Children's Learning and Development

Designed for adults interested in or already working for agencies and programs serving children, youth, and families, this online bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies will help you develop the knowledge and enhance the skills you need to build an elevated career improving the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of children. 

Through the UWW Interdisciplinary Studies program, you can design your own degree concentration to fit your interests and career goals with online courses in multicultural education, teaching methods, behavior management, the family, child psychology, inclusion, special education, and management/non-profit administration. 

Program Benefits 

• You’re in the Driver’s Seat: Design your own degree concentration through your perfect mix of 100% online courses, and optional blended and on-campus offerings to fit your busy life. Plus, most of our courses are asynchronous, meaning you can complete them on your schedule. 
• Accelerate Your Degree: Bring in or earn up to 105 credits for your prior coursework, prior learning, and life and work experience to accelerate your degree, saving you time and money. 
• Cross Disciplinary Boundaries: Craft your individualized degree concentration to suit your goals and interests, from taking online courses in health to study children’s wellness, to focusing on online business courses to manage a children’s program. 
• Community College Friendly: Learn about the Mass Transfer Gen Ed Foundation and benefit from our 50-year history of support for community college students. 
• Attention Montessori Teachers: You can even earn credit for your Montessori trainings. 
• Boston Children's Hospital and Mass General Brigham employees: Receive a 10% discount and more. Learn more about how you can benefit from our employer partnerships. 

Your Future in Child Development and Education

With an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with a focus in children’s learning and development, you will advance your career in the fields of education, child advocacy, youth and family programming, and administration. 

While this is not a teacher licensure program, we may be able to help you prepare for provisional licensure in the state of Massachusetts. If you live in a state other than Massachusetts, our staff member Siobhan Henderson would be happy to help you identify the state board or agency you will need to contact to determine if our program meets your state’s requirements.

Flexible, Cross-Disciplinary Courses

You will study with distinguished instructors at the UMass College of Education, the UMass Psychology Department, the Isenberg School of Management, and other related departments.

To give you an idea of the types of online courses related to children’s learning and development that you could choose from, here is a sampling offered over the past few years.