Bachelor of Science in Child Learning and Development

Child development practitioners and researchers focus on providing better ways to foster the intellectualĀ and emotional development of children. The child learning and development major focuses on theĀ fundamental processes of child and adolescent development within the contexts of families, schools,Ā peer groups and larger cultural surroundings.

The degree provides undergraduate students a rigorousĀ science-based curriculum that immerses them in the theories, findings, research methods and bestĀ practices that the scientific study of child development has to offer. Opportunities for supervised andĀ independent research, as well as field placements that involve working with children, families, schoolsĀ and social services, are provided in addition to formal schoolwork.

Careers in Child Learning and Development

The child learning and development degreeĀ prepares students for a wide range of careersĀ in education, psychology, social work, familyĀ medicine, public health, family law andĀ public policy.

The major is especially well-suited forĀ students seeking elementary teacherĀ certification. Students who elect to addĀ teacher certification will develop a strongĀ foundation in child development as well asĀ accumulate clinical teaching skills and fieldĀ experience.

The Universityā€™s Career Center isĀ an important resource for students pursuing their careers. Professional career counselors are availableĀ to help clarify career goals, provide strategies for mastering job interviews and writing professional coverĀ letters and resumes and help students connect with campus recruiters.

Child Learning and Development at UT Dallas

UT Dallas offers two undergraduate degree plans in child learning and development:

  • The BS in child learning and development requires 120 hours to graduate: 42 hours from theĀ Universityā€™s core curriculum, 36 hours of child learning and development courses and 41 hours ofĀ electives and a one-hour seminar.
  • The BS in child learning and development with the EC-6 teacher certification requires a minimumĀ of 45 additional hours of coursework that can be completed within the free elective hours.

Internships

Junior and senior child learning and development majors with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to receiveĀ college credit for a volunteer internship in the community.

Fast Track

The Fast-Track program enables undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses thatĀ will count toward both a bachelorā€™s degree and a masterā€™s degree in applied cognition and neuroscience,Ā communication disorders, or human development and early childhood disorders. Students must have atĀ least 90 credit hours and meet the graduate admission requirements to qualify.

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences is focused on the intersection of mind, brain and behavior. Through the schoolā€™s research-intensive culture, our professors and students work together to unravel mysteries that will improve human lives. They accomplish this by translating the latest research into treatments and sharing this knowledge through community outreach.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Child learning and development, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, speech-language and hearing sciences

Master of Science: Applied cognition and neuroscience, human development and early childhood disorders, psychology, speech-language pathology

Doctor of Philosophy: Cognition and neuroscience, psychology, speech-language and hearing sciences

Doctor of Audiology: Audiology

Research Centers

In addition to the many research opportunities in faculty labs, students also can gain valuable experience through the schoolā€™s four affiliated centers committed to research, treatment and outreach.

  • Callier Center for Communication Disorders ā€” The center is a national leader in providing care for children and adults with a wide variety of speech, language and hearing disorders. Faculty members support the centerā€™s clinical services by engaging in research to provide the latest information on causes, treatments and prevention of communication disorders.
  • The Center for BrainHealth ā€” This center has a unique mission: to understand the brainā€™s ability to restore or protect healthy function, to protect the brain from unnecessary mental decline and to heal the brain through treatments that regenerate function. To accomplish its mission, the Center for BrainHealth unites cutting-edge technologies in brain science with the intellectual talent of world-class scientists and clinicians, thereby advancing cognitive treatments and brain repair across diseases.
  • The Center for Vital Longevity ā€” This research center is focused on understanding and expanding the capacity of the aging mind. Center researchers use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies and advances in cognitive science to understand how the brain changes from young to old adulthood, the consequences of neural aging for everyday function and what interventions show promise for slowing cognitive aging.
  • The Center for Children and Families ā€” The centerā€™s research, programs and community outreach activities are organized around parenting healthy families, strengthening interpersonal relationships and enhancing thinking and learning.

To learn more about the research centers affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and to view a complete list of the schoolā€™s research labs, visit bbs.utdallas.edu/research.

Additional Facts about BBS

  • Our audiology and speech-language pathology programs are rankedĀ No. 4Ā andĀ No. 12Ā in the nation respectively, according toĀ U.S. News and World Report.
  • The school is home to leading experts in developmental psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science, and communication disorders.
  • In fiscal year 2016, BBS faculty members were responsible for nearly $44 million in research funding.
  • BBS has more than 2,000 undergraduate students and nearly 600 graduate students.
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Contact Information

School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road GR 41
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Fax: 972-883-2491
Email:Ā bbs.undergraduate@utdallas.edu
Website:Ā bbs.utdallas.edu

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