Programs

The Bachelor of Arts in Children's Learning and Development is an individualized concentration at the University Without Walls (UWW) designed for adult students who wish to work with young people, pre-K through grade 12 and who want to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

If you want to work in out-of-school settings such as Head Start, family childcare, 4-H, scouting, YMCA programs, after school programs, recreational leagues or social service agencies, Children's Learning and Development will prepare you for these meaningful roles. If you wish to become licensed in special education, elementary education, or as a school guidance counselor, Children's Learning and Development may provide you with the academic foundation needed to go on to graduate studies or licensure in most states.

A High Level of Support

UMass Amherst UWW faculty works with you to design your degree, write an experiential learning portfolio, and create a positive learning experience. You will be assisted in identifying upper division courses in your field and general education courses to meet graduation requirements. UMass Amherst allows up to 75 transfer credits (with a grade of C- or better) from other accredited institutions. Students must complete five upper-division courses in their area of concentration and meet all UMass Amherst general education requirements.

Credit earned for learning gained from your life, work and training experiences. Through these courses you will develop an individualized degree plan to guide you as you work toward your degree and write a portfolio describing your experiential learning earning between 3 and 30 credits. You may have training that is considered college level learning that is related to your concentration evaluated for additional transfer credits. 

Learning Online

Online courses are convenient, challenging, rigorous, and surprisingly personal. UWW faculty offers quality instruction, and online discussions ensure that every voice is heard. You will be well supported via phone, email, or in person as well as having access 24-hours, 7 days a week to UMassOnline's help desk.

Courses focus on children's learning and development. UWW students take four UWW courses (Frameworks of Understanding, Writing About Experience, and two Experiential Reflections courses), and then complete a concentration designed to meet their individual goals. If you wish to work with children outside of public schools, course topics might include psychology, human development, public health, and sociology.

Learn more about this program:

To receive more information and connect with the program manager, please click on inquire now to the right.

Sample a Course

Click here for more information on the UWW Bachelor's in Children's Learning and Development.

Registration is administered through UMass Amherst Continuing & Professional Education.  Please see Fee Schedule below.

Click here to browse our course listings.

Did you know?

University of Massachusetts has earned several awards for its distance learning programs, faculty and technology including:

• University of Massachusetts Ranked Among Top 28 Best Value in Online Education for Human Services & Psychology Professionals, 2009 by Get Educated
  
• Ranked Top 10 Online Degrees Colleges- September 2009 (Online Degree Reviews.com)
  
• UMassOnline Awarded Public Sector of the Year by Mass Technology Leadership Council , 2008
  
• Most Outstanding Online Teaching and Learning Program, UMass Lowell's Online Graduate Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program, Sloan Consortium Excellence Awards, 2008
  
• 'Excellence in Online Teaching' Award, Dr. Jeannette E. Riley, Sloan Consortium Excellence Awards, 2008
  
• 21st Century Best Practices Award, United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
  
• Program of Excellence, University Continuing Education Association (UCEA)-Journalism Certificate
  
• Excellence in Faculty Development, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
  
• Excellence in Online Programming, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
  
• Excellence in Online Teaching, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
  
• UMass Amherst Isenberg MBA, Top 10 national rankings, #4 Best Professors (2005, 2006, 2007 Princeton Review: Best Business Schools rankings)
  
• 4th in Primary Care Education, U.S. World Reports
  
• Ranked 45th Best University System in the World - London Times
  
• Excellence in Distance Teaching Education - United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) 

Your past credits count no matter how long ago you took your courses. UMass Amherst allows up to 75 transfer credits from other accredited institutions toward graduation as long as the course grade is C (2.0 grade point average) or better. All UMass Amherst general education requirements, except junior year writing, may be satisfied by courses from other institutions, and students can take courses at other schools and transfer those credits into UMass Amherst even after being admitted into UWW.

UWW students are accepted in both the fall and spring, with application deadlines for fall on May 15 and for spring, October 1.  Minimum admissions requirements are: 12 credits of college course work (a composition course is strongly recommended) and a 2.00 grade point average. Application forms are located at www.umass.edu/uww/admissions_aid/index.html and must include:

• Signed, dated and completed UMass Amherst application form.
• Official transcripts from any and all colleges ever attended.
• Résumé.
• A personal statement essay 2-3 pages. 
• Non-native English speakers proof of either TOEFL or two non-ESL composition courses graded B or better.
• Applicants raised in a non-English speaking country must also have official results of the TOEFL exam mailed to UWW by the application deadline. Applicants who have received a grade of "B" or better on two composition courses in an American college or university may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement. The exemption is not automatic, but based on a complete review of the academic history.

Click here to download all UWW application materials.

Are you eligible for grant funding?

If you are a Massachusetts resident you may be eligible for funding through the Massachusetts Board of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). Details at OSFA's website: www.osfa.mass.edu or 617.727.9420.

Federal funding through the TEACH grant is available through colleges and universities across the United States for those seeking licensure through graduate studies in areas of high need such as math, science, special education, reading specialist, and foreign language. For further details on the TEACH grant call 1.800.433.3243 or visit online at studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp

Financial Aid

All UMass Amherst UWW students are eligible for federal and state financial aid. This aid comes as grants and loans. Some loans are "forgiven" if you remain working in high need school districts after graduation. For details see www.studentaid.ed.gov. UMass Amherst financial aid information is at www.umass.edu/umfa. Cost and fee details are on UWW's website at www.umass.edu/uww.