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.
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