A Convenient Path Leads to a Career for Caring.
Grow as a Whole Person
INTENTIONAL CURRICULUM
Finish your degree while preparing to impact children's lives.
INTENTIONAL CURRICULUM
Designed to help you finish your degree, this program will empower you to help children reach their full potential.
INTENTIONAL CURRICULUM
Designed to help you finish your degree, this program will empower you to help children reach their full potential. You can also find a concentration to help certain students groups you are passionate about.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
Tailor your education to meet the busy needs of your work-life balance.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
Learn with the flexibility of online instruction, with all courses being three units and spanning eight weeks.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
Whether it’s online, at one of our centrally located classrooms, or on a familiar community college campus, our courses are designed to accommodate your schedule.
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY
Directly interact with colleagues and professors to gain knowledge that you can tangibly apply.
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY
Experience instruction and mentorship by expert faculty dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders.
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY
As part of the PLNU community, students will be instructed and mentored by expert faculty and staff dedicated to shaping the next generation of child development leaders. PLNU is committed to providing outstanding professional education rooted in a solid foundation of Christian values, the humanities, and practical application.
Child Development Degrees At PLNU
Are you fascinated by human development and relationships? Do you want to help children reach their full potential? If you have college credits but haven't fully earned your bachelor’s degree, PLNU’s child development (CDEV) degree completion program is designed for you. We’ll partner with you and together help make a meaningful difference for families of all types, including yours.
Are you fascinated by human development and relationships? Do you want to help children reach their full potential? If you have college credits but haven't fully earned your bachelor’s degree, PLNU’s child development (CDEV) degree completion program is designed for you.
Equipping the Next Generation
Completing your bachelor’s degree in child development at PLNU will give you a strong understanding of typical and atypical development and how to help meet the needs of children and families. You'll become the best possible champion for children by understanding the complex family and social systems that surround them. PLNU offers a convenient format tailored to accommodate your work and life commitments — so you can earn your child development degree in as few as 15 months.
Completing your bachelor’s degree in child development at PLNU will give you a strong understanding of typical and atypical development and how to help meet the needs of children and families — all while earning your degree in as few as 15 months.
Tailored to Fit Your Life
HYBRID FORMAT
For those who prefer in-person learning, PLNU is partnered with community colleges across San Diego County, bringing professors directly to a campus near you one night a week, with the rest online. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about enrolling in new classes or adapting to a new schedule each semester. For the CDEV hybrid format, only the second 60 semester units of coursework are available through PLNU.
For those who prefer in-person learning, PLNU is partnered with community colleges across San Diego County, bringing professors directly to a campus near you one night a week, with the rest online.
ONLINE FORMAT
If you prefer the flexibility of online learning and the ability to set your own schedule, the online format is for you! Students can start the online program with as little as zero college credits completed. In this format, PLNU offers all general education, elective, and pre-requisite courses needed for program completion (courses are fully online). With entry points every eight weeks, you can start whenever you're ready!
If you prefer the flexibility of online learning and the ability to set your own schedule, the online format is for you! Students can start the online program with as little as zero college credits completed.
ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS
“With this degree from PLNU, you will be uniquely prepared to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and families. You will be equipped with practical application skills to address needs in a wide variety of professional settings.”
—Susan Decristofaro Rogers
“Specifically with my child development degree, I get to work across early childhood and the K-12 sectors and that's also prepared me well for my graduate course work in higher education. So I really have a holistic knowledge of the field.”
—Ishaan Mishra
“My favorite part about Point Loma was the flexibility… I do my work on my own time when I do the online courses. The next thing was the safe spaces that professors provide, which set the expectations for us as students to have that same space.”
—Janet Diego-Natividad
“My favorite part about Point Loma was the flexibility… I do my work on my own time when I do the online courses. The next thing was the safe spaces that professors provide, which set the expectations for us as students to have that same space.”
—Janet Diego-Natividad
“With this degree from PLNU, you will be uniquely prepared to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and families. You will be equipped with practical application skills to address needs in a wide variety of professional settings.”
—Susan Decristofaro Rogers
“Specifically with my child development degree, I get to work across early childhood and the K-12 sectors and that's also prepared me well for my graduate course work in higher education. So I really have a holistic knowledge of the field.”
—Ishaan Mishra
“With this degree from PLNU, you will be uniquely prepared to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and families. You will be equipped with practical application skills to address needs in a wide variety of professional settings.”
—Susan Decristofaro Rogers
“Specifically with my child development degree, I get to work across early childhood and the K-12 sectors and that's also prepared me well for my graduate course work in higher education. So I really have a holistic knowledge of the field.”
—Ishaan Mishra
“My favorite part about Point Loma was the flexibility… I do my work on my own time when I do the online courses. The next thing was the safe spaces that professors provide, which set the expectations for us as students to have that same space.”
—Janet Diego-Natividad
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL WORK
With a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from PLNU, options for serving children & adolescents include:
Child Life Specialist
Head Start Teacher
Preschool Teacher or Director
Early Intervention Specialist
First Five Specialist or Care Coordinator
Behavioral Therapist
Children's or Youth Ministry Leader
Parent Educator
Foster Care Provider
Social Services Worker
Point Loma Nazarene University — © 2026
Point Loma Nazarene University — © 2026
Point Loma Nazarene University — © 2026