Social Sciences

Children, Youth, and Family Studies

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

Discover how race and ethnicity, gender, class, and culture shape families and communities and affect children’s learning and growth. And gain insights that will prepare you to be an advocate for youth and families in need.

From the start, you will be deeply engaged in the challenges affecting humankind today with our reimagined general education curriculum. From there, explore the factors that influence family patterns and human development from infancy onward. Through the lenses of community, culture, and society, you’ll focus on children, adolescents, emerging adults, or families. You’ll investigate theories from psychology and sociology. While examining the social institutions, structures, and processes that affect youth, you’ll conduct social science research on issues that matter to you.

But your hands-on learning won’t end there. Through Lesley’s internship program, you’ll gain real-life experience in settings throughout Great Boston at places like the Cambridge Center for Families, Horizons for Homeless Children, ABCD Head Start, Home for Little Wanderers, and many more. Our Early Intervention specialization will prepare you for working with children with special needs and their families, while our Teaching Infants and Toddlers track can help you obtain certification to teach in early childhood settings.

Undergraduate Program Inquiry Form

Program Structure

Full-time or part-time on-campus program

120 Credits
Thinking about transferring here?

Log in to Transferology, add the courses you've taken, and see how they'll transfer to Lesley University.

Craft Creative Combinations
As a Children, Youth, and Family Studies major, you can pursue a second major or one of our 45+ minors—in art & design or a liberal arts subject—to expand your career opportunities.

Forge your own path with a creative combination:
Gain Skills and Expertise
Here’s a taste of what you’ll do in our Children, Youth, & Families program:
students interacting in classroom

Small College, Big University

Within the dynamic environment of a larger university, you'll receive the personalized education of a small liberal arts college of 1,300 students. You'll learn from our highly specialized faculty who are passionate experts in the social sciences and beyond—from child homelessness to social work, human services, political science, and more.

Careers
Jobs You Could Have
Job opportunities for graduates in this field are projected to increase by over nine percent in the next ten years. Common job titles include:
Careers
Where You Could Work
Massachusetts and Greater Boston offer a wide range of employment opportunities in this field. Top employers of graduates in this field include:
doble campus during the fall

Cambridge is our campus. Boston is our neighbor.

Whether you're pursuing social work, political science, or another major in the social sciences, you'll take classes on our three beautiful Cambridge campuses. You'll discover the Cambridge and Boston area—a dynamic hub of professional opportunity, service work, culture, and fun few other cities can match. And, you'll build your résumé and make connections through internships as you take advantage of the rich resources in Massachusetts, home to 20,000+ nonprofits.

Faculty

Approximate cost, before financial aid, for one year of study in this undergraduate program.
Children, Youth, and Family Studies
Housing Options
Compare the cost of the program for students who live on campus in a residence hall with the cost for commuter students.
  • Tuition
    Fall Tuition
    $16,663
    Spring Tuition
    $16,663
  • Fees
    Fall Comprehensive Fee
    $465
    Spring Comprehensive Fee
    $465
  • Room & Board
    Fall Health and Wellness Fee
    $465
    Spring Health and Wellness Fee
    $465
    Fall Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,999
    Spring Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,999
    Fall Meal Plan
    $3,961
    Spring Meal Plan
    $3,961
    Housing Deposit (one-time fee)
    $300
  • Total cost before financial aid
Estimated Cost

Merit Scholarships & Financial Aid

It’s our goal at Lesley to break down financial barriers so that students who want to learn here, can learn here. That’s why we offer generous, customized aid packages for students based on their individual needs. In fact, more than 98% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. Learn more about Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Tuition & Fees

Other fees may apply. Review all undergraduate tuition and fees, and what they cover.

Tuition and fees are subject to change each year, effective June 1.

Housing Options
Compare the cost of the program for students who live on campus in a residence hall with the cost for commuter students.
  • Tuition
    Fall Tuition
    $16,663
    Spring Tuition
    $16,663
  • Fees
    Fall Comprehensive Fee
    $465
    Spring Comprehensive Fee
    $465
  • Room & Board
    Fall Health and Wellness Fee
    $465
    Spring Health and Wellness Fee
    $465
    Fall Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,999
    Spring Room (double, triple, or quad room)
    $5,999
    Fall Meal Plan
    $3,961
    Spring Meal Plan
    $3,961
    Housing Deposit (one-time fee)
    $300
  • Total cost before financial aid
Estimated Cost

Merit Scholarships & Financial Aid

It’s our goal at Lesley to break down financial barriers so that students who want to learn here, can learn here. That’s why we offer generous, customized aid packages for students based on their individual needs. In fact, more than 98% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. Learn more about Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Tuition & Fees

Other fees may apply. Review all undergraduate tuition and fees, and what they cover.

Tuition and fees are subject to change each year, effective June 1.

Apply Now

Ready to get started? We're here to make the application process as smooth as possible. Just answer a few quick questions, and get your customized application guide.

Approximate cost, before financial aid, for one year of study in this undergraduate program. Tuition and fees are for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Use our step-by-step guide to apply for federal, state, and university funding. Scholarships, grants, Work-Study, and loans. It’s all right here.

Next steps to apply

Ready to get started? We're here to make the application process as smooth as possible. Just answer a few quick questions, and get your customized application guide.