5 Degrees for Those Interested in Child Development
Helping young people reach their full potential is a richly rewarding experience, and one that inspires many careers in child development. Many different degree programs can be adapted to focus on working with children, but some are especially suited for those with a passion for child welfare.
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A wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees can result in lifelong careers working with children and young adults.
From pediatric psychology to early childhood education to child welfare advocacy, working with children can result in a career filled with complex and compassionate problem solving.
And the first step to many of those careers is getting the right training through one of many college degrees focused on working with children.
Frequently, specialized careers working with children and their families require professional licensure, many of which necessitate completing the education and practicum of a related degree program.
If you want to kickstart a rewarding career in child development, here are five degree programs we recommend to gain the skills you need to help children succeed.
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Inspire the Next Generation through EDUCATION
Fundamental in child development, teachers and educational support staff form the backbone of many communities and play essential roles in the lives of young people.
Responsible for so much more than just education, teachers and administrators work with children to help them develop critical thinking and essential life skills, especially in the area of early childhood education.
Through a combination of expert instruction and hands-on experience, prospective educators can begin a career in everything from K-12 teaching to curriculum design to teacher specializations.
Available at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, an education degree prepares you not only for classroom leadership, but also for understanding how young minds develop and grow.
Teachers are in-demand across all disciplines and grades, so if you’re looking for a program that empowers you to make a difference, working with children through a teaching degree might be a perfect fit.
Help Children Communicate with SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY and AUDIOLOGY
Speech-language pathologists provide transformative care to those impacted by communication and swallowing disorders, leaving a lasting impact.
Pediatric speech pathology is a specialization that helps children as young as toddlers discover effective ways to communicate by working through issues such as stuttering or developmental delay.
A field that has grown substantially, pediatric speech therapy empowers young people by expanding their ability to communicate with one another and their guardians.
While some children naturally grow out of fluency issues, seeing a pediatric speech therapist at a young age can help accelerate this process, leading to better performance in school and reduced social isolation.
In a related discipline, audiologists help children with balance and hearing impairments caused by disorders associated with the inner-ear.
Licensed speech pathologists and audiologists working with children or adults require a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology, something that can be prepared for through undergraduate or post-bacc training in communication science disorders.
Improve the Lives of At-Risk Children Using SOCIAL WORK
Specifically trained to advocate for child welfare, social workers use their skills to connect children in need — and their families — to essential services.
Child welfare social workers are empathetic and compassionate champions for social justice, helping young people combat food and housing insecurity, identify abuse and navigate life changes.
Importantly, child welfare social workers are experts at helping marginalized youth understand and adapt to legal and social challenges.
A degree in social work is the first step in working with children to address social inequity, as licensed social workers must have completed a degree program and any associated training.
Pairing your advanced degree in social work with an undergraduate education — in areas like gender studies, anthropology, and psychology — can prepare you to work with children in many different settings.
Promote Mental Wellness in Children with PSYCHOLOGY
A career in child psychology is filled with countless ways to help young people gain mental health skills that foster lifelong wellness.
Pediatric psychology, a field which requires an advanced degree to become licensed, empowers psychologists to use their training to treat and prevent mental health issues in children.
Interdisciplinary at its core, child psychologists often collaborate with occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to create treatment plans that equip young people to overcome psychological issues.
A combination of coursework in child development and robust clinical practice experience make the graduate degrees in clinical and applied psychology ideal for those who want to work directly with children experiencing mental health issues.
Understanding the adversities children face can help pediatric psychologists find new ways to promote mental wellness and provide support to young people and their families.
Allow Children to Express Themselves through THE ARTS
Studies have shown that childhood participation in the arts can greatly increase self-esteem, reduce stress and improve the quality of life for children of all ages.
Whether through school, community organizations or private lessons, a career in children’s arts education allows you to turn your passion into purpose.
Dance, art, theatre and music comprise the core of Pacific’s performing and visual arts programs, and students in each have the potential to not only encourage young people through performance but also create the next generation of artists.
Degrees in the arts give graduates a unique opportunity to work with children to help them not only express themselves, but also better understand the perspectives of others.
Specialized art programs — like undergraduate degrees in music education and applied theatre — allow those interested in careers working with children to make an impact in the creative settings that matter most to them.
Finish your undergraduate degree in four years, guaranteed. Save even more money on the path to your career by graduating on time with as little debt as possible.