Sonoma State University

Career Outlook

The Early Childhood Studies Major

The Early Childhood Studies Major offers two concentrations:

The Early Care and Education concentration prepares students for a career in an early education setting, including:

  • Infant, toddler, and preschool teacher

  • After school programs

  • Administrator of an early education program

  • Support services in education-focused agencies that serve young children and families

  • Elementary teacher (requires completion of a post-baccalaureate PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction credential program or a Multiple Subject credential program)

  • Special Education teacher (requires completion of a post-baccalaureate Special Education credential program)

  • Curriculum consultant

  • Instructional aide

The Community Health and Social Services for Children concentration prepares students for a career working with young children and families in non-education settings, including:

  • Social Services (e.g. Adoption, WIC)

  • Graduate School in counseling, social work, and other careers working with children and families

  • Post-baccalaureate certification as a Child Life Specialist

  • Child and Family Advocacy

  • Family Support Services Home Visitor

The Elementary Pre-Credential Concentration prepares students to enter a Multiple Subject or Special Education credential program. CSET is waived for students who complete the Pre-Credential Concentration or the Special Education Teaching Concentration when they apply to the Multiple Subject or Education Specialist credential program at Sonoma State University. The Subject Matter requirement and the prerequisites for enrolling in those programs will be met through the coursework.

The Special Education Teaching Concentration prepares students to earn a baccalaureate degree and begin the Special Education Teaching Credential at the same time by taking coursework toward the credential courses within the undergraduate major. This concentration is organized to meet the subject matter requirements and prerequisites for SSU Multiple Subject and Special Education teaching credentials. Earning the full teaching credential will require 1-2 semesters of coursework after the BA is complete, including student teaching.

The Early Childhood Studies Minor

The Minor provides students a foundation for further graduate study and professional programs in related fields such as:

  • Psychology

  • Advocacy

  • Counseling

  • Nursing/Medicine

  • Social Work

  • Post-baccalaureate certification as a Child Life Specialist

If you are planning to pursue a Multiple Subject teaching credential, the Early Childhood Studies minor can give you the 24 units in child development/early childhood education coursework that are needed for teaching in Transitional Kindergarten classrooms. If this is your path, please consult with your advisor to be sure that the electives you choose for the minor will qualify for TK certification.