Child Studies, BS

Bachelor of Science in Child Studies

Normal Time for Completion: Four Years

This program is offered at the Main Campus and online.

Students in the Child Studies program learn appropriate skills and techniques to support the development of children from birth through eight years old. Students gain an understanding of the characteristics of infants, toddlers, and young children; their developmental stages; and strategies that support children developing typically, as well as, those with exceptional needs. In their practicum and capstone courses, students learn to work collaboratively with early childhood professionals, peers, co-workers, and families. Additionally, students put learned theories into practice while planning, teaching and assessing young learners. The Child Studies program prepares students to meet the standards for early childhood professional preparation set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Connecticut State Office of Early Childhood Teacher Credential (ECTC), Preschool Level B. Students may seek employment in settings such as private schools, Head Start programs, early care and education centers; departments of social services, family resource centers, children's museums and recreation centers. 

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/.

NAEYC Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Child Studies program is 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.

Professionalism, Prevention of Abuse, and Safety in the Field of Early Childhood Education

Children deserve to be safe and well taken care of. Thus, one critical way to ensure this is to make sure that adults caring for and working with children have undergone a comprehensive background check and fingerprinting.

Background Checks & Fingerprinting Information

A bachelor's degree candidate in Child Studies you will be required to complete observations, as well as practicums and capstone field experiences. A criminal background check and/or finger printing may be required for any such observations and/or placements working with children.

Please note: The requirement for criminal background checks and/or fingerprinting is at the sole discretion of your chosen site/s in accordance with local, state, and federal law. Students are responsible for understanding and meeting any such requirements prior to engaging the aforementioned observations or field experiences.

Bachelor of Science in Child Studies Program Outcomes

1. Students will apply developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments that are reflective of the multiple influences on early development and learning.
2. Students will apply their knowledge and understanding of family, culture and community characteristics when building effective relationships with families and children.
3. Students will observe and document children's learning using appropriate assessment tools and approaches while forming assessment partnerships with families and other professionals.
4. Students will construct and implement an engaging curriculum that is meaningful, challenging, and achievable to all children both as a group and as individuals.
5. Students will demonstrate ethical guidelines (NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment) and other professional standards related to early childhood practice.
6. Students will demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on their work making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources.
7. Students will develop a professional commitment to children, families, colleagues and the early childhood community
8. Students will communicate effectively and professionally both orally and through writing.