Columbia College invites you to make a difference in someone's life!
Choose a rewarding career in child development and help create a strong, solid foundation that will influence a young person's life forever!  You can have a positive impact on their families and siblings too--plus, become instrumental in supporting a system that improves the quality of life for all children.

Columbia College's Child Development Program prepares future early childhood educators and parents with a comprehensive background.  Included is an understanding of core child development principles, as well as skills in observing, planning, and working with young children and their parents.

Employment Opportunities Abound!
Opportunities for careers in working with young children and their families have never been better!  Private industry and governmental agencies today recognize the critical need for high quality child care and early preparation for school readiness.

As examples, here are a few of the many related careers in working with young children:

• Child care center teachers, aides, or assistants

• Family/in-home care providers

• Child and family counselors and psychologists

• Elementary or kindergarten teachers

• Food service professionals in schools or centers

Child Development Training
At Columbia College, course work will cover a wide range of studies including infants/toddlers to school age children focusing on physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development.  Equally emphasized is the impact of family and community interrelationships with the young child.

Supervised practicum is conducted at the college's Child Development Center,  or through approved field sites.  This hands-on work experience allows students to plan and implement activities, develop guidance techniques, and interact with staff and children in the classroom as student teachers.

Further, advanced courses teach the skills and techniques, needed to administer a successful public, private child care or nursery school program in California. 

Columbia College Child Development Links

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