The adolescence certificate is offered by the Department of Human Development to prepare students for careers working with teens and youth. This area studies the complex ways in which adolescent development is influenced by biological, family, neighborhood, school, and community factors, and focuses on how this knowledge can be applied toward designing innovative and effective programs for young people and their families.

Human development graduates with an adolescence specialty are employed in community action centers, family support centers, adolescent counseling centers, residential treatment centers, juvenile correction programs, and other youth programs. Students are also prepared to pursue graduate education in family therapy and human development.