Why Study Human Development Online at MSU Denver?

Online Student Success Coach Sahra

Personalized Support

As an MSU Denver 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.

Save Up to $1,000 per Semester Online

Declare a fully online Anthropology major and you can get up to $1000 per semester in scholarships that are not need based.

Happy graduate with her diploma

Career-Relevant Education

MSU Denver 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 MSU Denver

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.

Professor Lisa Hagan teaching a Human Development and Family Studies class at MSU Denver.

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’re studying, giving you opportunities to connect with active research, build professional-level skills, and stand out when you enter your career.

What You’ll 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’s 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.

Ready to Plan Your Path to an Online Human Development and Family Studies Degree?

If you aren’t sure how to start, just email us and we can help with anything from applying to transfer credit, timelines, and next steps. If you’re ready to apply we’re ready for you!

Apply to MSU Denver Online Now

Your Online Student Experience at MSU Denver

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 MSU Denver. We’re here for you!

Happy graduate with her diploma

MSU Denver 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 western states, scholarships exclusive to online majors, and flexibility to take as many or few classes as you want, all make MSU Denver the affordable online choice.

Colorado Residents

As low as $315.20 /credit*

Example: 12 credits – $4,703.36 total including tuition & fees.

*Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) reduces per-credit costs for eligible Colorado residents.

Not in Colorado? (WUE/RIT)

As low as $646.80 /credit

Example: 12 credits – $682.56 total including tuition & fees.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and Roadrunner Interstate Tuition (RIT) reduce nonresident costs for certain states.

Scholarships for Fully Online Majors

Declare a fully online major and you may qualify for up to $1,000 per semester (fall/spring). No separate scholarship application is required.
Learn more about eligibility and how it works.

Exclusively online students save over $100 per semester in fees compared to on-campus students.

See detailed tuition and fee information:
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees.

Figures shown are example 2025–26 rates.

Apply to MSU Denver Online Now

Most applicants are admitted, and you’ll usually get your decision within a few days.

Apply in three simple steps

  1. Create your application account using your personal email: Start your application
  2. Choose your application type: Undergraduate or Graduate
  3. Tell us you plan to study fully online and select your start term and major

What happens next: Once you submit your application, you’ll hear back within a few days.

If you’re a transfer student

Send your official college transcripts. If you have 24 or more transferable credits, you don’t need to submit a high school transcript.

See how your credits will transfer. Use Transferology to check how your previous classes may apply toward your degree.

Admission at a glance

You’re 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 About MSU Denver Online

Let us know more about you and we’ll send you information about online programs, timelines and more.

Loading…

By submitting this form, you agree to receive emails from MSU Denver; you can unsubscribe at any time.