Eastern Washington University’s major in Children’s Studies was the first in the nation. The curriculum of this interdisciplinary program focuses on the developmental, learning and social issues of children from birth to 18. The Children’s Studies Program incorporates coursework from departments across the university, including Education, Psychology, Geography, and Social Work.
Children’s Studies BA Child Life MA Children’s Studies Minor
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Our graduates have a great record of finding employment soon after graduation.
The Children’s Studies Club is a great opportunity to meet your fellow students, develop leadership skills and get involved. Contact Katie Walker for more information at kriley14@ewu.edu.
Our curriculum prepares students for a wide variety of occupational possibilities:
Adoption Counselor
After-School Program Director
Child & Family Support Specialist
Child Life Specialist
Juvenile Justice Worker
Want a more in-depth explanation about our program and career paths related to Children’s Studies? Check out our Q&A videos below:
A new approach to studying children and childhood globally and reflectively from the perspectives of various disciplines through the following set of shared principles:
Our program provides students with opportunities to learn and further their education in a variety of settings. Students can study all of our options on the Cheney campus, study options A & B with almost completely online major course work, and study option C on the Bellevue campus. Furthermore, our interdisciplinary foundation has grown into a set of Children Studies course work that provides students with a holistic approach to understanding children’s lives and experiences. This approach enables students to develop a “toolbox” of skills that allows them, as graduates, to work with a variety of children in different settings and situations. Finally, each option has been created to provide students with a clear path and direction onto a career working with children.
Each week we highlight a different career path on our Facebook page!
The major has options: early childhood education, community program development and research. Students completing a degree in Children’s Studies might consider careers such as:
The interdisciplinary Children’s Studies major provides students a strong holistic background in the study of the development and learning of children, from birth to adolescence, in a variety of social contexts. Theory and practice from the disciplines of psychology and education form the foundation for this integrated curriculum. The Children’s Studies major will fulfill partial requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree.
The core courses required by all students focus on:
Each option includes its own set of required courses specific to that field.
Completion of a high school (or equivalent) degree is required for admission to EWU. Students considering a major in Children Studies are required to take two years of a single foreign language in high school, or one year of a single college-level foreign language.
The BA in Children’s Studies requires an internship or practicum. Students receive academic credit as interns by working with employers in positions related to their career interests. The internship is a collaborative learning process initiated by the student and facilitated by their academic advisor, their site supervisor, and the Career Services Internship Office.
Students primarily initiate the internship process. However, it is a good idea to talk with your faculty advisor, check out resources in the Children’s Studies office, and/or visit the EWU Career Services Internship office for ideas about possible/appropriate internship sites and contacts.
The Children’s Studies major requires 4 credits of internship or a total of 160 hours. However, your internship does much more than just meet your degree requirement; it is a way for you to strengthen your resume, build your career portfolio, and extend your professional network. Students can elect to take 1-2 credits a quarter for several quarters rather than all 4 credits in one quarter. They can also elect to work with different employers in different quarters. In a typical quarter, the number of hours per week you would work onsite would follow the guideline below:
1 credit = 4 hours per week
2 credits = 8 hours per week
3 credits = 12 hours per week
4 credits = 16 hours per week
If you are struggling to find a location for your internship please reach out to childrenstudies@ewu.edu. We have a list of internship sites that have worked with EWU student’s before and can help provide some locations that are relevant to your interests.
On a weekly basis, we highlight one of these sites on our Facebook page.
To obtain a BA in Children’s Studies, you should meet with an advisor. An advisor will help you choose the option best for you, declare your major, and help you make sure you’re meeting all of the requirements.
Option A Students, Please Contact:
Katie Walker, PhD
Belinda Hammond, EdD
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Option B Students, Please Contact:
Deanna Trella, PhD
P: 509.359.6085
E: dtrella@ewu.edu