Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
On-campus
BA in Early Childhood & Family Studies
Winter 2027 Admissions
Accepting ECFS applications from September 1 through October 15.
Schedule a prospective student appointment to learn more about the major!
Eligible ECFS students can now apply for the new Early Learning Equity Scholarship and get up to the full cost of attendance covered for two years!
Major in early childhood education
The Early Childhood & Family Studies (ECFS) program prepares you to support young children and families through a multidisciplinary, equity-focused approach. You'll connect theory to practice in early learning settings, building the skills to design inclusive, culturally responsive environments through the Community-based Learning (CBL) experience.
The program requires students to complete CBL in most quarters throughout the program. This may include 3-5 hours of volunteering and/or applied assignments in a formal early learning setting. Dedicated staff place you in community-based early childhood settings for two years, giving you real-world experience from day one.
Admission requirements and process
Overview
We recommend starting your application process as early as possible due to the different steps and requirements. If you're a current UW student, it's best to begin the program during your sophomore year and no later than the autumn quarter of your junior year.
You can begin in autumn or winter quarter.
- Apply Mar. 1 - Apr. 15 for autumn start
- Apply Sept. 1 - Oct. 15 for winter start
Program is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, sex or other identity.
Requirements
- Admission is capacity constrained, based on the following criteria. Completion of requirements does not guarantee admission. While ECFS is a capacity-constrained major, our acceptance rate is 95%.
- Satisfactory progress toward completion of general education requirements
- Completion of ECFS 200 Introduction to Early Childhood and Family Studies with a minimum grade of 2.0. For currently enrolled students with the in progress at the time of applying, it must be completed before beginning the program. Transfer students take ECFS 200 in their first quarter.
- Minimum 2.0 grade in English composition
- Earned cumulative GPA of 2.5
Materials
Applicants need to submit written or recorded responses to the questions found on the program application. Overall academic performance should be reflected in copies of unofficial transcripts, including grades in any completed recommended courses and courses applied to major requirements.
Submitting
- Gather all required materials
- Begin the online application form
- Complete all steps in application process and upload your materials
- Submit your application
This process is only for current UW students. If you are a transfer student, follow the steps outlined in the Transferring section.
Transferring
We welcome transfer students to our program! As a transfer student, you will have some additional steps and required materials to your application process. Learn more at a Transfer Thursday Information Session.
You will be submitting TWO applications: one to join the University of Washington and one to join the ECFS program.
- Submit all required materials for UW admissions
- Select the ECFS major on your application
- Unofficial transcript(s)
- Submit all required materials for ECFS
- Unofficial transcript(s)
- Responses to essay questions
- Connect with our Lead Admissions & Outreach Adviser to help you through the process
We require ECFS 200 to be completed for a student to be fully-admitted to the major. Transfer students who select the ECFS major on their UW Admissions application will have a seat in ECFS 200 held for them.
Advising
College of Education - Undergraduate Prospective Students
Prospective undergraduate students interested in learning more about admission requirements, scholarships, or transferring to UW, are encouraged to schedule an admission advising appointment with:
- Alejandra Baires-Ramirez, Lead Admission & Outreach Adviser
- Waleed Khan, Academic Adviser for Undergraduate Programs
- Ramon Concepcion, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Academic and Student Services
Early Learning Equity Scholarship - Prospective Students
ECFS prospective students interested in learning more about the scholarship are welcome to meet with:
- Savanna Carreño, Early Learning Scholarship Community Liaison
Early Childhood & Family Studies Advising Support for UW Students
ECFS declared students who would like receive assistance with their Educational Plan are welcome to schedule an academic advising appointment with:
- Waleed Khan, Academic Adviser for Undergraduate Programs
- Ramon Concepcion, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Academic and Student Services
Curriculum
Overview
Our unique combination of academic coursework and practical application through CBL will help you develop a comprehensive and culturally relevant understanding of child development and effective teaching strategies. You will explore careers in early childhood education, and engage in courses that focus on research, curriculum, policy, language and literacy, mathematics and science.. We challenge you to envision systems that are more equitable and just,engage in teaching and advocacy work toward that vision, and become an early childhood professional who understands and actively works to dismantle systems of oppression.
Courses
A minimum of 79-81 credits are needed to meet the requirements for the ECFS major. You will work with your advisor to ensure that your graduation plan includes courses required to earn your degree at UW.
