Frequently Asked Questions

The following list includes general examples; future career options are not limited to this list.

• Case Manager
• Child and Family Advocate
• Family Service/Support Specialist
• Housing Stability Specialist
• Lead Teacher for an early childhood Head Start or ECEAP program
• Social and Community Service Program Manager
• Social Service Worker
• Supervisor/Manager for a preschool and/or early childhood center
• Other positions in social services and early childhood education that require bachelor degrees

Admission into the BAS-CYFS program is by application only and has its own admission process in addition to the general Edmonds College admissions process. At this time, the CYFS program begins every fall quarter. Please see the application process for more information on admission guidelines.

The Child, Youth, and Family Studies program does not currently meet the minimum requirements for students studying with an F1 visa. Our program does have a fully remote option that could allow a student to study from their home country. Please note that we do have class meetings twice a week that would require virtual attendance aligned with Pacific Standard Time. We encourage interested students to reach out to our Office of International Programs.

The CYFS program follows a cohort model, which means all students begin at the same time and take the same sequence of classes together. Each cohort can have a maximum of 30 students.

Yes, the following courses are prerequisites for the program. Students who will have these courses completed by the end of the summer term the year they apply are eligible for the program.

• ENGL& 101 - English Composition (2.0+ grade)
• 15 credits of general education (passing grade)
• 25 credits of proficiency (2.0+ grade per course)

Please contact the CYFS Program Manager for a preliminary review of your transcripts and to design your pathway to the program.

If you begin the program with a completed Associate of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) degree or similar,  you will complete the program in two years. This assumes you are enrolled full-time with 15 credits per quarter (fall, winter, spring) with summers off.

If you begin the program with only the prerequisites completed, you will work with the program manager to complete your AAS-T degree prior to starting CYFS courses. This means you will complete the program in three years. This assumes you are enrolled full-time, which will vary between 12 and 15 credits per quarter for the AAS-T and 15 credits per quarter once you join your CYFS cohort.

CYFS classes are only offered once per year. Students who are unsuccessful in a course or decide to only take one, will add time to their degree completion. The CYFS Program Manager will work with each student on a case-by-case basis during these situations to customize an academic plan. 

The CYFS program will have a mix of online and evening/hybrid classes. You can choose whether to attend your hybrid course in person or virtually. Our courses are scheduled in the evening (between 6-9 p.m.). The classes are then supplemented with online coursework.

Cohorts will alternate with either Monday and Wednesday classes or Tuesday and Thursday classes for the duration of the program, depending on which year they begin. For example, the cohort that started in Fall 2023 had Tuesday and Thursday classes. The cohort that begins in Fall 2024 will have Monday and Wednesday classes.

Please note: these class times are for the upper division CYFS courses of the program only. Lower division course times will vary based on the options students choose. The number of general education and/or proficiency credits each student needs in addition to CYFS classes will vary student to student.

Yes! As long as students have a plan to finish the 45 credits of required prerequisites by the end of summer quarter the year they apply, they are eligible to apply.

If you are applying for Fall 2024, this means you must have your prerequisites successfully completed by the end of Summer 2024.

Tuition for upper division (300-400 level) CYFS courses will cost more than the regular lower division tuition. Please visit the Edmonds College Tuition webpage for specific tuition amounts. Tuition is subject to change each year. Total tuition will vary based on how many upper-division and lower-division credits are taken in the same quarter.

Tuition breaks are given when enrolled in more than 10 credits per quarter. Please visit the BAS-CYFS Tuition and Fees page for more details.

The U.S. Department of Education has approved this program for Federal Student Aid. Students are encouraged to fill out a FAFSA before the due date for fall quarter. Please see Financial Aid for more details, including state-based aid opportunities for students who are not eligible for FAFSA. 

VA Education Benefits and Worker Retraining funds are also approved for this program.

There are annual scholarships available from the Edmonds College Foundation. The application period for these scholarships typically begins in February and ends in April.

If Early Childhood Education students are currently working in an Early Achievers program, they may be eligible for the Child Care Aware of WA Scholarship.

Yes! Edmonds College was granted accreditation at the baccalaureate level by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) in January 2019. This includes the accreditation of the BAS in Child, Youth, and Family Studies degree program effective September 1, 2017.

Graduates of the BAS-CYFS program are eligible to apply to related graduate school programs. Potential degrees can include, but are not limited to:

• Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
• Master of Arts in Family and Child Life
• Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling
• Master of Education - Early Childhood Education
• Master of Public Health
• Master of Social Work