Bachelor's Degree in Child Study

Shaping the Minds of Tomorrow

You can make a positive difference in the lives of children. From birth through eight years old, children need a strong foundation of support and knowledge to realize lifelong success. By becoming an early childhood educator, you can play a crucial role in child development and early learning.

Parents, families, and communities need devoted, nurturing — and prepared — caregivers who are invested in children’s growth. Early childhood educators focus on nurturing children’s social, physical, emotional, and cognitive skills as well as developing their abilities in language and literacy.

Hands-On Learning

Students will have extensive opportunities for hands-on learning and will gain experience in a variety of early childhood settings, including our state-of-the-art Reggio Emilia-inspired Riverside Magnet School.

Graduates of our BS Child Study and AS Early Childhood Education program will obtain their Early Childhood Teacher Credential (ECTC). The ECTC will be required of all Connecticut teachers in state-funded programs by 2020, and Goodwin College has been approved for both the Infant/Toddler and Preschool levels.

Careers in Child Study

Your degree from Goodwin College will help prepare you for a career working with children and families as a:

• Child Advocate
• Child Care Administrator
• Child Care Teacher
• Curriculum Coordinator
• Early Childhood Director

This degree program is grounded in developmental theory and emerging educational trends in early childhood education. Upon completion of the program, students will have developed ethical decision-making abilities and the skills to foster relationships through creative problem-solving techniques. Early Childhood professionals must acquire these skills in order to lead high-quality programs for young children.

Admission requirements

Students entering the Bachelor of Science in Child Study must meet the following criteria:

• Pass a background check
• Complete ENG 101 – English Composition with a grade of "C" or better
• Students entering with a valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential will be awarded 9 credits (ECE 102 and one 6-credit CDA practicum toward elective credits) towards the Associate degree or Bachelor's degree.

Graduation requirements

Students must complete all of the general Bachelor of Science graduation requirements as stated in the catalog. In addition, students must complete all Early Childhood core courses, PSY 115 and PSY 365 with a minimum grade of "C" in each course and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3.

ECE 251 Student Teaching I and ECE 252 Student Teaching II are transferable into the program only if the student has completed an Associate degree in early childhood education and completed student teaching in order to complete his/her degree. The ECE 450 and ECE 451 Capstones are not transferable into the program from another institution.

Child Study Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor's Degree in child study program, graduates will be able to:

Create developmentally appropriate learning environments and instruction that are based on knowledge of each child’s strengths, interests, and needs and that enable each child to advance his or her learning. Create respectful, reciprocal relationships that acknowledge the complex characteristics of children’s families and communities and support families’ active and authentic engagement in their children’s development and learning. Reflect on and analyze their practice to improve outcomes for all children. Design, implement and evaluate developmentally meaningful and challenging curriculum for all children based on early learning standards and high-quality resources. Apply the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct to their work with children, families, and other early childhood professionals. Locate and use appropriate professional resources and engage with professional organizations to inform and improve their practice. Advocate for children, families, and the early childhood profession. Communicate effectively and professionally orally and in writing.

Goodwin University is an innovative learning community that empowers hard-working students to become sought-after employees. We tailor our programs to address the needs of employers, and we shape them to fit the lives of students. Classes are conveniently offered year-round — days, evenings, weekends, and online. Degrees may be flexibly layered across certificate, associate, bachelor's, and master's programs in a variety of in-demand fields.

Better still, we surround our students with the personal support and the professional guidance​ they need — not just to earn degrees, but to change lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.