Education & Human Development, BA

Introduction

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and Human Development, housed in the School of Education, is a multidisciplinary degree that integrates the disciplines of education, social work, psychology, sociology, child studies, disability studies, and gerontology. This degree prepares students to enter the workforce with valuable interdisciplinary skills, theory to practice experiences that cover the lifespan, and the necessary knowledge to work with diverse populations, age groups, and abilities. The program’s focus on human development is integrated with service-learning, and the ability for students to select a concentration (e.g. Childhood Studies, Disability Studies, or Gerontology), offers students strong prospects for meaningful employment and a solid foundation to pursue advanced higher education goals. This degree will develop knowledgeable, caring, and empathic professionals able to serve the community in a variety of supportive roles.   

Program Mission

The mission of the Education and Human Development Program is to produce graduates with the knowledge, skills, and field experience to provide high quality services and support to individuals and organizations through caring, ethical, and well-informed practices supported by theoretical and foundational knowledge within the interdisciplinary field of human development.   

Program Outcomes 

The five EDHD program outcomes develop student mastery to: 

• Understand major theories and models of best practice in human development across the lifespan 

• Know and implement standards of ethical and professional conduct 

• Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills 

• Engage in documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and reflective practices 

• Understand social justice, diversity, inclusion, and advocacy  

Curriculum Overview 

The Bachelor of Arts in Education and Human Development (EDHD) builds on the strengths of three interdisciplinary minor programs at the university: Childhood Studies, Disability Studies, and Gerontology.   

The BA in Education and Human Development Program requires 128 credits that begin with 40 credits (10 courses) of required core coursework exploring the field of human development broadly. An additional 16 credits taken from the minor programs in Childhood Studies, Disability Studies or Gerontology accompany the major, providing students opportunities for specialized study of the range of human development stages and abilities.   

After completing the introductory courses, the curriculum requires 8 credits of service-learning and/or paid internships, with additional experiential electives strongly encouraged. In addition to these 64 credits in the major, all Stockton University BA degrees require 32 additional credits in General Studies courses and 32 additional credits in courses deemed "At Some Distance" from the major. Through the ASD requirement, students who are interested in multiple minors may earn those in any additional area(s) of specialization. 
*Transferring students should meet with a program advisor to review transfer credits.  

Program Requirements  

The coursework leading to a degree in Education and Human Development is composed of three groups of courses: 1) Major Course Requirements 2) Concentration (Cognates) Requirements and 3) General Studies and At-Some-Distance Requirements. For the required major courses (10 courses, 40 credits), students must have an overall average grade of C+ or higher. For the required 8 credits of service learning, internships, or professional experience, students must have an overall average grade of C+ or higher. For the required concentration (cognates) courses (4 courses, 16 credits) students must have an overall average grade of C or higher. For all general studies courses (32 credits) and at-some-distance (32 credits) courses, students must have an overall average of C or higher.    

Major Course Requirements  

EDHD Major Courses 

*For major courses, students must have an overall average grade of C+ or higher.

• EDHD 1100 Introduction to Human Development 

• EDHD 2100 Service-learning 1

• EDHD 3100 Research Methods

• EDHD 3200 Service-learning 2

• EDHD 4100 Human Development Capstone 

• PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology 

• SOCY 1100 Introduction to Sociology

• PSYC Development ( (PSYC 3322, 3323 or EDUC 2231)

• PSYC Social Science ((Any PSYC 2000-3999 level course)

• Social Theory (Any SOCY 2000-3999 or ANTH 2000-3999 level course)

• SOWK 1103 Human Behavior in the Social Environment

• Race, Ethnicity & Diversity (SOWK 2504 or ANTH 2245) 

Concentration Requirements

  Students will choose one concentration in Childhood Studies, Disability Studies, or Gerontology. 
*For concentration courses, students must have an overall average grade of C or higher. 
*Students may earn one or more minors in conjunction with study based on their area of interest.             

Childhood Studies 
Required courses: 

• EDUC 2241 Inclusive Learning 

• GEN 1138 or GEN 1048 Perspectives on Childhood

Two additional electives from below or with permission of the program: 

• EDUC 1515 Diversity in Families, Schools, and Community.

