Dr. Kristina Higgins of Tarleton State University’s Division of Child Development and Family Studies was awarded a grant in July 2025 from the Texas Workforce Commission to support the creation of streamlined pathways into Tarleton State’s Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Child Development and Family Studies. This project is expected to offer a smooth transition from community colleges and local education agencies to Tarleton State’s degree program.
The leaders of this project, Dr. Higgins, Dr. Deborah Banker and Dr. Lisa Taylor Cook, have been working on collaborations that focus on creating articulation agreements and structured pathways with community colleges that have applied associate programs like child development and early childhood education. Students involved in the program participate in several workforce courses, which transfer directly into the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science (BAAS) in Child Development and Family Studies.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to create transferable pathways for high school students, working with local education agencies and school districts to support students who complete technical courses in child development or early childhood education while in high school. The courses will be transferable into the BAAS degree as workforce experience and prior learning credit. By implementing this process, Tarleton State will expand student opportunities and improve the ability of both preservice and in-service early childhood education professionals to seamlessly transition into the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science in Child Development and Family Studies program.