View our BS in Early Childhood Studies – Tempo completion requirements
- 180 quarter credits
- General courses (45 cr.)
- Core courses (75 cr.)
- Elective courses (55 cr.)
- Capstone course (5 cr.)
GAIN A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE
Explore the role of play and creativity in childhood development as well as the impact of trauma and mental health challenges.
EXPERIENCE QUALITY CURRICULUM
Coursework in our program is aligned with NAEYC standards and developed with input from subject matter experts.
WORK WITH A DEDICATED COACH
Partner with an engaged, experienced, and caring academic coach from the beginning of your learning experience through graduation.
READILY APPLICABLE LEARNINGS
Acquire new skills that you can apply immediately in the field.
Curriculum and Completion Requirements
The BS in Early Childhood Studies online program is delivered through Tempo Learning®. Instead of progressing toward your degree course by course, you’ll complete a series of competencies demonstrating the skills, knowledge, and abilities you’ve acquired.
Featured BS in Early Childhood Studies Courses
Health and Safety for Young Children [Tempo Learning®-Specific Course]
Keeping children safe and promoting their healthy development—physically and emotionally—is both a privilege and responsibility of every early childhood professional. In this course, educators' time is well spent learning principles of healthy nutrition; factors that support physical and mental health; developmentally appropriate strategies to promote physical activity; guidelines and procedures to ensure children's safety; and ways to promote wellness in children and families.
Becoming an Early Childhood Professional [Tempo Learning®-Specific Course]
Early childhood professionals are grounded in the historical and pedagogical foundation that built a field committed to fostering positive outcomes for young children and families. In this course educators explore the evolution of the field through theories and practitioners. They will also delve into the role, responsibilities, roles, ethics, resources, and current issues and trends that not only inform professional growth but also offer critical perspectives to inform their identities as early childhood professionals.
Early Childhood Development [Tempo Learning®-Specific Course]
A baby brightens when she hears a loving voice. A toddler takes a deep breath as he risks jumping into a pile of leaves. A preschooler writes her first word: me. How does development happen and what makes each child similar and unique? Content included in this course can increase educators' knowledge of the milestones, unique qualities, and influencing factors that help determine who young children are and how caring adults can foster their healthy development and learning.
Children With Exceptionalities [Tempo Learning®-Specific Course]
How can educators support the healthy development of every child? What do educators need to know to better understand what it means to have an exceptionality (or disability) at a very early age? This course offers insights into the legal and procedural requirements for supporting young children and their families; underscores the importance of early intervention; and explains the characteristics of children and services integral to fostering healthy development and learning.
Child, Family, and Community Relationships [Tempo Learning®-Specific Course]
Early childhood professionals know that children are deeply connected to their families in dynamic relationships that influence development and learning. With this awareness is mind, it becomes essential to develop and maintain supportive and caring relationships with significant adults in children's lives. The competencies in this course involve educators in thinking about theories essential to understanding child, family, and community relationships and strategies for fostering caring, respectful relationships with families and communities that promote children's healthy development and learning.
Admissions
You’ll work one-on-one with an Enrollment Specialist who’ll guide you through every step—from finding the right program to funding your education.
Requirements
Pursuing your bachelor’s in early childhood education online is a great step toward building a strong foundation in early childhood development. We’ve fine-tuned our admissions process to help you begin, whether you’re already involved in an early childhood setting or seeking to work with young children. Start your journey with:
No application fee
Easy credit transfer
No essay or SAT/ACT requirement
View Admission Criteria
Admission is considered for adult students who hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. Applicants must also meet one of the following criteria:
- You are 21 years of age or older.
- You are less than 21 years of age with at least 12 quarter credits.
- You are an active member of the military or a veteran with documentation of service.
More information for international applicants.
Tuition Breakdown
Make your online learning journey more attainable through savings opportunities such as partner and military tuition reductions, credit transfer, and our Believe & Achieve Scholarship®.
Tuition Savings
Prior Learning Credits
Scholarships
Stay Inspired. Stay on Track. Save Money.
Discover progress-based savings that inspire you to stay on track to graduation.
Progress at Your Pace. Control Your Cost.
Walden’s Tempo Learning® programs follow a subscription-based pricing format. Students are billed a flat-rate for each 3-month subscription term. All pricing is represented in U.S. dollars and is subject to change.
| Program | Subscription Period Tuition | Subscription Period PROGRAM Fee | Subscription Period Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS in Early Childhood Studies | $1,550 | $175 | 3-month subscription period |
| You may be able to complete your BS in Early Childhood Studies degree in 15 months for under $8,000.* | |||
March 3, 2025
| Program | Subscription Period Tuition | Subscription Period PROGRAM Fee | Subscription Period Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS in Early Childhood Studies | $1,600 | $180 | 3-month subscription period |
| You may be able to complete your BS in Early Childhood Studies degree in 15 months for under $8,000.* | |||
*Represents Tempo Learning® format, Believe & Achieve Scholarship, and the fastest pace of our top 25% transfer students in this program in the Tempo Learning® format. Your actual total program time and costs will depend on your individual pace and transfer credits. A student’s pace is usually determined by their experience, ability to work independently, and availability. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for this program. Our financial aid advisors can help you identify funding opportunities to help you pay for your education.
