BA Human Development and Learning

BA Human Development
and Learning
UIC College of Education
MAKING GOOD ON THE PROMISE
OF URBAN LIFE OPPORTUNITIES

SERVING COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
50
1
15
percent of Chicago south and west side
residents living in poverty
Illinois serves the greatest proportion of
three-year-olds seeking early education
million more elderly U.S. citizens
projected by 2025
A GROWING FIELD
THAT NEEDS LEADERS
Social Work
Community
Health
Early Childhood
Leadership
| | | |
5% 10% 15% 20%
Percentage increases in jobs by 2022
NEW CURRICULUM
TAILORED BY YOU

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Making good on the promise
Here in Chicago, where the effects of income disparity are felt in
neighborhoods far and wide, the Chicago community as a whole
too often fails to ensure citizens explore their life choices before
they surrender their life chances. Making good on the promise of
urban life opportunities requires acknowledging and addressing
the problems of inequality explicitly and courageously so that the
public education system can work effectively for the full flourishing
of the life of every Chicagoan, from infancy through the lifespan.
As a College, we strive to prepare the next generation of
educators, community leaders and researchers to establish
equity in Chicago and urban areas around the nation.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The BA degree in Human Development and Learning (HDL)
provides students with strong grounding in research and theory
centered around learning and development. Courses focus on
development from birth through the lifespan and how to apply
this knowledge to working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
in a variety of formal and informal learning contexts and
education environments.
This program equips graduates with the skills and knowledge
necessary to design effective and high quality informal learning
environments and programs that take into account how diverse
individuals learn and how that learning is impacted by developmental
changes in key areas such as cognition, identity and
language.

LEGAL LEADER
Law & Society and Pre-Law
Focus Areas
These focus areas follow a set of recommended
courses that aid students in developing
knowledge in areas that are beneficial
to pursuing graduate legal education. Legal
courses at UIC will help students with skills
key to obtaining law school admission. In
addition to basic courses, UIC also offers
courses and programs that offer pathways to
social justice-oriented careers in areas related
to the law.
Career Paths
• Law school
• Paralegal
• Probation officer
• Social work
• Public policy
• Business

BUILDING LIFE PATHS
Disability and Human
Development Focus Area
Taking an interdisciplinary approach,
students can follow the minor in disability
and human development, courses in special
education or develop a combination of the
two. This will allow students to examine
various aspects of society — healthcare,
culture, politics, economics, history, legislation,
education and social attitudes — that
uniquely impact the experience and development
of people living with disabilities.
Coursework can prepare students for graduate
study in careers listed to the right.
Career Paths
• Special educator
• Speech-language
pathologist
• Occupational
therapy
• Assistive tech.
practitioner
• Paraprofessional

LIFE’S CRUCIAL YEARS
Early Childhood Education
Credential
The Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Credential provides education and training
to students interested in working in early
childhood programs. Students have the
opportunity to earn a Level 5 ECE Credential.
The credential provides a pathway
towards earning a Master of Education
degree in Early Childhood Education and
Early Childhood Special Education with
Illinois state licensure.
Career Paths
• Child care provider
• ECE specialist
• Home visitor
• Child care center
administrator
• ECE teacher
• Head Start teacher

DEMANDING JUSTICE
Social Justice Focus Area
Career Paths
The Social Justice focus area is designed for
students who are interested in gaining experience
working with community-based
organizations and seeking opportunities to
combine their experiences with new skills
and strategies for future careers in organizing,
non-profits or simply applying a social
justice lens to any professional fields.
• Law school
• Politics
• Business
• Community
development
• Legislative
advocacy
• Government
services

EMPOWERING YOUTH
Youth Development Credential
The Illinois Gateways School Age and Youth
Development Credential is designed for
students who are seeking to become
professionals dedicated to and passionate
about working with youth in urban contexts.
Coursework will allow students to prepare
to help youth by creating spaces, programs
and organizations that support youth developing
their emotional, physical, social and
intellectual selves and in gaining a voice and
place in society.
Career Paths
• Adoption specialist
• Child welfare and
family services
• Community centers
• Community based
organizations
• Youth services

