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.

Program Structure

Full-time or part-time on-campus program

Required Core (15 Credits)
- In the required core courses, you'll learn about the influence of class, race and ethnicity, gender, and culture on human development and family patterns.
Electives (15 Credits)
- Through the electives you choose, you'll focus on an area within the major, such as children, adolescents, emerging adults, or family development across the lifespan.
Internships (10 Credits)
- Examine your field of study in depth, develop clear career goals, and gain practical skills that you can apply to future professional goals.
General Education (42 Credits)
- Take a variety of courses for Lesley’s new outcome-based General Education program. You'll develop skills and perspectives that will help you to succeed in an increasingly complex global context, and to create a more just, humane, and sustainable world. General Education courses you take may count toward your major or minor.
Free Electives
- With your remaining credits, try out different courses in subject areas you want to explore, or maybe major or minor in another subject.

View Program of Study

Thinking about transferring here?

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:

Children, Youth, and Family Studies + Political Science = Chief of Policy for a Political Party
Children, Youth, and Family Studies + Human Services = Healthcare Advocate

Gain Skills and Expertise

Here’s a taste of what you’ll do in our Children, Youth, & Families program:

Examine the impact of social institutions, structures, and processes.
Understand the influence of class, race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and culture on childhood and family patterns.
Evaluate and conduct social science research and present on your findings and analysis.

Fact

Our small average class size means more personal attention and bigger opportunities for learning.

Come visit us in-person or virtually.

Visit Lesley

Applying to Lesley

Lesley University is SAT Blind

We know that a single standardized test can't sum up your accomplishments and abilities. That's why we don't require SAT scores when you apply. Instead, we'll focus on the strength of your application, including your essay and activities.

Come visit us in-person or virtually.

Visit Lesley

Alumni Satisfaction

Ranked #20

by alumni

According to a survey published in Forbes, Lesley ranks #20 nationwide for providing a high-quality education that is worth the cost.

View the survey results.

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.

The Double Lynx Scholarship pays big.

Every student who earns an undergraduate degree from Lesley is eligible to receive 12 graduate credits toward any master's degree we offer, 100% free. That's potentially over $16,200.

Read all about it.

Lana Sommers, Lesley University alum, volunteering with children abroad

Lana Sommers ’16

From Quito to Kathmandu, Art Therapy alum Lana is dedicated to bettering children’s lives around the globe.

Undergraduate Programs

92%

of our 2020 graduating class is employed or furthering their education.

Internships

Prepare for your dream job through work experience at places like:

Cambridge Youth Programs
Emerson Hospital
Cambridge Family and Children’s Services
Jimmy Fund Clinic
Children’s Hospital of Boston

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:

Social Worker
Director of Social Services
Youth Counselor
Child Specialists
Case Manager
Case Worker
Family Advocate
Community Manager

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:

Massachusetts State Government
Hospitals
Youth Villages
Bay Cove Human Services
North Suffolk Mental Health Association
Genesis Healthcare Corporation
Department of Veterans Affairs
Benchmark Senior Living

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.

Find out more about Cambridge and Boston.

Faculty

View Full Program Cost

Approximate cost, before financial aid, for one year of study in this undergraduate program. Tuition and fees are for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Financial Aid

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.

Apply Now

Children, Youth, and Family Studies

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

Program Structure

Our small average class size means more personal attention and bigger opportunities for learning.

Come visit us in-person or virtually.

Lesley University is SAT Blind

Come visit us in-person or virtually.

by alumni

Small College, Big University

The Double Lynx Scholarship pays big.

Lana Sommers ’16

of our 2020 graduating class is employed or furthering their education.

Prepare for your dream job through work experience at places like:

Cambridge is our campus. Boston is our neighbor.

Faculty

Joshua Baldwin

Apply Now

Next steps to apply