Child Development
"Every child needs at least one person who is irrationally crazy about [them]."- Urie Bronfenbrenner
If the words of Dr. Bronfenbrenner inspire you to make a positive impact in the lives of children and their families, then the Child Development field may be right for you. Our program offers courses that align with the hands-on experiences of an early childhood educator while meeting the requirements for employment and/or transfer to 4-year university. Whether you're a new student or a seasoned teacher, our classes can help you achieve your goals of higher education, stay up-to-date with the latest research, learn best practices, and earn the units you need to be hired or advance at your workplace.
Core Child Development courses include:
- Child Growth & Development
- Principles & Practices of Teaching Young Children
- Observation & Assessment
- Practicum
- Child, Family Community
- Health, Safety & Nutrition
- Introduction to Curriculum
- Teaching in a Diverse Society
Related electives include:
- Introduction to Children with Special Needs
- Guiding Children’s Social Development
- Infant/Toddler & School-Age Child Care
- Adult Supervision & Administration
Child Development Majors go into a variety of careers. Some examples are:
|
At the Certificate Level: |
At the Associate's Level: |
At the Bachelor's & Beyond Level: |
|
Associate Infant/Toddler Teacher |
Early Childhood Teacher | State & Funded Preschool Director |
| Associate Preschool Teacher | TK-8 Teacher’s Assistant | Education Administrator |
| In-home Child Care Provider | Children’s Center Director | Child & Family Social Worker |
| Special Education Aide | Home Visitor | Early Interventionist |
| After School Program Aide | After School Program Teacher | TK-12 Teacher |
Please see a counselor for major preparation and general education that will best meet your specific goals.
| AA-T/AS-T = Associate of Arts/Science Degree for Transfer | Earned by completing requirements in the academic major, a transfer general education pattern, and a total of 60 transferable units that would be the typical first two years of a 4-year degree; provides a clear transfer pathway to CSU. |
| AA/AS = Associate of Arts/Science Degree | Earned by completing requirements in the academic major, a general education pattern, and a total of 60 degree-applicable units. |
| COA = Certificate of Achievement | Formally recognizes a student’s competence in a program of study and prepares students for employment in a career/technical field. Also available for completion of a General Education Pattern for transfer. Will appear on the student’s academic transcript. |
| SAC = Skills Attainment Certificate | Prepares students for employment with experience in specific career/technical fields. Do not appear on official transcripts. |
