Applied Science (Early Childhood Studies), BAS
Sharpen professional skills in communication, critical thinking and leadership through the early childhood studies concentration. You'll be ready to step confidently into rewarding careers across a wide range of early childhood education settings.
Quick facts
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Applied Science (Early Childhood Studies), BAS degree description
The Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in early childhood studies is a two-year program for you, if you already have an Associate of Applied Science degree in early childhood education or a similar field.
You gain skills in communication, critical thinking and leadership so you can positively affect lifelong learning for children from birth to age 5 (not yet in kindergarten). Through online coursework, you deepen your understanding of the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of young children. You learn to set developmentally appropriate learning goals, create and support effective instructional strategies, and develop highly individualized instruction for young learners.
This program integrates experiential learning opportunities into the curriculum, enabling you to put coursework into practice. You must be able to work or volunteer with learners in an early childhood setting (birth to age 5, not yet in kindergarten) for at least 15 hours per month throughout your junior and senior year.
If you don't have an AAS degree, you may consider the Bachelor of Arts in Education program in educational studies with a concentration in early childhood studies, which has a parallel curriculum.
This program doesn't lead to teacher certification. If you're seeking teacher certification, you should enroll in one of the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation undergraduate programs that lead to institutional recommendation for teacher certification.
Why specialize in early childhood studies at ASU?
Whether your passion is early childhood education, multilingual learning, special education, gifted education or postsecondary leadership, MLFC degrees and certificates meet you where you are and move you toward where you want to go.
With flexible pathways at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, you gain the expertise to support diverse learners, strengthen inclusive practices and lead with purpose in classrooms and beyond.
Additional details
At ASU, you take part in every tradition and tap into all the resources of a major university, while also connecting with the more close-knit MLFC community of people who share your passions and professional interests.
Getting involved is easy, too, with options like community service, cultural and heritage events, fraternity and sorority life, intramural sports and fitness, Sun Devil traditions, Changemaker Central and much more.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| CDE 430 Infant and Toddler Development in the Family |
| ECD 310 Applied Early Child Development |
| ECD 322 Cognition and General Knowledge: Science, Math, Logic and Reasoning |
| ECD 325 Supporting Dual Language Learners |
| ECD 327 Becoming a Teacher Leader |
| ECD 330 Nurturing Social-Emotional Connections in Early Childhood |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply theories of child development, culture, and context to make evidence-based decisions that support children’s learning and well-being.
- Collaborate with families and community organizations to support the learning and well-being of young children.
- Use observation, documentation, and assessment tools to inform planning and support individualized instruction in early learning environments.
- Implement developmentally, culturally, and linguistically responsive teaching strategies that promote each child’s learning, development, and sense of belonging.
- Plan curriculum using early learning standards and child-centered approaches.
- Create advocacy strategies to address an early childhood policy issue.
Apply theories of child development, culture, and context to make evidence-based decisions that support children’s learning and well-being.
Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
This program is not available to first-year students.
Transfer admission requirements:
Students applying to this program must have completed an Associate of Applied Science degree from a regionally accredited institution and be employed or volunteer in an early childhood setting (e.g., Head Start, child development center, early care and education center, private or public preschools, home-based child care) to successfully participate and complete coursework. Students who have earned an AAS degree from a regionally accredited Arizona community college may be eligible to transfer up to 75 credits towards the BAS degree.
A current ASU student must have completed an AAS degree program in early childhood education or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution to change to this major.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Because of climate change, geopolitical instability or economic factors, the United Nations and other institutions predict that, for the foreseeable future, migration will increase globally. Learners will migrate to new communities, and in response, educators will be asked to meet the needs of students who speak languages other than English and who bring a variety of cultures into classrooms and learning environments.
Education students can prepare for this reality by participating in Global Education programs, in which they can expand their notion of normal schooling and deepen their understanding of how to foster inclusive and inspiring learning environments.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Care Worker | -2.0% | $34,980 | Learn more |
| Education Professor | 2.5% | $75,350 | Learn more |
| Preschool Director | -3.1% | $59,300 | Learn more |
| Preschool Teacher | 4.5% | $38,140 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this early childhood studies concentration prepares you for
This program is a great option for those who are already working in the field of early childhood education.
Graduates may become early childhood educators in various settings, such as Head Start programs, early care and education centers, private preschools, nonprofit centers and home-based service providers. Other career opportunities include center-based administrators or directors; topic specialists who provide resources, training and technical assistance to early childhood educators and programs; program managers; family support specialists and consultants.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Division for Advancing Education Policy, Practice
|
ED 102
ASUeducation@asu.edu
480-965-9995
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
