Child Development and Family Studies

Overview

Working with preschool children as they develop their academic, social, and cognitive skills is a rewarding career and one that has increasing job opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 10 percent through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. The College of Education and Human Services is offering an online bachelor’s degree which prepares students for a career with young children and meets the West Virginia Department of Education requirements for Pre-K Certification.

Students will learn best practices for early childhood and focus on advocacy and leadership in the field of early education. The program incorporates the West Virginia Core Knowledge and Core Competencies and the West Virginia Early Standards Framework in order to include the most recent requirements set forth by West Virginia agencies. The curriculum follows the standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

All of the courses are offered online except for CPR/First Aid and field experience which can be completed in the students’ home location under the supervision of experienced educators.

Admissions Requirements

Minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Accreditation

West Virginia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. West Virginia University's Professional Education Preparation Unit is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Courses Required

120

Total Credit Hours

Course Formats

Online Courses

Tuition and Financial Aid

Estimated Tuition and Fees

The Child Development and Family Studies requires 120 credit hours to complete. Cost per credit hour is $426.

$51,120

Residents and Non-Residents

Estimated Tuition Based on Credit Hours
Credit Hours	Cost
1	$426
3	$1,278
6	$2,556
9	$3,834

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available. Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine their eligibility for federal and state funds as well as scholarships. WVU’s FAFSA Code is 003827.

Admissions Process

Admissions

Apply with the online Undergraduate Application
Pay undergraduate application fee
Request official transcripts from all institutions attended (other than WVU), or high school transcripts if fewer than 20 college credits and send to:
WVU Office of Admissions
PO Box 6009
Morgantown, WV 26506-6009

Apply Now

Curriculum

There are two areas of emphasis: Child Development (non-certification track) and Preschool Education Birth-4 (with Pre-K certification).

Students must complete 120 credits to graduate.

41-43 credits general education
31 credits child development
20 credits additional required courses
20-22 credits electives
9 credits Internship/field experience in child development.

The Pre-K certification track requires students to pass the PRAXIS Core Exam prior to completing two semesters in the program or to have a score of 26 on the ACT or 1170 on the SAT.

Note: Students must earn grades of C- or better in all courses with the CDFS course designator. If a student’s overall GPA drops below 2.5, he or she may be subject to academic probation and potentially dismissal from the program.

Note:All CDFS courses are delivered 100% online, with two exceptions. Students will be required to obtain CPR & First Aid certification from their local Red Cross Agency, and all professional field experience courses (CDFS 211, 212, 316, & 491A) will be completed in the student’s hometown and must be approved prior to placement by the instructor of record. When possible, the student’s place of employment may qualify for certain field experience requirements.

In addition to General Education Foundation Courses (course options may be found here), the following courses are required:

PR: C&I 410. This course is designed for individuals who will be working in early childhood education Pre-K to 4th grade. Topics include: working with families of young children; designing, teaching and evaluating experiential lessons for small groups of children; and gathering and assessing developmental data on small groups of children. A semester-long field experience with a class of young children is required.

Next Start Date: January 13, 2020 Apply Now

Careers

What can you do with a Child Development and Family Studies?

Students who graduate from WVU Online with the Child Development and Family Studies B.S. degree may be prepared for the following careers. These are only a few examples of some of the many opportunities that will be open to you with this degree. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for some positions.

Information about careers on this list comes from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Child, Family and School Social Worker

Projected Growth: 10-14% *Bright Outlook

Secondary School Teacher

Projected Growth: 5-9%

Special Education Teacher – Kindergarten & Elementary

Projected Growth: 5-9%

Elementary School Teacher

Projected Growth: 5-9% *Bright Outlook

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