Early Childhood and Family Studies Degree

Explore the Early Childhood and Family Studies degree

Young children need special care and attention as they develop from infancy. They need guidance, teaching, and positive examples to become healthy teens and eventually adults. If you have a special spot in your heart for children, then consider an Early Childhood and Family Studies degree. You’ll learn how to care for their health, education, and welfare. You’ll learn responsibility for their social, physical, and intellectual development.

Day cares are a common employer, where routine activities such as managing the eating, sleeping, health care, and recreational needs of children are the main day-to-day tasks. Preschool teachers provide additional learning experiences. A director supervises programs, including supplies and equipment, balancing the budget, and working with parents.

With an Early Childhood and Family Studies degree from Wayne State, you’ll be prepared for a variety of these situations and be ready for many different careers in caring for young children.

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Prepare for your future

Opportunities and outcomes

Early childhood and family studies topics covered

Children’s literature and creative arts
Strategies for working with young children
High-quality food preparation and baking
History and development of family and consumer sciences
Families and relationships
Early childhood education and development of programs
Meal planning, preparation, and management
Toddler growth and behavior
Family resource management
Parenting
Professional development and presentation
Nutritional needs throughout the life cycle
Children’s health and safety
Role of teachers, childcare, and parents in developing young children
Characteristics of young children with exceptionalities

Student learning outcomes

Plan culturally and developmentally appropriate instruction for young children
Establish safe and healthy learning environments for all young children
Identify practices that promote safe and healthy environments for young children
Demonstrate administrative techniques of early childhood education programs

Early childhood and family studies internships

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find internships and career opportunities. As a student in the Early Childhood and Family Studies program, you may be able to find internships in the following industries:

Day cares and child care centers
Learning centers
Schools and preschools
Youth program facilities
Counseling centers
Child development services
Social services

Career services and internships

Graduates of the Early Childhood and Family Studies degree program work in their chosen field using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, eager employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Jobs of recent graduates:

Child and Family Services Specialist – Department of Health and Human Services (Columbus, Neb.)
Child Care Worker – Sacred Heart Early Learning Center (Norfolk, Neb.)
Child Specialist – Girls Inc. Omaha (Omaha, Neb.)
Direct Support Services – Integrated Life Choices (Wayne, Neb.)
Early Childhood Teacher – Madison Public Schools (Madison, Neb.)
Family Support Worker – Guardian Light Family Services (Page, Neb.)
Foster Care Coordinator – Behavioral Health Specialists (Norfolk, Neb.)
Health and Safety Coordinator – Educare (Winnebago, Neb.)
Infant Teacher – Rainbow World Child Care Center (Wayne, Neb.)
Paraprofessional – Wakefield Public Schools (Wakefield, Neb.)
Preschool Teacher – KinderCare (Lincoln, Neb.)
Teacher Aid / Nutrition Specialist – Northeast Nebraska Head Start (Stanton, Neb.)

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey

After graduating from Wayne State College, recent grads pursued advanced degrees at the following schools:

Montessori Education - Early Childhood (M.A.) – University of Nebraska-Kearney (Kearney, Neb.)
School Counseling (MSE) – Wayne State College (Wayne, Neb.)
Teaching (M.A.) – Northcentral University (San Diego, Calif.)

This Early Childhood and Family Studies degree is not a teacher certification program. For teacher certification in Early Childhood, see the Early Childhood Inclusive Education endorsement program. To earn your Child Development Associate credential (CDA), 480 hours of experience is required. For more information, contact Wayne State's Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership.

