young University-Idaho is home to 33,000 online students. The university’s holistic-based curriculum is the essential element to its Bachelor of Science in Marriage and Family Studies program.

This online degree prepares students for managerial positions in:

victim support services,
nursing homes,
and family resource centers.

This is a 120-credit coursework that also requires students to complete an internship in their home location.

Eastern Kentucky University

The Bachelor of Arts in Child and Family Studies degree program being offered by Eastern Kentucky University can be completed online. The online undergraduate degree is delivered in coursework that combines the latest research and the best practices in child development for students’ academic as well as professional preparation.

Students can opt for a customized curriculum or pick their concentration. The coursework runs on 8-week terms with two practicums for completion before graduation. The degree costs $8,868.

Washington State University-Global Campus

Washington State University-Global Campus offers a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development online program. This web-based learning curriculum is aimed at developing students’ skills in determining solutions to life challenges as they pertain to families and communities.

Students looking to take a career path in child-care centers, senior centers, and the YMCA will find the education and training offered through this online degree valuable. Students pay up to $11,041 to earn the B.A. in Human Development online degree from WSU-Global.

Utah State University

The Bachelor of Science in Family Life Studies offered by Utah State University is entirely online. This is 120-credit coursework that usually takes four years to finish on full-time study. Core courses include:

Parenting and Child Guidance,
Psychological Statistics,
Abuse and Neglect in the Family Context,
Human Sexuality,
Research Methods,
Families and Cultural Diversity,
Family Finance,
and a Senior Capstone Project.

For degree completion purposes, students must create a portfolio of the knowledge and skills they acquired throughout the course.

Arizona State University

A part of their Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, the online Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development is a 120-credit program offered by Arizona State University.

This online degree is composed of 40 classes that include:

Aging and Life Course,
Personal Growth and Human Relationships,
Family Ethnic and Cultural Diversity,
and Marriage and Family Relationships.

In the required practicum, students can opt for an on-campus internship if they are located within the vicinity. Tuition ranges from $11,348.

University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG Online)

Combining early childhood special education and social and behavioral science, the online Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies is offered at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro Online. Degree concentrations are:

Early Care and Education
Birth through Kindergarten Licensure

These allows students to either pursue a teacher licensure or engage in work involving the development of children and adolescents in a variety of contexts and settings.

The 100% online Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies welcomes students who have attended a North Carolina Community College and earned an AAS in Early Childhood. In-state tuition is $5,436 for 12 credits.

UNC Greensboro has earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Texas Tech University

Students looking for flexible and convenient ways to earn a degree can opt to look into Texas Tech University’s online degrees. The school offers the online Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences which is an interdisciplinary degree allowing for the integration of multiple departments. For $5,436 in tuition, students take informative and exciting courses.

Delivered through its College of Human Sciences, the degree concentration options include:

Addictive Disorders,
Recovery Studies,
Human Development and Family Studies,
Restaurant Management,
Hotel Management,
Institutional Management,
Retail Management,
Nutritional Sciences,
and Personal Finance.

Students with previous learning experience may be eligible for transfer credits.

***

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an online for Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development degree program cost?

There are several factors at play when it comes to the cost of attending Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development degree program. Institutions often charge higher fees for out-of-state learners. There are also schools that provide a flat tuition rate regardless of the learning approach or format. As for per-credit expenses, the tuition typically ranges between $300 and $725 per credit.

What are the typical jobs for Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development graduates?

Social workers for children and families are projected to grow at 14% from 2016 until 2026, reveals the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The professionals in this field perform multiple tasks in:

helping parents rear their children,
curb incidents of child abuse
rescue and rehabilitate victims
and find alternative homes for delinquent children or those with unhealthy home conditions.

Aside from social work, alternative career paths include counseling, psychology, non-profit work, business, education, and research.

Why should I choose an accredited online school for my online Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development degree?

Choosing an accredited school is the first thing you’d want to look into before enrolling. Accreditation proves that the school has passed quality standards as mandated by state regulations or private, third-party institutions such as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Accreditation can also help you transfer credits if you want to enroll in another course that, in turn, can reduce the time spent earning your degree. Students who graduated from accredited universities and colleges can be confident about their educational background.

The 20 Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development for 2023