Download degree requirements PDF
- Required for admissions (3 credits)
- ECFS 200 Introduction to Early Childhood & Family Studies (3 credits with a grade of 2.0 or higher required)
You must also earn 2.0 in English composition course
- Major requirements
All of the following
- ECFS 301 Early Childhood Curriculum (5)
- ECFS 303 Exploring the Landscape of the Early Learning Profession(3)
- ECFS 311 Teaching from the Inside Out: Being a Resilient Educator (3)
- ECFS 312 Positive Behavioral Support in Early Childhood (3)
- ECFS 321 Engaging Interactions and Environments (3)
- ECFS 400 Child Observation & Assessment (5)
- ECFS 401 Understanding Research in ECFS (5)
- ECFS 402 Social Policy & Young Children and Families (5)
- ECFS 410 Language and Literacy in Preschool (5)
- ECFS 411 Young Children’s Mathematics & Science (5)
- ECFS 454 Senior Project I
- ECFS 455 Senior Project II
- ECFS 456 Senior Project III
- EDPSY 302 Child Development and Learning (5)
- EDPSY 406 Learning and teaching in Our Changing World (5)
- EDUC 251 Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (5)
- IECMH 432 Infants & Children: Risk & Resilience (5)
One of the following (5)
- ECFS 315 Parenting and Child Development
- ECFS 419 Family & Community Influences on the Young Child
- ECFS 320 Childhood in Cultural Context: Theory and Practice
One of the following (3-5)
- EDSPE 304 Disability & Ableism in Education
- EDSPE 414 Issues and Trends in Inclusive Early Childhood Education
- EDSPE 427 Introduction to Applied Behavioral Analysis
EDSPE 435 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in courses used to satisfy major requirements
Minimum 40 credits applied to the major taken through the UW
- General education requirements
In addition to your ECFS credits, you'll also need the following general education credits to graduate from the UW.
Language and Reasoning Skills
- English Composition (5 credits)
- Writing courses (10 credits)
- Reasoning (RSN) (5 credits)
- Diversity (DIV) (5 credits)
Areas of Inquiry
- Arts and Humanities (A&H) (15 credits)
- Social Sciences (SSc) (15 credits)
- Natural Sciences (NSc) (15 credits)
15 additional credits from any Area of Inquiry
Maximum 15 credits in ECFS-prefix courses from the University Areas of Inquiry list may be counted toward the UW Areas of Inquiry requirements.
For any questions about degree requirements, please reach out to ECFS academic advisor Waleed Khan.
Fieldwork
Early childhood professionals learn best through action, observation, and reflection. Our Early Childhood & Family Studies students engage in Community-based Learning (CBL), a place-based approach that centers learning in the local environment, culture, history, language, and within the people community itself. We partner with over 50 community-based early learning centers throughout the Puget Sound region to support and place you at a CBL site.
CBL allows students to connect classroom learning with real-world practice, building cultural and contextual understanding of how young children learn in authentic early learning settings.
Weekly engagement with young children through work or volunteering
Required for many courses
Can be completed at your current workplace if you are already working or volunteering in an early learning setting
Applied Assignments
Videos of practice
Child or environment observations
Case studies
Interview with professionals or family members
Completion
It will take a minimum of 7 quarters to complete the program. To graduate from the University of Washington, you must have a minimum of 180 quarterly credits. Your pathway to graduation depends on a number of factors, including how many credits you are transferring in with and how many credits you take per quarter as an ECFS student. You will work with the program adviser to develop your graduation plan.
Costs and funding
Estimated Costs
We are a tuition-based program. Estimated tuition rates are based on your residency:
- Estimated cost for Washington state residents: $13,873 per year
- Estimated cost for out-of-state students: $45,789 per year
Estimates are subject to change and may differ due to course load and summer quarter enrollment. Estimates include some fees such as building fee, technology fee, U-Pass, etc. Fees such as textbooks are not included.
Funding & Scholarships
It is highly recommended that students in the program complete the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) application. These applications are necessary for various forms of financial aid. Please contact the UW Office of Student Financial Aid to learn more about student financial resources.
The Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards supports all current UW Seattle undergraduate students in applying for local, national and international scholarships.
Here is a list of scholarships offered by the College of Education, along with information about the UW Work-Study Program.
- Early Learning Equity Scholarship
- Undergraduate General Scholarships
- Zesbaugh and Anderson-Olsen Scholarship
- Work Study
Transforming inequitable systems
Our curriculum is rooted in the belief that all young children and their families have the right to equitable opportunities to learn and develop in a just and culturally-thriving society. You'll have the opportunity to reflect on your identities and how they are influenced by larger power systems, encouraging critical thinking about early learning, equity, and community.
After graduation
Earning your bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood & Family Studies opens doors to various exciting paths:
- Early childhood teaching
- Leadership roles in childcare centers and other early learning spaces
- Social/mental health services and parent and family support programs
- Involvement in shaping early childhood policies and initiatives
- Graduate studies in K-12 education, speech and hearing sciences, occupational therapy, special education, psychology and more!
Want to become a PK -12 teacher? ECFS graduates do not earn a teaching certificate, but you will be prepared to apply to many of our graduate-level programs that will support your career goals, including our teacher preparation programs.
