Bachelor of Science in Child Studies
Pursue Your Child Studies Degree Online or On Campus at Post!Program Overview
Child studies is a multidisciplinary field that explores early childhood education and developmentally appropriate teaching. If helping young learners succeed is part of your plan for the future, then a Bachelor of Science in Child Studies from Post University could be right for you. Our degree in child studies blends coursework in early childhood theory and application from the foundational areas of social sciences, humanities, and behavioral sciences. It offers hands-on activities and field experiences to help you develop the knowledge and skills used in the support of effective learning experiences for young learners, from birth through eight. Plus, it is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), an organization dedicated to the pursuit of quality in early childhood education.
Coursework covers learning characteristics of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and children through third grade; their developmental stages; and strategies that support children developing typically as well as those with special education needs. Instruction emphasizes applied theory in areas such as planning, teaching, and assessing children’s learning progress. Courses also explore what it takes to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments.
Curriculum
Total Program Credits: 120 Required Credits
Essential Skills Core: 21 Required Credits
General Education: 21 Required Credits
Major and Concentrations: 60 Required Credits
Open Electives: 18 Required Credits
Industry-Focused Curriculum for Professional Skills
Coursework for your program is designed to help you build the foundation of insights necessary to:
- Create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments
- Use knowledge of home environments, culture, and community to nurture effective relationships with families and children
- Apply appropriate assessment tools and approaches to observe and document learning
- Construct and implement engaging curriculum — for individuals and groups of children
- Communicate effectively and professionally in a variety of settings
- Interact with community-based for-profit and non-profit early childhood organizations
- And more!
Sample Courses
Essentials of Early Childhood Studies
The course will introduce students to fundamental concepts, ethical conduct, core knowledge, best practices, and the NAEYC accreditation standards and competencies for early childhood educators. The course will address understanding the expectations of the field, including advancing equity, and inclusion. The course will strengthen students’ written, verbal, and technological communication skills as they explore concepts in the early childhood field.
Children’s Literature and Language Arts
This course is designed to acquaint students with many literature genres beginning with storytelling and including genres such as folk and literature, fantasy, poetry, biographies and more. The course explores the use of technology in educational settings and lesson plans for literacy. Students are required to complete formal and/or informal field experiences.
Health, Safety and Nutrition
This course explores health, safety, and nutrition in relation to the typical growth and development of young children. Emphasis is placed on the recognition and measurement of typical growth patterns, principles of good nutrition, hygiene, health maintenance, and illness prevention. Understanding cultural issues and the special needs of individual children are addressed as aspects of health and safety. Students are required to complete formal and/or informal field experiences.
Curriculum Approaches in Early Childhood
This course will explore developmentally appropriate approaches to early childhood curriculum development. It will address cross-curricular methods of teaching in the early years of childhood based on developmental stages and levels of early childhood education, incorporating observation and individualization while planning for a larger group. Students will explore play-based curriculum, early learning and development standards, developmentally appropriate practices, and developmentally appropriate curriculum approaches to early childhood education. Incorporated into the course work will be the NAEYC early childhood professional preparation standards and utilization of the position statements on developmentally appropriate practices and advancing equity in early childhood education.
The sample courses listed are intended to illustrate the types of coursework included in this program. Course offerings and requirements may change. Please consult the official University Catalog for current and complete program information.
Licensing Disclosure
Licensure and Program Disclosures
The Bachelor of Science in Child Studies degree offers the opportunity to prepare to make an impact on the lives of children, from birth through eight, and their families as early childhood educators. However, it is not a teacher certification preparation program for state licensure to teach in public schools in any state.
Post University assists in researching and providing information regarding licensure; however, each state has different requirements for such licensure outside of the required education. Such state requirements may include licensure exams, background checks, certain work experience, and more. It is ultimately the responsibility of each student to manage their own licensure process and to ensure that all requirements are met in order for the student to obtain licensure. Post University does not speak on behalf of any licensing board or body and does not guarantee licensure. Requirements for licensure are subject to change without notice.
Learn about teaching certification requirements through the state departments of education: https://www.ed.gov/contact-us/state-contacts.
Visit the University Catalog >> for Curriculum, Course Descriptions, and Program Outcomes.
“Child Studies is more than a major — it’s a calling. We believe that understanding children means understanding the world they live in. Through work grounded in developmentallyappropriate practice (birth to age 8) and aligned with the NAEYC Professional Standards,students learn to see each child as capable, unique, and deserving of respect. With experienced, compassionate faculty, they graduate ready to make a difference — in classrooms, families, and communities everywhere.”
Ready to Apply?
The admissions team is available to walk you through each step of the application process and clarify any remaining questions.
Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
College (University) is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.). Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210, Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 425 7785
E-Mail: [email protected]
For more information on Post University's state licensure or accreditation, please visit the Accreditation page.
Undergraduate Admissions Requirements
Post University’s undergraduate admissions process is structured to be accessible for students planning to study online or on campus. All applicants must complete an admissions application and demonstrate high school completion or an equivalent credential.
Acceptable documentation includes:
- An official high school transcript showing graduation
- A General Education Development (GED) certificate or equivalent diploma
- A home-school transcript recognized by the student’s state
- An associate degree transcript
- Official college-level credit, typically 60 or more semester hours, that may apply toward a bachelor’s degree
Applicants are encouraged to connect with admissions advisors, including participating in an advisory session or interview, to support their transition into their selected program.
For detailed and format-specific requirements, including documentation and enrollment steps, please visit:
Why Students Choose Post University
“It doesn’t matter where you came from or what your background is, or how often you’ve tried to start school. There’s always going to be someone there for you to connect to. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about with getting help. You’re not judged here, and the access to whatever support you need is everywhere.”
Tuition & Ways to Save
An education at Post University is designed to provide long-term value. Tuition is competitively structured, and financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Admissions and financial aid teams work with you to review available options and explain each step of the process clearly.
With multiple funding opportunities available, you may qualify for more than you expect.
Tuition Reductions →
Tuition reductions are available for eligible active-duty military service members, veterans, public safety professionals, education partners, alumni, and others who qualify.
Scholarships →
Post University offers a variety of institutional scholarships. Dedicated scholarship advisors assist students in identifying both institutional and relevant external scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid →
Federal financial aid programs are available for many degree programs for students who qualify.
Transfer Credits →
Post University will evaluate course credit completed at eligible institutions, as well as credit earned through approved examinations or prior learning experiences, for potential transfer.
Military Benefits →
Military education benefits extend to active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, their families, and eligible Department of Defense civilian employees.
Student Loans →
Federal and private loan programs may be available to students who qualify.
Tuition Reductions →
Tuition reductions are available for eligible active-duty military service members, veterans, public safety professionals, education partners, alumni, and others who qualify.
Scholarships →
Post University offers a variety of institutional scholarships. Dedicated scholarship advisors assist students in identifying both institutional and relevant external scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid →
Federal financial aid programs are available for many degree programs for students who qualify.
Transfer Credits →
Post University will evaluate course credit completed at eligible institutions, as well as credit earned through approved examinations or prior learning experiences, for potential transfer.
Military Benefits →
Military education benefits extend to active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, their families, and eligible Department of Defense civilian employees.
Student Loans →
Federal and private loan programs may be available to students who qualify.
Ready to take the next steps?
Admissions advisors are available to answer your questions, explain the application process, and help you explore which program aligns with your interests and experience.
If you are considering Post University, we invite you to begin the conversation.
Why Post University?
At Post University, you are not an anonymous face in a crowded lecture hall. You are known and supported from your first conversation through program completion. That is the meaning behind Post Makes It Personal®.
Our approach is grounded in three commitments: career focus, value, and personalization. Whether you are beginning your undergraduate journey, returning to continue your education, or pursuing a graduate degree, Post University offers programs developed with professional practice in mind, led by industry-experienced faculty, and delivered in formats designed to fit into your life.
Post people come from many different backgrounds and life stages. Some are stepping onto campus for the first time, while others are learning online while balancing work, family, military service, or community commitments. Across every format, students are part of a community built on connection, structure, and shared purpose.
Child Studies FAQs
What Could I Do With a Child Studies Degree?
Upon completing your bachelor’s degree program from Post University, you will have had the opportunity to explore the mechanics of curriculum development that work to balance learning goals of children as a group and as individuals. Ethical principles are highlighted to help guide your understanding of building effective relationships between children and their families. This is the education you could use to help young learners succeed in a variety of settings.
What Is Child Studies?
Child studies explores developmentally appropriate skills and teaching techniques to support children ages birth through eight years old. A child studies degree offers an understanding of the strategies, tools, and assessments used to support children developing typically as well as those with exceptional needs.
What Do You Study in Child Studies?
Child studies covers a number of practical and theoretical aspects of early childhood education, including:
- Building relationships with families, learning professionals, and children
- How to thrive in challenging environments
- STEM education in the classroom
- Relevant classroom activities
- Language development
- Family structures
- And more!
What Is NAEYC? Why Is NAEYC Accreditation a Good Thing?
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to helping young children thrive and achieve their full potentials. Programmatic accreditation is demonstrable proof of an external review that the program has met or exceeded a specific set of standards, in this case the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Standards.
What NAEYC accreditation means for Post students is that the BS in Child Studies has gone through an external evaluation and found to meet or exceed quality educational standards while demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.
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