• EDUC 2115 Language Development

• INTC 2610 Instructional Technology for K-12 Teachers

• LITT 2108 Children's Literature

• MGMT 2110 Introduction to Management

• SOCY 2235 Sociology of Education

• PSYC 3391 Educational Psychology

• PSYC 3705 Research on Childhood & Adolescence

• MGMT 3175 Small Business Management

• EDUC 1141, 1151, 1161, 1171 Praxis-aligned  

Disability Studies 
Required courses:

• GSS 2356 Disability Rights and History

• EDUC 2241 Inclusive Learning Education 

Two additional electives from below or with permission of the program: 

• ANTH 2410 Stigma

• ANTH 3325 Imagining the Body

• GSS 2352 Perspectives of Caregiving

• EDUC 2115 Language Development: Theories & Acquisition

• HLTH 2119 Introduction to Communication Disorders

• ECON 2104 Health Care Economics

• HLTH 2501 Ethics & Teamwork in Healthcare

• GEN 2116 Neurodiversity and Learning Differences

• PUBH 3225 Health Insurance      

• SOWK 3650 Topics in Social Welfare

• GEN 2152 Accessibility & Technology

• HLTH 3310 Nutrition and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

• GIS 3686 Disability Rights in the World

• GIS 4605 Disability Cultures & Advocacy

• LANG 1210 American Sign Language I

• LANG 1211 American Sign Language II

• LANG 2210 Intermediate ASL l

• LANG 2211 Intermediate ASL ll          

Gerontology 
Required courses: 

• GSS 2403 Aging & Diversity         

• GERO 1100 Introduction to Gerontology or GSS 1090 Aging and Society 

Two additional electives from below or with permission of program: 

• ECON 1120 Economics of Social Welfare           

• ECON 2104 Health Care Economics        

• ECON/GERO 2282 Economics for All Ages        

• GERO 2107 Aging & Health           

• GSS 2404 Aging & the Law            

• HLTH 2501 Ethics & Teamwork in Healthcare    

• MGMT 2110 Intro to Management            

• MGMT 3175 Small Business Management         

• PHIL 1101 Intro to Philosophy       

• PHIL 1203 Critical Thinking

• GERO/SOWK 2292 Aging & the Family

• GSS 2194 Death and Dying

• GSS 2256 Exploring the Dying Process   

• PSYC 3754 Research on Aging    

• SOWK 3650 Topics in Social Welfare 

• ANTH 3385 Death and Culture

• SOCY 2236 Sociology of Health 

Service-Learning/Internship Professional Guidelines 

Prior to placement within an organization, the student will: 

• Read, learn, and demonstrate all behavior expectations and definitions. 

• Establish a service-learning/internship plan with the Education and Human Development Clinical-Teaching Specialist.  

During placement within an organization, the student will: 

• Attend any Inservice training(s) that may be required at specific service learning/fieldwork sites.  

• Work assigned hours in coordination with the identified service learning/fieldwork site supervisor. 

• Maintain at least once-a-week communication with the Education and Human Development Clinical-Teaching Specialist. 

• Demonstrate a high level of performance in all areas. 

• Report any changes of work schedule, supervision, or other pertinent information to the Education and Human Development Clinical-Teaching Specialist. 

• Maintain a weekly attendance sheet. 

• Abide by all deadlines and requirements set forth by both the site supervisor and Education and Human Development Clinical-Teaching Specialist. 

• Seek feedback from supervisors, accept suggestions and constructive criticism, and strive to improve performance.  

Program Distinction  

Education and Human Development Program Distinction is achieved by earning a grade of A in all major and concentration courses. This includes any grades transferred from other institutions. In addition, the overall GPA earned must be 3.5 (B+) or higher.   

Provisional Teacher Training Program & The Alternate Route  

All EDHD graduates interested in teacher certification must also complete a New Jersey Department of Education-approved (NJDOE) Teacher Preparation program. Both the Stockton TEDU Post-Baccalaureate (undergraduate, in-person) and the Stockton Alternate Route (graduate-level, online) program are NJDOE-approved.  Students interested in the alternate route may contact the School of Education office at Stockton (soe@stockton.edu) or their county office of the Department of Education for specific requirements. 

The requirements are also accessible on the School of Education website.