Program Objective:

To prepare you for careers and advancement in early childhood education, child and family services, and graduate studies in various fields including education, psychology and human services.

Program Description:

The program is designed to help you become a qualified professional who understands child development and knows how to observe, assess abilities and needs, plan individualized and group instruction, and implement intentional, educational experiences that optimize learning opportunities in safe and inclusive environments that respect all children and welcome families as partners.

During your coursework, you will:

• Apply developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging learning environments
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of family, culture and community characteristics when building effective relationships with diverse families and children
• Observe and document children’s learning using appropriate assessment tools and approaches
• Construct and implement an engaging curriculum that is meaningful, challenging and achievable to all children
• Exhibit ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice
• Effectively and professionally communicate verbally and in writing

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of your coursework, you will be able to demonstrate professional competencies, qualities, and dispositions, including ethical conduct and decision-making expected of practitioners in the field.

The Bachelor of Science in Child Studies degree is not designed to fulfill the educational requirements for any educational credential, such as a state teacher’s license or an early childhood certification. Professional credentials vary by state and include requirements outside of education, which may include exams, background checks, work experience, and more. Learn about teaching certification requirements through the state departments of education: https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html. Learn about early childhood education credentials through the Council for Professional Recognition: https://www.cdacouncil.org/en/about/learn-about-the-cda/.