Human Development Studies (M.Ed.)
Program Overview
The Master's (M.Ed.) in Human Development Studies (HDS) - Organizational Specialization is designed to prepare you for a successful career focused on finding solutions to human problems in public, private, and non-profit organizations, agencies, and communities. The HOD/HDC/HDS philosophy emphasizes the importance of connecting academic knowledge and theories to personal and professional practice.
From personal relationships to group dynamics to entire organizational structures—the principles of effective human development studies can be applied in many ways. In this innovative program, you’ll develop your skills to drive and manage change working with diverse populations in a wide range of settings, and set yourself apart as an effective leader focused on equity and systemic change who can effectively lead organizations into the future.
Compared with other master's degree programs that focus on organizational change or human capital management, Human Development Studies (HDS) is a rigorous and integrated program that will help you acquire a strong theoretical grounding in human development, counseling paradigms, and change strategies.
Courses offered in the Human Development Studies program are designed to foster close working relationships with faculty and a personalized approach resulting in productive classroom experiences.
Specializations
The Human Development Studies program offers one curriculum track:
- Organizational Specialization: This track prepares individuals to work as professionals in schools, agencies, businesses, and community organizations providing human development services to help individuals across the lifespan navigate developmental academic, career, and personal/social challenges. This training will also prepare graduates to continue their academic training in doctoral programs related to human development and services. This track may be pursued on campus or through digital learning. The requirements for this track encompass a 30 semester hour curriculum focusing on human development theory, diversity, research and evaluation, as well as wellness, communication skills, and nonprofit management and grant writing.
Program at a Glance
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Human Development Studies
Department of Human and Organization Development
Program Director:
Bradley T. Erford
For More Information: HDS Info
Admission Term: Spring and Fall
Credit Hours: 30
Priority Application Deadline: December 31* for fall entrance; August 31* for spring entrance
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The program interweaves social justice and diversity topics into courses and co-curricular activities throughout the program. Our training programs address core values of professional counseling including developmental and cultural sensitivity, avoiding harm and imposing of values, and social justice advocacy at individual, group, institutional, and societal levels to address issues that inhibit growth and development.
Selected Courses Related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
HDC 6150: Counseling Diverse Populations – This course provides a study of value systems and behavior patterns of diverse populations as well as variables related to age, gender, lifestyle, language, religion, social class, geography, and developmental stage. It provides counselors and mental health specialists with knowledge of diverse lifestyles in order to be more effective in serving the needs of persons from diverse populations.
HDC 6220: Counseling for College Access, Admissions, and Completion - This course explores the college admission process, with emphasis on current issues confronting school counselors, application and admissions criteria for various types of colleges and college counseling for various student populations. Issues of equitable access and completion are addressed in addition to fundamental admission processes.
Selected Faculty Research Related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Maury Nation, Bob Innes Chair in Human and Organizational Development
Professor Nation’s clinical research focuses on understanding and preventing violence and bullying among school-aged children. His specific interests are bully and victim typologies, and the short- and long-term consequences of peer harassment. His community research is focused on understanding community and neighborhood qualities/characteristics that promote positive health and mental health outcomes.
Anjali Forber-Pratt, assistant professor of human and organizational development
Professor Forber-Pratt’s research agenda adopts a social-ecological framework to analyze issues of psychosocial development from a social justice lens. Her work focuses on three main areas of research: 1) disability identity development, 2) perceptions of inclusion and disability, and 3) victimization experiences in schools. Professor Forber-Pratt’s ultimate goals are to better design interventions to help support individuals making meaning around their own disability and families adjusting to disability.
Careers in Human Development Studies
There are several possible career paths for our Human Development Studies alumni:
Organizational Specialization students may enter positions in public, private, and non-profit organizations, agencies, and communities.
Possible job titles include:
- Organizational Development Specialist
- Professional Development Manager
- Coach
- Consultant
- Trainer
- Strategic Design Specialist
- Organizational Development Analyst
One major factor for growth is the constant need for workplace training, education, and change management.
Program Curriculum
HDS is a rigorous and integrated program that will help you acquire a strong theoretical grounding in human development, counseling paradigms, and change strategies.
Organizational Specialization
This 30-credit hour curriculum can be completed in less than two years or in a single year if summer course availability exists. Course placement within the schedule is flexible. Students can begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. The program is designed as a non-cohort model with no prerequisite course sequences to accommodate rolling admissions. Some flexibility in Peabody summer course start-stop dates may be needed to accommodate multiple tracks.
Required Courses: 24 credit hours
- HDS 6130 Human Developmental Counseling Psychology
- HDS 6510 Human Relations Skills/Techniques
- HDS 6530 Group Work Leadership
- HDS 6520 Wellness and Stress Management
- HDS 6500 Ethical and Multicultural Issues in Human Development
- HDS 7810 Research in Counseling and Human Development
- HDS 6540 Systemic and Individual Advocacy and Change
- HOD 6420 Non-Profit Management and Strategy
Electives: 6 hours are required.
To qualify for graduation, degree candidate must:
- Meet all curriculum requirements
- Carry a minimum 3.0 grade point average
- Be free of debt to Vanderbilt University
Faculty
All core and affiliated faculty are engaged in a variety of interdisciplinary teaching and professional activities.
- Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Human and Organizational Development
- Core Faculty, Human Development Counseling
- Lecturer, Department of Human and Organizational Development
- Lecturer, Department of Human and Organizational Development
- Program Director, Core Faculty, Professor, Human Development Counseling
- Core Faculty, Human Development Counseling
- Assistant Professor of the Practice, Department of Human and Organizational Development
- Core Faculty, Human Development Counseling
- Professor, Department of Human and Organizational Development
- Core Faculty, Human Development Counseling
- Assistant Professor of the Practice, Department of Human and Organizational Development
Helpful Links
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Online M.Ed. Program
In addition to an on-campus master's program in Human Development Counseling, Peabody also offers an online master's program in the school counseling specialization track. For information about our online program, please visit the Online Master of Education with School Counseling Specialization.