What do you learn in a bachelor's in child development?

Child development is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on social science, psychology, and education. A bachelor's in child development program teaches you the essential skills you'll need to help families and children from infancy to their adolescent years. In a child development course of study, you'll learn about the ways young people develop and hone professional skills to support children as they grow.

Read on to learn more about what to expect from a bachelor's program in child development.

What to expect from a child development bachelor's program

A bachelor's degree in child development emphasizes best practices in early childhood education and focuses on the physical, social, and emotional development of babies, toddlers, and children. A strong program should base coursework on National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidelines.

A bachelor's program in child development, whether a bachelor of arts or science, takes around four years to earn. The program can prepare you for a career in education or social work and provide you with a strong knowledge base of how to work with children and their families.

Bachelor's in child development curriculum

Many classes in a childhood development program overlap with health professions, sociology, and psychology coursework. Whether you enroll in an online, in-person, or hybrid program, you'll need to take some essential coursework. Some common courses include:

• Childhood psychology: This course examines the development of children of all ages, from infancy to adolescence. It explores children's perception of the world and how they process information emotionally, mentally, and physically.
• Educational psychology: This class explores the way people, including children, learn and process information. You'll learn how to enhance learning experiences in the classroom and through personal interactions.
• Early childhood curriculum: In this class, you'll study how children learn during early childhood. The coursework includes studies of language development, cognitive processing, and physical and motor skills.

Specializations and concentrations

You can consider pursuing a specialization to narrow the focus of your studies and pursue jobs in specific fields. Some common concentrations include:

• Special education and learning disabilities: Develop skills to support and assist children with disabilities.
• Family dynamics and parental relationships: Gain insight into family dynamics impact childhood development.
• Play therapy: Use toys, music, and games to help children learn, process their emotions, and express themselves.

Graduation requirements for a child development bachelor's degree

Curriculum requirements for a degree in child development include general education courses and upper-level coursework in psychology and human development. Some programs may require students to complete a final capstone or internship.

You may also have an option for a thesis, depending on your long-term research interests and your desire to attend graduate school. Like most baccalaureate programs, a bachelor's in child development program typically consists of 120 credits, which take four years to earn.