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Liberal Arts Advisement & Careers

Human Development

Looking Forward

This program prepares and qualifies students for work with families, kids, communities, and a variety of other environments. Changes in life plans or interests may encourage or necessitate a pivot. It is important to keep in mind the value your major and academic experiences have given you, and understand how to apply that value to different aspects of your life and potential career.

Resources for Looking Forward
Competencies and Careers
Professional Certifications
Grad School
Articulating the Value of Your Degree

Competencies and Careers

Competencies Developed in the Program
Students in The School of Family Life programs can expect to develop strong competencies:

  • Communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Professionalism
  • Teamwork

Want to know more about these professional competencies? Career Readiness

Common Career Fields
Family Studies students can use their degree to pursue careers in many fields.
Some of those include: Social Services, Child Life Specialist, Family Intervention, Government and Policy, and Early Childhood Education.

Jobs in these career fields:
Would you like to know about specific jobs in these fields? Careers

Meet with your advisor!
Would you like to know more about the program to see if it’s a good fit for your goals? Would you like to know more about your career options? Do you have a career option in mind but you’d like resources to help you chart a path toward that goal? Come meet with your Academic and Professional Development Manager, Stefanie Nebeker.

Contact the Liberal Arts Advisement Center to set up an appointment!

Meet with your Career Director:
Your Career Director can help you get connected to alumni, find companies that are hiring, hone your resume, and strategically look for jobs. Schedule an appointment with Sara Larson.

Search for jobs online:
Handshake: The ultimate job board for internships and entry level jobs. Use it to search for jobs, connect with alumni, and research companies.

BYU Connect: Expand your network now and find a mentor! With its ever-increasing database of BYU alumni, BYU Connect can help you find an alum in your field of interest who can help you broaden your perspective, network, and make vital career decisions.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the perfect networking tool; not only can you find jobs on this versatile site, but it can also serve to build and maintain networks, research potential employers, and build your job experience beyond the confines of a normal resume. Creating a LinkedIn profile is not difficult, and can be made easier by following these steps.

BYU Career Services: This office offers many job search resources for your job search, including job and internship fairs, networking events, resume reviews, and online helps. Check it out here.

Professional Certifications

BYU Foreign Language Certifications
Child Life Specialist Certification

Grad School

Are you considering grad school? Your best resource is your faculty. Reach out to your professors about exploring grad schools, gaining the proper experience, and building a strong application. Faculty contact info can be found on the The School of Family Life Website

Attend Graduate Program Information Sessions and Graduate School Fairs. You can find information for these dates on their websites. MFT or MSW

You can also talk with your Academic and Professional Development Manager about grad school. Is it necessary for your career goals? What types of programs should you consider? How can you best prepare for that program? What is your application timeline? Do you need to take an entrance exam? You can talk through all of these questions and more with your advisor.

Pre-Professional Advisement Center
Peterson’s Guide to Grad School
Application Timeline
Is Grad School Right For Me
Grad School Research
Grad School Resources
STDEV 318

Articulating the Value of Your Degree

What professional competencies have I developed by studying Human Development?
Learn more here about the professional competencies that you have and employers want!

Who can help me create a resume, cover letter, and/or LinkedIn profile that highlights my strengths and skills?
There are many people on campus who can help you create a resume, cover letter, or professional profile! You can use the Career Studio, your Academic and Professional Development Manager, your Career Director, Sara Larson, or career fair prep events.

Who is my career director?
Sara Larson. You can contact her here.

Who is my Academic and Professional Development Manager?
Stefanie Nebeker. You can contact her here.

Beyond the Office

I'm not planning on working full-time. How can I use my Human Development degree in meaningful ways outside of being employed full-time?

Freelance Resources

You can take on freelance, part-time work projects. Sometimes these are called "side gigs." There are lots of ways to put your competencies and interests to work, even if it's part-time or temporary/project-based.
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Freelance Jobs | UpWork

Find Remote & Online Work
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Twine

Freelance Job Search Engine
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How to Start a Side Hustle

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30 Side Hustle Ideas That Don't Need Experience (2025)

Shopify
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Volunteer Resources

Find part-time volunteer opportunities that help you maintain and build your competencies!
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Community Needs

Volunteer Opportunities
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UServeUtah

Volunteer Opportunities
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What to Do in Provo

Volunteer Opportunities
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Volunteer.gov

Volunteer Opportunities
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Mormon Women For Ethical Government

Volunteer Opportunities
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Manage A Household

Use your degree to effectively manage a household and purposefully raise a family.

Parent Strategies for Improving Their Child's Reading and Writing

Your degree can boost learning outcomes for your kids
  • Model good habits by reading and writing in front of your child.
  • Make reading materials—ones they will truly care about—readily available for your child
  • Talk with your child. Children expand their vocabulary and understanding of sentence structures through conversations with others.
  • Give your child authentic writing tasks to help them find their voice and develop their sense of power

Helping Parents Get a College Education Helps Children Succeed

“European researchers have shown that the positive effects of parental education can be seen as early as age 4 and persist through graduation. Comparing the effects of parental education, socio-economic status, and income over the life course, the same researchers confirm that parental education matters, with maternal education having its strongest effect in early childhood, especially on cognitive development and the associated long-term benefits.”

FAQ's

  • Start with your Career Director, Sara Larson

  • Career Services resources are available to all alumni for 2 years after graduation.

    Pre-Professional Advisement offers services to alumni.
    You can also take a class on job search strategies: STDEV 317.

  • There are many ways to make the most of the years between undergrad and grad school! Your Career Director, your Academic and Professional Development Manager, your professors, and the advisors at Pre-Professional Advisement can all help you find meaningful work that will move you toward your goals.

    Handshake: The ultimate job board for internships and entry level jobs. Use it to search for jobs, connect with alumni, and research companies. You can find jobs that will prepare you for grad school!

    O*NET OnLine: This database helps you explore jobs, find similar jobs under related job titles, search for jobs in specific locations, and connect to professional organizations.

  • There are resources on campus to help you find time to apply for jobs and still be successful in your classes.

    You can check out these online resources from Careers Services to help you be strategic in your job search and application process.

    Your Career Director can give you personalized resources to make your job search productive and efficient.

Links

Exploring the Major
Engaging in the Major
Looking Forward
FAQs