Career Opportunities
Work With Families
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool, and Daycare
Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschool and daycare programs.
Expected growth: -2%1
Estimated annual wage: $36,550–$69,3501
Inspire and Educate
Childcare Workers
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions.
Expected growth: -1%2
Estimated annual wage: $22,450–$36,2002
1Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job outlook | Estimated wage (as of May 2023)
2Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job outlook | Estimated wage (as of May 2023)
No guarantee is made that a person who enrolls in the online BS in Early Childhood Studies program will obtain a job or will earn the stated salaries. Wage estimates are based on the 10th–75th percentile.
Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of this online bachelor’s in early childhood education program, you will be able to:
Promote environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for all children (birth–8).
Apply knowledge of child development to support positive outcomes for all children.
Develop respectful and responsive partnerships with families and communities to support the healthy development and learning of young children.
Differentiate practices to support a socially, culturally, and linguistically diverse population of young children and families, including those with exceptionalities.
Apply reflective, collaborative, and critical perspectives to professional practice that promote advocacy and social change.
Meet Your Academic Team
Our seasoned educators and experts are dedicated to nurturing your growth and development as you earn your bachelor of early childhood education online.
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BS in Early Childhood Studies FAQ
What is early childhood education?
Early childhood education is the education of children from birth through age 8—a critical period of cognitive, social, and emotional growth and development for children.
Why is early childhood education important?
A child’s early years lay the foundation for their future development, providing a strong base for lifelong learning and learning abilities, including cognitive and social development. Research continues to emphasize the importance of early childhood education as an essential building block of a child’s future success.
What areas of expertise can you develop while earning a BS in Early Childhood Studies?
Walden University’s BS in Early Childhood Studies, delivered in a competency-based format, is designed for education professionals who wish to develop the skills necessary to be successful in their early childhood education career. Walden’s degree program includes the following core competencies:
- Health and Safety for Young Children
- Becoming an Early Childhood Professional
- Early Childhood Development
- Children With Exceptionalities
- Child, Family, and Community Relationships
- Culturally Responsive Practice
- Social-Emotional Development and Positive Guidance
- Effective Practices for Quality Programs Serving Young Children
- Early Literacy
- Observation, Assessment, and Planning
- Play, Creativity, and the Arts
- Effective Practice for Infants and Toddlers
- Meaningful Learning Experiences
- Learning and Teaching in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings
- Early Childhood Professionalism
What is the Perry Preschool Project?
The Perry Preschool Project is one of the most famous studies on the effects of attending preschool and is often a core topic in bachelor’s in early education programs.1 Conducted from 1962 to 1967, the Perry Preschool Project provided a high-quality preschool education to 3- and 4-year-old African American children who were living in poverty and deemed to be at high risk of school failure. By the time these preschool participants were 27–40 years of age, they had a number of successes as compared with the control group of students who had not attended preschool.
1Source: https://evidencebasedprograms.org/programs/perry-preschool-project
What is NAEYC?
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional organization dedicated to promoting high-quality early learning for all young children. Walden is a proud year-round sponsor of NAEYC, and the coursework in our BS in Early Childhood Studies program is aligned with NAEYC standards.
Why is technology in early childhood classrooms important?
Integrating technology into the classroom is important for a few different reasons. Not only does it cut costs for textbooks and other classroom materials, but it also allows for greater access to a wide range of online educational tools for students. By allowing more access to early childhood education through technology, we’re also preparing our children for our technologically advanced society. Additionally, certain programs and applications can help teachers and administrators track which resources are working best for their students.
Are child development and early childhood studies the same thing?
Child development and early childhood studies are related but distinct fields. Child development is a broader field that focuses on the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth of children from birth through adolescence, examining how children change and grow over time. Early childhood studies, however, covers topics related to the education, care, and development of young children from birth to age eight. When you enroll in the BS in Early Childhood Studies program at Walden, you will gain an understanding of child development that you can then apply to support positive outcomes for young learners.
What is the difference between early childhood studies and early childhood education?
Early childhood studies offers a broad understanding of child development and the exploration of various factors that impact early childhood experiences and environments. Early childhood education tends to focus on teaching methods and curriculum development for young children. With Walden’s BS in Early Childhood Studies, you will acquire insights into support for children’s physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being as well as learn best practices for early childhood programs and pedagogy.
What are the career opportunities with a bachelor’s in early childhood studies?
There are a number of careers and workplace settings for those with a bachelor’s in early childhood studies. Since early childhood ranges from age 0 to 8, workplace settings include childcare centers and services as well as elementary schools. Walden’s BS in Early Childhood Studies has a strong focus on the traits and skills of an early childhood professional and incorporates content on helping children develop, serving children and their families, and advocating for programs and policies based on best practices for supporting all children.
Can I transfer credits to the online bachelor’s in early childhood studies program?
Walden’s BS in Early Childhood Studies accepts transfer credits up to 135 quarter credits. While Walden’s program is competency-based, all competencies are mapped to five quarter-credit courses. If an incoming BS in Early Childhood Studies student is eligible for transfer of credit for a specific course, they will receive transfer of credit for all competencies aligned with that course. Contact an Enrollment Specialist to learn more about transferring credit into a Walden competency-based degree program.