What You’ll Study in a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Development

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and when it comes to supporting the social, emotional, cognitive, physical and academic development of young learners, that’s true. Early childhood development professionals often work closely with parents, caregivers and community members to ensure that children from birth until the age of five years old are getting the targeted support that they need to achieve key milestones. 

An early childhood development degree can provide you with the foundation needed to pursue careers in early learning and childcare settings. Our guide explores the primary topics that are covered in the bachelor’s in early childhood development program.

What Do You Study in a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Development?

A bachelor’s degree in early childhood development aims to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application to ensure students develop substantial expertise in child development and the educational needs of early learners. Coursework covers key topics, such as child development, teaching methods, curriculum design, family and community engagement, inclusive practices, behavior support and supervised field experience. Graduates of this program understand how young children learn, and they are equipped with the skills needed to respond with age-appropriate, research-backed instructional techniques.

How a Bachelor’s Degree Goes Beyond Associate-Level Study

The primary difference between the associate in early childhood development and the bachelor’s in early childhood development is that bachelor’s-level study dives deeper into curriculum planning, observation and assessment, behavior interventions, administration and the role of technology in early childhood settings. 

Building on Foundational Early Childhood Knowledge

Students begin the program by focusing on core areas of early childhood development, such as growth and development, classroom management, health and safety, language arts, science and math concepts and family relations. They gain a strong foundation in the primary domains of childhood development before moving onto more advanced, in-depth coursework.

Moving Into Advanced Professional Practice

In the latter half of the program, coursework expands into more advanced and specialized topics. Students complete courses on curriculum design, administration, inclusive care practices, behavior support, observation and assessment. In addition, they benefit from a supervised field experience that bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and applied learning.

Child Development Theory as a Foundation

Child development is the central focus of the degree program, with students developing an advanced understanding of the principles of child development.

Understanding How Children Grow and Learn

The first five years of a child’s life are defined by a period of rapid growth and development. Throughout the bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, students build a strong foundation in the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and academic growth that takes place during these critical, formative years.

Applying Development Knowledge in Educational Settings

However, the degree program extends beyond child development theory. Students rely on their developmental knowledge to consider the best classroom practices, effective learning environments and age-appropriate support, allowing them to connect these principles to real-world early learning settings.

Curriculum Design and Teaching Methods

Play is the heart of the early childhood experience, but play is more than just fun and games — it is the true work of childhood. Those looking to specialize in early childhood development will explore the effective curriculum design strategies that work best in early learning settings.

Learning How to Plan for Early Learners

Structured curriculum anchors early childhood education programs, but these learning experiences look distinctly different from those in primary school settings. Students in the bachelor’s in early childhood development program learn to create developmentally appropriate learning experiences that leverage the power of hands-on, play-based learning.

Exploring Subject-Specific Early Learning Approaches

The early childhood development degree curriculum covers multiple ways of supporting early learning, with students completing subject-specific coursework in language arts concepts, science and math concepts, children’s literature and music and movement for children. 

Family Partnerships and Community Engagement

Parent involvement continues to be a critical factor in the success of early childhood programming, with an increasing number of early childhood development professionals focusing on strategies to increase family partnerships. The bachelor’s in early childhood development curriculum prepares aspiring educators by addressing the importance of relationships beyond the classroom.

Understanding the Role of Families in Early Learning

Families play a vital role in the student experience. While early learners may explore foundational concepts within the classroom setting, it’s up to the families to ensure that students can connect those concepts to real-life experiences. With coursework covering family dynamics and community relations, students are prepared to incorporate family engagement within their curriculum design.

Supporting Diverse Children and Families

Students in this program learn to identify supportive and inclusive practices that respond to the diversity of children and their families, helping them to become responsive educators who can communicate effectively with students, families and the community at large.

Behavior, Guidance and Supportive Learning Environments

The range of ability and understanding among early learners is wide, with educators having to understand how to differentiate and adapt based on the individual needs of students. Behavior management and instructional support is a main academic theme in this program, preparing graduates for the modern education landscape.

Learning Classroom Guidance and Behavior Support

Students study the best practices for guiding and supporting young learners, giving them actionable insight that can be applied in early learning settings. This program prepares graduates to support positive behavior and to implement age-appropriate classroom management strategies.

Going Deeper Into Behavior and Special Needs Support

Bachelor’s level study expands upon the basics of classroom management in early childhood settings and takes an in-depth look at the specialized approaches that may be needed to support learners who require additional support. Students complete coursework that focuses on behavior management for special needs students and the leading teaching methods for special needs students.

Inclusive Practices and Special Needs Education

In early childhood settings, every student should feel valued and respected. In an increasingly diverse landscape, the next generation of early childhood educators must be prepared to implement inclusive practices that cultivate a strong sense of community in the classroom. 

Studying Exceptional Children and Inclusive Care

The bachelor’s degree in early childhood development program encourages students to think deeper about the educational experience. They explore strategies for the best ways to create learning environments that are not only safe and supportive, but also accommodating to students with a wide range of developmental and learning needs.

Exploring Intervention and Responsive Teaching

The early childhood intervention course within this program prepares students to become response educators who are ready to implement targeted strategies as needed to support differentiated instruction in early childhood environments. It’s been shown that inclusive early childhood educational settings foster deeper levels of empathy and respect among all students, improve learning outcomes and enhance social skill development.

Observation, Assessment and Professional Decision-Making

To ensure students have a comprehensive background in the best practices in early childhood education, the curriculum for the early childhood development degree goes beyond planning instruction to incorporate evaluating learning outcomes into the coursework.

Learning to Observe Children Thoughtfully

Students in this program explore the best ways to observe young learners and evaluate their social, emotional and academic development. 

Using Assessment to Inform Practice

The early childhood development field is becoming increasingly evidence-based, with future educators needing to know how to use age-appropriate techniques to assess young learners effectively and fairly. Throughout the program coursework, students learn how to evaluate assessment results and use data to drive classroom decisions, support strategies and curriculum planning.

Field Experience and the Connection Between Theory and Practice

Educating children during their formative years involves strategic practice and intentional instructional techniques. This program combines theoretical coursework with field experience to create an applied learning experience. 

Early Practical Experience in the Program

In the lower division of the program, students gain early practical experience working with infants and toddlers under supervision. This initial experience helps students gain the confidence they need to take on more in-depth coursework and advanced theory throughout the rest of their degree program.

Advanced Supervised Field Experience

The supervised field experience serves as the culmination of the bachelor’s degree curriculum, allowing students to connect coursework with professional early childhood settings. Students gain hands-on experience working with children and receive real-time support from supervisors with extensive expertise in the field, helping them prepare for professional roles after graduation.

Take Your Next Step in Early Childhood Development at Potomac

An early childhood development degree supports the development of a comprehensive, practical foundation in the teaching and learning strategies that best support young children from birth until the age of 5 years old. Potomac’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development introduces students to the methods and techniques required to create age-appropriate lessons in early childhood settings, ultimately preparing the next generation of educators.

Review the bachelor’s in early childhood development curriculum, and explore how Potomac’s program aligns with your personal and professional goals.