OPENING EYES
Informal Education Focus Area
Career Paths
The art museum educator focus area builds
skills to increase art awareness and appreciation
for students of all ages in informal
settings. Students choose between an Art,
Art History or combined focus. The zoo educator
focus area focuses on teaching visitors
about zoo animals and promoting conservation
efforts. Coursework develops knowledge
of animals, building programs and
instructional products and working with
youth.
• Museum education
• Art education
• Zoo education
• Zoo services
• Youth education

GROW YOUR OWN
Create your own focus area
Your education should be a reflection of who you are, where you
have been and where you’re heading. The Human Development
and Learning program gives you the freedom to design a program
of individualized focus area that meets your educational
and professional goals.
Students in the program will gain foundational knowledge and
skills within the Human Development and Learning discipline, as
well as have space within the curriculum to tailor their elective
coursework toward particular types of educational contexts and
settings in which they hope to work.

YOUR URBAN LAB
Research, fieldwork and internship opportunities
Research:
• 100-Hour Undergraduate Research Internship
• The Engaged Research Fellowship
• Journal of Undergraduate Research at UIC
• Undergraduate Research Experience
Internship sites include:
• Chicago Public Schools
• Community-based programs
• Park District sites
• Hospital programs

THE NEXT STEPS
Graduate school options
The foundation of the Human Development and Learning program
is a liberal arts education that prepares graduates to think
critically, communicate well, organize and analyze information,
solve problems and collaborate with a diverse array of individuals.
In addition to preparation for careers in educational contexts and
settings, graduates will also be ready to begin professional or
graduate work within a number of disciplines (e.g., education,
human development, health and medicine, psychology, higher
education, social work, and law, among others).

ABOUT UIC
Chicago’s public research university
A major research university in the heart of one of the world's
greatest cities, UIC provides a world-class education for its
students. With more than 27,000 students and 15 colleges,
including the nation’s largest medical school, UIC is committed to
creating and disseminating new knowledge as a university of
growing national and international stature.
UIC is a truly global institution: more than 1/3 of UIC students
speak English as a second language. UIC's student body —
approximately 61 percent undergraduate and 39 percent graduate
and professional — is recognized as one of the nation's most
diverse.

ADMISSIONS
REQUIREMENTS
Criteria
High school students applying for admission to the Human Development and Learning
Program don’t need a set ACT or SAT score or class rank to be admitted. We evaluate you
based on a combination of coursework, test scores, class rank, program choice statement
and personal statement.
Prior Coursework
The UIC College of Education recommends high school applicants successfully complete
four years of coursework in English and math and three years of social science in addition
to UIC requirements for coursework in science and electives. Visit the admissions website
at go.uic.edu/admission for more information on these requirements.
Transfer students applying for admission are evaluated on the basis of their cumulative
GPA, courses and credit hours required for the program, program choice statement and
personal statement. Applicants are recommended to complete at least 24 semester
hours of transferable coursework at the time of enrollment. Transfer students may visit
go.uic.edu/course for UIC course descriptions or transferology.com for Illinois Articulation
Initiative information and transfer articulation.
How to Apply
Go to UIC Admission, go.uic.edu/admission and click on “Apply to UIC,” then click on the
Common Application. Please note application deadlines.
In addition, high school students should submit official ACT or SAT scores to UIC’s Office
of Admissions and Records. Only test scores provided on an official high school transcript
will be accepted as official.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees can change slightly over time; for the most recent tuition and fees, please
visit admissions.uic.edu/undergrad/tuition_undergrad.html.
Financial Aid
Eighty percent of UIC students receive some form of financial aid. Financial aid is awarded
in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and employment and tuition waivers and helps
pay the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation and other
personal expenses. Visit the Office of Student Aid website at go.uic.edu/financialaid to
learn more or contact them at (312) 996-3126.
Scholarships
Visit go.uic.edu/scholarships for a complete list of UIC scholarships and also visit
education.uic.edu/financialaid for a list of scholarships offered through the UIC College
of Education.

BA Human Development and Learning Program
UIC College of Education
1040 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60614
312.996.4532
Program Coordinator: Kathleen Sheridan
ksherid9@uic.edu
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MAKING GOOD ON THE PROMISE
OF URBAN LIFE OPPORTUNITIES