Cost of attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska

- College Affordability Guide, 2024

Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

Credits: 3
Description: A study of children’s literature to include historical development, contemporary topics and trends, genre, author/illustrator study, and integration into the elementary curriculum.
Credits: 3
Description: This activity-based course will use the integration of art, music, theatre, and movement with the major curricular themes in early childhood education to extend and enrich learning. Through interdisciplinary themes and connections, the students will be guided in the development and sharing of thematic units, hands-on activities, and instructional strategies with respect to curricular integration.
Credits: 3
Description: A methods course focusing on effective strategies for working with young children (birth through age 8). Emphasis is placed on inquiry and critical thinking in social studies, science, health and safety as well as classroom management.
Prerequisites: FCS 120 Introduction to Early Childhood Education, FCS 220 Infants and Toddlers, and FCS 335 The Pre-School Age Child (3-5 Years).
Choose one of the following courses:
- FCS 110 Family and Personal Relationships (3 credits) - A study of relationships throughout the life cycle. Application of the critical thinking process to the identification of values, the formulation of goals, and the decision-making model in order to improve the quality of life for individuals and families.
- FCS 115 Human Development and the Family (3 credits) - Principles and concepts of individual development through the lifespan in the context of the family.
Choose one of the following courses:
- FCS 104 Principles of Food Preparation (3 credits) – The nutritional value of foods and the relation of food to health and fundamental principles of cookery applied to foods commonly used in the home. Lecture and lab combined. Class fee of $42 required.
- FCS 107 Principles of Baking (3 credits) – An introduction to the principles and techniques used in the preparation of high-quality baked goods, with an emphasis on fundamental production techniques and evaluation of quality characteristics. The course will cover baking ingredients, use of equipment, proper storage, and sanitation methods. Lecture and lab combined. Class fee of $45 required.
Credits: 1
Description: The history, growth and development of Family and Consumer Sciences. Career exploration of the opportunities for careers open to Family and Consumer Sciences graduates. Freshmen, sophomores, undeclared majors or by permission of instructor.
Credits: 2
Description: A study of types of early childhood programs. Objectives and philosophies of various early childhood programs and curricula from both historical perspectives and current practices. Legislation and public policies, partnerships with family and community, and working with children with a range of abilities will be addressed. Infant/toddler and pre-school observation hours are required.
Credits: 3
Description: Application of concepts in menu planning, preparation, and time management principles related to budgeting and purchasing of food. Lecture and lab combined.
Prerequisites: FCS 104 Principles of Food Preparation, FCS 107 Principles of Baking, or approval of instructor
Credits: 3
Description: A study of human growth and behavior from conception through two years of age. Curriculum and assessment, language development, appropriate literature, play and discovery, children with a range of abilities, family and community partnerships will be addressed. Early childhood center observation is required.
Prerequisite: FCS 120 Introduction to Early Childhood Education or permission of instructor
Credits: 3
Description: Analysis of the management process and socio-economic influences as related to the utilization of resources to meet individual and family goals. Special management situation considered.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of the parenting relationships over the course of time from preparing for the first child through families with adolescent children into relationships with adult children. Traits and characteristics of healthy families and discipline techniques are included.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of the fundamentals of verbal and nonverbal presentations, media techniques for presenting oral and written information, visual aids and their usage, and display techniques to enable the student to become more skilled at giving professional presentations.
Credits: 3
Description: Development of responsible consumerism through value clarification, goal formulation, decision making, and effective use of resources.
Credits: 3
Description: Knowledge and understanding of nutritional needs and recommendations throughout the life cycle from prenatal nutrition through adulthood and special needs of the elderly. Special emphasis on maternal health and the development of a healthy child.
Credits: 3
Description: A course designed to assist early childhood and elementary educators by providing them with knowledge and skills to address the health, safety, and physical needs of young children (0-8 years). The promotion of good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle will also be emphasized.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of human growth and behavior from 3 years of age through 5 years of age. Curriculum and assessment, emergent literacy, appropriate literature, play and discovery, children with a range of abilities, and family and community partnerships will be addressed. Early childhood center and pre-school observations are required.
Prerequisite: FCS 120 Introduction to Early Childhood Education or permission of instructor
Credits: 2
Description: Course to enhance the professional development of FCS majors. Topics to include networking, job search skills, portfolio development, professional associations, and entrepreneurship.
Prerequisite: FCS 313 Techniques in Professional Presentation
Credits: 3
Description: The role of teachers, childcare providers, and parents in providing an environment that is safe and developmentally appropriate for the development of the child’s potential. The pre-school lab provides opportunity for observing and working with 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. Lecture and lab combined.
Prerequisites: FCS 335 The Pre-School Age Child (3-5 Years), and junior standing or permission of instructor.
Credits: 1-3
Description: Practical experience in the classroom or other professional settings. Experiences can include laboratory assistance, organization, presentation, and evaluation of activity units in family and consumer sciences. May be taken twice.
Prerequisite: Department chair approval
Credits: 3
Description: A study of program development and management, safe and nurturing environments, and principles for successful operation of early childhood education programs and centers. Personnel management, public and private funding, legislation and public policy trends, environmental safety, children with a range of abilities, and family and community partnerships will be addressed.
Prerequisites: FCS 120 Introduction to Early Childhood Education, FCS 220 Infants and Toddlers, and FCS 335 The Pre-School Age Child (3-5 Years).
Credits: 1
Description: Definitions, characteristics, legal and educational provisions for infants and young children with exceptionalities.
Credits: 3
Description: The course will explore applications of methods and strategies within elementary and secondary settings to provide equitable learning opportunities within least restrictive learning environments for all students. An emphasis is placed on communication and collaboration among professionals and families to ensure the needs of all students are met.

Popular pairings

Many students at Wayne State will add a second major or a minor to complement their program of study or to focus their studies on a specific topic. Students who recently majored in Early Childhood and Family Studies at Wayne State also paired this major with one or more of the following programs: