Thoughts from Students

"I didn’t just want to be an elementary school teacher that limited me to one job. Instead, I wanted to pick a major that had numerous career opportunities that involved working with children. After my first semester at WKU, I knew that Child Studies was definitely for me. The Child Studies program is not only an amazing program, but it has some of the best professors and mentors! You aren’t just a student when you are pursuing a Child Studies degree, but instead you are family. You go throughout the courses with people that become your friends. You have professors that not only care about you doing good in school, but also in life." Meagan Ferguson

"I began working in an early childhood center (Early Head Start) in 2007. I had one child who turned 1 year old the week I started and I was about a month pregnant with baby #2. I had been in college before but had quit to start a family. I interviewed for a position as a home visitor (Parent/Child Educator) through the same Early Head Start program and one of the questions was "are you willing to go back to school?" I said "yes, as long as I can do it online." I immediately started researching and at the time, WKU was the only university in the state to offer the degree I needed 100% online. Through a very rocky road trying to work full time, being a mom, a wife, trying to balance school work, oh, and getting pregnant with my #3 boy, I quit school again. Some time went by and I received an email from Dr. Darbi asking how I was and offering support. I chose WKU because it was online, I chose the field of study because it aligned with my career choice, and I have stuck with it because of the support of professors and advisors like Dr. Darbi. I am still employed as a parent/ child educator with Early Head Start! I plan on staying here until I retire or they decide to get rid of me! " Tiffany Grimes

"Initially I thought I wanted to study early childhood education because I had worked as an assistant preschool teacher. I had been in children’s ministry working with preschoolers and that seemed the only way to go! I started looking into majors and potential careers, I realized I didn’t really want to teach anymore and that there was this awesome degree where I could still work with preschoolers in other ways that I was more passionate about, like ones that needed special help. I am so thankful that WKU offers the online Child Studies degree since I have two busy teenagers and a husband that works out of town. It really fits well with my schedule and life!" Amy Clark

"I have always had a passion for working with children and families and hoping that I could somehow make an impact on someone’s life. That is what lead me to the child studies program at WKU. The program helped me see that they are a wide variety of careers for this field that I didn’t even consider. The classes helped prepare me for many topics that I have in my current position as a Family and Consumer Sciences Cooperative Extension Agent. The professors and advisors are beyond amazing and I could never sing enough praises for all they helped me achieve." Lora Davidson

"I have a passion for working with kids and helping them learn and grow! Kids give me such an exciting view on life and I want to encourage them to be the best they can be! I am employed at the Walt Disney World Resorts as a Children’s Activities Hostess. My degree in Child Studies assisted me developing the skills needed to teach the children in our programs." Lee Barnes

"I initially chose the Child Studies major because I wanted to become a Child Life Specialist and this major provided the building blocks to help me obtain that career. Unfortunately, I was unable to achieve that particular goal. I decided to stick with Child Studies due to the plethora of careers that could be attained upon completion of the program. Working with children and families has always been a dream of mine and thanks to the Child Studies major, I can accomplish that dream.

Aside from being an amazing and well-rounded program, there are many other perks to choosing the Child Studies major. One of the biggest advantages of the program is that it can be completed entirely online, thus giving those who may not live in the area (or have other demands) the same opportunities as a traditional student. An added bonus to the program are the amazing professors that students have the privilege to work with. During my time spent in this program, I had the opportunity to study under some of the most well-educated individuals WKU has to offer--it is a great feeling knowing that your professors are not only there to teach what they are required, but are committed to staying current in their field and bringing the best education possible to their students." Valyssa Bree Ehredt

"Many years ago, I was hired as a teacher for one-year-olds at a child care center/preschool and it just felt right. When I had the opportunity to return to college I knew Child Studies was the direction I wanted to go. The children I worked with fascinated me and I wanted to learn more about how they grew, developed and how to make their lives better. And now several years later I’m still working in the early childhood field as a director of a child care program and loving it.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I have learned through being a Child Studies major. WKU has a great program with supportive instructors and professors. Early childhood education is such an important field. It is frequently overlooked, especially in regards to the importance of the quality people who take care of children from 10 to 12 hours a day. As a director, I value the education of those who are committed to making a difference in the life of a young child." Kim Copeland