Overview

The Child, Youth, and Family Studies BSc program from Portland State University is for students interested in improving the lives of children, youth, and families. Whether you are a returning student with years of experience, an activist fighting for justice and equity, or a curious undergrad still exploring your options, CYFS will put you on the path to a career with children and young people.

Students learn to situate children and young people in current and historical social, political, and cultural contexts while developing the skills to practice effectively in youth work, education, social work, hospital, child welfare, early childhood, and other settings centering children, youth, and families.

You will experience a cutting-edge curriculum that promotes justice and equity as you build the skills to work effectively with children, youth, and families. Our program welcomes non-traditional students and embraces the wisdom you bring to the classroom. Our articulation agreements with 11 Oregon community colleges help us support you on your pathway to a bachelor’s degree. Our flexibility allows us to incorporate the needs of our students as full people. We will work together with you to design a schedule and curriculum that turns your dreams into real-world impact.

Career opportunities:

You can go in many different directions with a degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. Our innovative interdisciplinary program will equip you with a blend of professional preparation and academic rigor.

Through 300 hours of hands-on practicum experience, you will develop both practical professional skills and build relationships with education and social service professionals that will help you achieve your career goals. With a CYFS degree, you join a long list of other values-driven change agents including:

Early childhood educators
Elementary and secondary educators
Special educators
Human services professionals, case managers, and counselors
Outreach workers
Residential care treatment providers
Child welfare workers
Child Life specialists
Disability advocates

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Professional Self: Ways of Knowing

Professional Self: Critical Thinking

Professional Self: Identity

Professional Self: Integration

Practicum

Youth and Youth Work

Working with Diverse Families

Queer Families
Families in Lifecourse Perspective

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-30 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-06 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-05 00:00:00
Starting 2027-03-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

110

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IELTS

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Credits

180 SCH

Delivered

On Campus, Blended

Campus Location

Portland, United States

Disciplines

Family & Consumer Science Childhood Studies View 175 other Bachelors in Childhood Studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.5

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

You must have a cumulative (overall) grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 when converted to the U.S. 4.0 grading scale.
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. You may be admitted to Portland State University and an Intensive English Language Program (IELP) pathway if you do not meet PSU's English Language Proficiency Requirement. Learn more about PSU’s English language programs.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

34599 USD / year

≈ 34599 USD / year
Out-of-State

34599 USD / year

≈ 34599 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

12999 USD / year

≈ 12999 USD / year

Living costs

Portland

United States

1271 - 2262 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Child, Youth, and Family Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Career opportunities:

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Portland

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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