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Early Childhood Leadership, Policy and Practice
Early Childhood Leadership, Policy and Practice
Help children, families and communities thrive.
Degree Type
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Honors Bachelor of Arts
- Honors Bachelor of Science
College
College of Health
Catalog Link
Course Catalog
Delivery
OSU-Cascades in Bend
In-person, with some courses also available through Ecampus
Turn your commitment to children and families into a career that creates meaningful change.
The Early Childhood Leadership, Policy and Practice bachelor’s degree prepares you to improve the systems that shape young children’s lives. You’ll explore child development and family science while developing interdisciplinary skills in leadership, policy, communication and applied research. Through practicum, internship, and capstone experiences, you’ll work on real-world applications that impact families, schools, organizations, and communities.
This flexible, interdisciplinary program will prepare you to work directly with young children or pursue opportunities in early childhood leadership, behavioral and mental health, policy, advocacy and other systems that support children and families. It is designed for first-year students, transfer students and working professionals seeking career advancement or preparation for graduate study.
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Prepare to Lead
Build the skills to support educators, strengthen organizations and improve programs.
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Personalize your path
Shape your coursework around your interests.
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Connect policy and practice
Learn how policies affect children, families and communities, and how to advocate for more effective systems.
Program Details
The Early Childhood Leadership, Policy and Practice program brings together human development and family science, early childhood practice, leadership, policy, communication, and research. You’ll develop an understanding of young children and families while learning how to lead people, improve programs, use evidence and influence the systems in which children grow and learn.
Coursework includes a required early childhood core, supplemental human development and family sciences courses, statistics, social context, and personalized study in leadership, policy and communication.
Program Highlights
- Prepare to lead. Build the management and communication skills to support educators strengthen organizations and improve early childhood programs.
- Connect policy and practice. Learn how policies affect children, families, professionals and communities, and how to advocate for more effective systems.
- Personalize your path. Shape your coursework around your interests, with focal areas in leadership, behavioral health, or policy and advocacy.
- Gain real-world experience. Apply what you learn through a practicum, internship and interdisciplinary capstone.
- Transfer with confidence. Take advantage of a curriculum designed to support students bringing coursework or an associate degree from a community college.
Leadership
Prepare to support, coach and lead early childhood professionals. Develop skills that can help organizations strengthen their teams, retain educators, and improve services for children and families.
Behavioral Health Foundations
Build foundational knowledge and skills related to applied mental and behavioral health, with an emphasis on young children and families. This focal areas provides a strong foundation for careers in behavioral and mental health requiring graduate education or professional credentials.
Policy and Advocacy
Learn to contribute to policy and advocacy work grounded in an understanding of child development, families, social systems, and early learning. Build skills for analyzing issues, communicating across audiences, and advancing solutions that reduce barriers for children and families.
Apply leadership and management principles to create ethical, inclusive and person-centered early childhood workplaces.
Use evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies to support children, families and the professionals who serve them.
Use data and research to inform programs, practices, and policies.
Communicate effectively across interpersonal, intercultural, and professional settings.
Develop policies that reduce barriers and promote the well-being of young children within families, schools, and communities.
Degree Requirements
A total of 180 quarter credits is required to graduate. Students complete:
Core Education requirements
Required early childhood courses
Supplemental human development and family sciences courses
A statistics course
A social context course
Personalized leadership, policy and communication coursework
Practicum, internship and capstone experiences
Additional BA requirements if BA is selected
Using the following course forecast information students will plan ahead and work with their advisor to create and update academic plans.
Careers
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What comes after graduation?
Build a career improving the programs, services and policies that impact young children, families, and communities.
Graduates will be prepared to pursue employment or advanced study in early childhood workforce leadership, behavioral or mental health, policy analysis and advocacy, and early childhood education and care. The degree can support work across early learning, social services, public policy, behavioral health and other public or private systems serving children and families.
Prepare to lead and strengthen programs and organizations that serve young children and families. This focal area identifies workforce leadership as a career pathway and describes preparation for supporting, coaching, leading and retaining early childhood educators. Potential careers could include:
- Early childhood program director
- Early childhood coach
- Quality improvement specialist
- Home visiting supervisor
- Program coordinator
- Agency administrator
- Social and community service manager
- Executive director
- Early childhood workforce development specialist
- Family services program manager
- Community program manager
Build a foundation for work supporting the behavioral and mental health and well-being of children and families. This focal area provides foundational knowledge in applied mental and behavioral health, while the curriculum includes professional helping skills and trauma-informed family practices.
Potential career directions could include:
- Family support specialist
- Family services professional
- Behavioral health program coordinator
- Child and family services coordinator
- Home visiting professional
- Community health program coordinator
- Social services program specialist
- Early intervention program coordinator
- Family resource specialist
- Behavioral health or human services program assistant
Prepare to improve the policies and systems that affect young children, families and early childhood professionals. Students can build skills in policy analysis, research, communication and advocacy, with coursework available in areas including health policy, public policy, public administration, state and local politics, welfare and social services, and communication.
Potential careers could include:
- Policy analyst
- Family advocate
- Early childhood policy specialist
- Public policy program coordinator
- Legislative or policy assistant
- Community outreach specialist
- Advocacy coordinator
- Government or nonprofit program specialist
- Research or evaluation assistant
- Community engagement coordinator
$
81
k
average annual salary
Social and Community Serivce Managers, Bureau of Labor Statistics
7
%
projected growth
Social and Community Service Managers, Bureau of Labor Statistics
91
%
employed or in graduate school or military within 6 mo.
OSU-Cascades-wide
Courses
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What types of classes will I attend?
Introduction to the Field of Early Childhood
Infant and Child Development
Family Policy
Trauma-Informed Family Practices
- Child and Youth with Disabilities
- Program Development and Proposal Writing
- Early Childhood Internship
- Capstone in Early Childhood Leadership and Policy
- Leadership: Select from courses such as transformational leadership, managing individual and team performance, or multicultural leadership
- Policy: Select from courses such as health policy, public policy and state and local politics
Communication: Select from courses such as intercultural communication, public speaking and professional helping skills
Transfer Students
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Designed with Transfer Students in Mind
The program is designed to create flexible pathways for students with previous college experience, including students who have studied early childhood education or development at a community college. Previous coursework completed may count toward selected statistics, social context, leadership, policy or communication requirements with academic adviser approval.
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We're here to help! Future students can connect with an OSU-Cascades admissions advisor for admission and program questions.