Personalized Support
As an 海角社区 Online student, you receive all benefits of in-person students, including 24/7 tutoring and mental health support, plus dedicated Success Coaches for your online journey.
Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact UsWhy Study Human Development Online at 海角社区?
Save Up to $1,000 per Semester Online
Declare a fully online major and you can get up to $1000 per semester in scholarships that are not need based.
Career-Relevant Education
海角社区 courses are designed with your career in mind and we offer internship and job placement assistance unique to your situation.
Why Study Human Development and Family Studies Online at 海角社区
Human Development and Family Studies focuses on the questions that sit underneath many real-world challenges: how people grow, adapt, and relate to one another across the lifespan.
In this program, you learn to think about development in context, including family, education, culture, and community, so you can better support children, families, and individuals through change.
Faculty Who Practice What They Teach
Our Human Development and Family Studies courses are taught by the same faculty who teach on campus, bringing current research and real classroom experience into the online program.
For example, Professor Lisa Kindleberger Hagan teaches about how children develop emotionally and cognitively, and how early relationships and learning environments shape development over time.
You have direct access to mentors who are doing the work you鈥檙e studying, giving you opportunities to connect with active research, build professional-level skills, and stand out when you enter your career.
What You鈥檒l Learn in the Online Human Development and Family Studies Program
Learn how people grow and change across the lifespan, with a strong focus on the family as a key developmental context. You will connect theory, research, and real-world application so you can better understand what supports healthy development in different settings.
- Explain human development across the lifespan using core theories and research.
- Understand how family relationships and social context influence development.
- Build research literacy through statistics and research methods coursework.
- Synthesize what you learn in a senior experience focused on evidence-informed solutions to real-world problems involving children and families.
Skills you will practice:
- Interpreting research and using evidence to guide decisions
- Understanding development at key life stages
- Asking strong questions and evaluating what works in practice
- Applying developmental thinking to family, school, and community settings
Careers You Can Pursue with a Human Development and Family Studies Degree
A bachelor鈥檚 degree in Human Development and Family Studies prepares you for people-centered roles where understanding growth, relationships, and context matters.
Graduates pursue careers supporting children, families, and communities in settings like education, nonprofit organizations, social services, healthcare support roles, and community programs.
This degree is also a strong foundation for graduate study in areas such as counseling, social work, education, public health, and related helping professions.
Because human development skills apply across many fields, alumni work in roles that value communication, critical thinking, and an understanding of how people change over time.
Need More Information to Plan Your Path to an Online Human Development and Family Studies Degree?
Tell us about yourself and we'll reach out to help.
Request InformationYour Online Student Experience at 海角社区
You get the same faculty, the same degree, and the same student services that on-campus Roadrunners receive. As an online student, you are fully included and fully supported.
- A dedicated Student Success Coach helps you plan your term, map transfer credit, build study habits, and stay on track when life gets busy.
- You get free 24/7 tutoring, and a wide variety of online library services and writing support.
- Advising and career services are online: Meet with an academic advisor, explore careers, polish your resume, and connect to job resources without coming to campus.
- A flexible enrollment model that helps you move forward. Take six credits to qualify for online major scholarships, then pace your work in a way that fits your job and family needs.
- A diverse and welcoming online community where you can participate, contribute and grow.
Online does not mean alone at 海角社区. We’re here for you!
海角社区 graduate. Photo by Alyson McClaran
How Much Does it Cost for an Online B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies and is there financial support?
Low in-state tuition, reduced tuition for many western states, a scholarship built only for online majors, and the freedom to take as many or as few classes as you want. 海角社区 is built to be the affordable online choice, whatever your pace.
Colorado Residents
With the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) applied
$326.25 / credit
2026–27 rate, COF applied
What a term costs, tuition & fees included
Part-time (6 credits)
$2,655.92
$2,655.92
Full-time (12 credits)
$4,987.22
$4,987.22
COF reduces per-credit cost for eligible Colorado residents. Most Colorado students qualify.
Outside Colorado (WUE / RIT)
Reduced nonresident tuition for eligible western states
$663.40 / credit
2026–27 WUE/RIT rate
What a term costs, tuition & fees included
Part-time (6 credits)
$4,678.82
$4,678.82
Full-time (12 credits)
$9,033.02
$9,033.02
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and Roadrunner Interstate Tuition (RIT) lower nonresident cost for students in participating states.
Planning the whole degree? Most online bachelor’s programs are 120 credits. Transfer credits count toward that, so you may have less to pay for than you think.
Up to $1,000
per semester
per semester
Scholarship for fully online majors. Declare a fully online major and you may qualify for up to $1,000 each fall and spring. No separate application required.
Learn about the online scholarship and other financial aid options
Veterans & military: 海角社区 is approved for VA education benefits. Veteran & military student services.
For exact, current figures, see the Undergraduate Tuition & Fees schedule.
Figures shown are 2026–27 rates and are for planning only. All rates are subject to change.
Apply to 海角社区 Online Now
Most applicants are admitted, and you will usually receive your admission decision within a few days.
- Create your application account using your personal email:
- Tell us you plan to study fully online to qualify for up to $1,000 per semester in scholarship funds
Transferring credits?
Want to see how your credits may apply before you apply? Use to check how your previous classes may count toward your degree.
Admission at a glance
You are typically eligible for admission if you have a 2.0 or higher unweighted high school GPA, are 20 or older with a high school diploma or GED, or have 24 or more transferable college credits.
Request More Information
Tell us a little about you and we鈥檒l follow up by email with information about
- Program details and requirements
- Transfer credits and how they may apply
- Tuition, scholarships, and financial aid basics
- Start dates, deadlines, and next steps
Current student? Get help by emailing [email protected]
Request information
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We鈥檒l email you, not call, unless you ask us to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can absolutely earn your Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) fully online. You鈥檒l get the same rich, interdisciplinary curriculum and passionate faculty from the Department of Psychological Sciences that our on鈥慶ampus students experience. And if you declare the major in the fully online format, you may qualify for up to $1,000 per semester in online鈥憇tudent scholarships to help fund your education.
Your timeline is super flexible and really depends on how many classes you take each semester and whether you鈥檙e bringing in any transfer credits. A full鈥憈ime student starting fresh usually finishes in about four years, while part鈥憈ime students can spread out their coursework to keep everything balanced with work, family, or other responsibilities. And from day one, your online success coach will help you map out a clear, realistic semester plan that moves at the pace that feels right for you.
We鈥檙e extremely transfer鈥慺riendly and want to make sure you get full credit for the college work you鈥檝e already completed. We can see how your past general education, psychology, or family studies courses match up with our program requirements. And from there, our transfer advisors will work with you one鈥憃n鈥憃ne to maximize your hours so you can jump into upper鈥憀evel major classes much faster.
Because this degree is all about supporting people through change, it opens the door to a wide range of meaningful, people鈥慶entered careers. Our grads step right into roles like case workers, child advocates, crisis intervention specialists, and family support coordinators. It also gives you a strong academic foundation if you鈥檙e planning on grad school in counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, or occupational therapy.
This program blends psychology, sociology, and education to give you a deep understanding of human growth, cognitive development, and social relationships from infancy through older adulthood. You鈥檒l build practical skills in interpreting research, spotting developmental challenges, and evaluating family dynamics across different community contexts. By the time you graduate, you鈥檒l know how to design evidence鈥慽nformed solutions that help real individuals and families thrive.