Overview

The five emphases of the Child Development program at California State University Chico include: foundations of child development, child assessment and study, diversity and developmental context, professionalism, and critical thinking. Students are highly engaged in the coursework and career exploration plays a central role in the curriculum.

The following innovative components are included in the child development major:

Interdisciplinary coursework ranging from the fine arts to the natural and physical sciences,
Integration of supervised field experiences and internships with academic studies,
Opportunities to apply principles and best practices in campus child laboratory facilities and community sites.

Required Internships

There are three levels of supported internship experiences totaling over 250 hours. The first level is observing and working with children at an "introductory" level in an agency serving children. The second level is direct work with children in campus child laboratory facilities and community sites. The final level is as a member of a professional team in one of over 40 social service agencies that provide a broad range of services to children, from birth to 18 and their families. Students receive academic credit for internships. Students may engage in different types of internships or custom design their own program based on career goals.

Career Outlook

Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, oral and written communication, computer literacy, assessment, the application of evidence-informed practices, and team collaboration skills, allowing child development majors to find jobs in many different areas.

Child development graduates meet California state academic requirements for the Child Development Permit at the Site Supervisor level, which allows the holder to direct an early childhood program. Career opportunities include counseling, social work, family resource and referral specialization, child assessment, pre-k–12 public and private education, parent education, family services coordination, early education, intervention specialization, childcare administration, and human service positions. Advanced study may be needed for some of these career options.

Programme Structure

Courses included:

Observational Techniques

Child Development

Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum for Children: Theory to Practice

Methods of Inquiry in Child Development

Child Development Practicum: Advanced

Issues in Assessment for Children

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-01 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-01-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Chico, United States

Disciplines

Education Childhood Studies View 2243 other Bachelors in Education in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

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98 accuracy using real exam data
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Other requirements

General requirements

Completion of a university-preparatory secondary/high school program with a 3.0 (B in the U.S. system) or "Very Good" GPA

University-preparatory mathematics courses including beginning algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra. All must have passing grades (C or better, or the equivalent)

Must have English Proficiency

The SAT/ACT test is not required for admission. Although not required, higher-level test scores may allow you to be placed into higher level English and/or Math courses

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

19552 USD / year

≈ 19552 USD / year
Out-of-State

19552 USD / year

≈ 19552 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

8896 USD / year

≈ 8896 USD / year

Living costs

Chico

United States

1100 - 1600 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 Development.

Available Scholarships

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

About

Overview

Required Internships

Career Outlook

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

Chico

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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