Early Childhood Development and Education Major
Why Study Early Childhood Development and Education at Virginia Tech?
Our faculty have expertise in child development and conduct research on various intersections between development and learning. The Department of Human Development and Family Science also sponsors a state-of-the-art childcare facility, The Child Development Center for Learning and Research, which provides you with a variety of learning opportunities through observation and practice. A field study experience will also give you the hands-on teaching opportunities that will set you up for success in future classroom settings.
100%
Of Our Students Complete Fieldwork
22
Average Class Size
75
Years Providing Preschool to Local Children
Morgan Bowers '10
Morgan (BS '07, MA '10), who worked as a field study supervisor for Human Development when she was in college, is currently a school counselor at Crystal Spring Elementary School in Roanoke.
Gina Schnur, '18
Gina furthered her passion for studying children by completing a field study with Virginia Tech’s Child Development Center for Learning and Research and serving as a research assistant in the Children’s Emotions Lab. Gina also interned at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and is now studying human development and psychology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Amy Crow, '18
Amy’s always had a passion for working with children. She completed her field study requirement at two local elementary schools, shadowing teachers and engaging students. Amy says, “From that experience, I gained more confidence than I ever would have imagined, and I feel ready to teach my own elementary classroom in just a few years.” Amy completed the Masters of Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education program here at Virginia Tech and is now teaching first grade.
Vanessa Robinson, '18
As a student in human development, Vanessa conducted research on the growth of preschoolers in the Child Development Center for Learning and Research on campus. She completed two field studies at a local elementary school that reinforced her love of children and teaching. Vanessa’s experiences prepared her for Virginia Tech’s Masters of Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education. She is now teaching 3rd grade.
Careers and Further Study
What Can You Do with a Early Childhood Development and Education Major?
Jobs Held by Our Graduates
- Teachers
- School counselors
- Pre-School Administrators
- Reading Specialists
- Case managers
- Behavioral counselors
- Social workers
- Youth advisors
Beyond the Classroom
Experiential Learning
Our program includes a field study experience in an educational setting. You will get the chance to see first-hand what it is like to be an educator and learn the challenges and triumphs educators deal with every day.
We have four centers that serve as living laboratories where we train students in the human services professions, serve the community, and conduct research that improves people's lives and sets new standards for the care industry.
- Engagement Center for Creative Aging
- Child Development Center for Learning and Research
- Family Therapy Center
- Center for Family Services at the National Capital Region campus
There are opportunities to perform top-notch research with our faculty, who have a reputation among their peers for designing complex research studies. Talk to a professor about designing your own research project or investigating a topic that interests you. You will work closely with a faculty mentor to plan a course of action, discuss your findings, and write a report. You can also assist a faculty member with their research project.
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Curriculum
What You'll Study
Bachelor of Science in Human Development Degree
- Including Virginia Tech's Pathways
Childhood Pre-Education Major Requirements
- Infancy and Early Childhood
- Middle Childhood and Adolescence
- Curriculum in Early Childhood
- Principles of Human Services
- Issues in American Schooling
- Educating Exceptional Learners
- Field study work
Minor and Elective Hours
Our program gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.
120 hrs
B.S. Human Development
45 hrs
General Education
46 hrs
Major Requirements
29 hrs
Elective
Campus Life
Campus Life
Discover all that Virginia Tech has to offer inside and outside of the classroom. Our campus life aims to build communities, promote holistic education, and cultivate environments that offer opportunities for leadership, innovation, and service.