A Convenient Path Leads to a Career for Caring.

Teacher holding a book converses with class during lecture while text on the left side stacked reads: “Plotted My Finish Line. Realized It Was Just The Start.”

PURSUE A MEANINGFUL CAREER IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

Program of Interest

First Name

Last Name

Phone Number

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.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

Flexible learning options designed for busy schedules.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

With hybrid and online options, you’ll be able to tailor your education to meet the busy needs of your work-life balance.

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

Feel supported every step of the way.

MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY

Directly interact with colleagues and professors to gain in-person knowledge that you can tangibly apply in real-life settings.

MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY

Directly interact with colleagues and professors to gain in-person knowledge that you can tangibly apply in real-life settings.

What Is the Child Development Program & What Can It Do for You?

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.

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.

Convenience to Fit Your Life

Three PLNU business students connect outside of university building.

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.

PLNU student works in coffee shop with laptop open and headphones on.

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!

ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS

“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

“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 A VARIETY OF 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

Request Information