Bachelor of Science in Child Studies
Pursue a Career with a Purpose with a Degree in Child Studies
This program is offered on Campus and Online.
What is child studies? Child studies is a multidisciplinary field that explores child development and developmentally appropriate pedagogy. The foundational areas of child studies theory and application are social sciences, humanities, and behavioral sciences. As a child studies major at Post University, your broad base of knowledge across these three core areas of study can help prepare you for a new position or promotion in early care and education centers, departments of social services, family resources centers, children’s museums, or recreation centers. This program will prepare you to work with children, from newborn babies to age 8 in public and private settings.
Program Highlights
Through hands-on activities and field experiences, you will acquire the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to support the development of children, from babies up to 8–year–olds. You will gain an understanding of the 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 needs. Additionally, the Bachelor of Science in Child Studies emphasizes applied theory in areas such as planning, teaching, and assessing young learners.
Through the lens of your developmental knowledge you’ll learn to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments, as well as how to use effective assessment tools. You’ll explore the mechanics of an engaging curriculum that balances the learning goals of children as a group and as individuals. Ethical principles will guide your understanding of building effective relationships with families and children in diverse communities.
What can You do with a BS in Child Studies degree?
Students may seek employment in settings such as early care and education centers, Head Start programs, private and public schools (non-certified teaching positions), departments of social services, family resource centers, children’s museums, and recreation centers. Graduates may be employed in positions such as infant, toddler, and preschool teachers, paraprofessionals, child advocates, child development specialists, curriculum coordinators, or center directors.
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/.
At Post University, our focus is to help better prepare you for the real world. Our faculty consists of top practitioners who have extensive experience in the education field. They bring their expertise and integrity into the classroom, while our professional staff provides a personal level of support of your goals. From the moment you enroll, they will be available to answer any questions and work to help you overcome any obstacles and apply for rewarding careers upon graduation.
Visit the University Catalog >> for Curriculum, Course Descriptions, and Program Outcomes.
Child Studies FAQs
What is child and family studies?
Child studies explores developmentally appropriate skills and teaching techniques to support children ages birth through eight years old. A child studies degree helps you understand, develop strategies, and utilize tools and assessments to support children developing typically, along with those with exceptional needs, allowing you to work together with early childhood professionals and families to support learning.
What can you do with a child studies degree?
There are numerous career paths to choose from when you earn a degree in child studies.
You can work in early care and education centers, private and public schools (non-certified teaching positions), Head Start programs, social services, family resources centers, or recreation centers.
Careers can include: early childcare teacher, curriculum development, social worker, child care licensing specialist, children’s museum or rec center program director.
If you have a passion for helping young children excel and want a degree that creates a variety of career options, this is the degree for you!
What do you study in child studies?
Child studies helps you develop the skill to effectively communicate and build relationships with families, other professionals, and children in diverse communities. You will learn how to thrive in challenging environments, expand your knowledge and skills in early childhood education, STEM education in the classroom, developmental classroom activities, language development, and study family structures, gaining a cross-cultural perspective to put these skills together when planning, teaching, and assessing young learners.
Your future and future generations are waiting. Contact us to enroll in our Waterbury, Connecticut-based program or in our online Child Studies degree program now.
2023 NAEYC Program Outcomes: AS Early Childhood Education & BS Child Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Child Studies and Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education programs at Post University are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, 1313 L Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, D.C. 20005, 202. 232.8777. The accreditation term for the Bachelor of Science in Child Studies program runs from March 2019 through March 2026. The accreditation term for the Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education program runs from March 2019 through March 2026.
Get Started on Your Degree!