The Child Development Department prepares you for careers with children, such as early childhood educator, Head Start teacher, family child care provider, center director/site supervisor and elementary school teacher. Courses in our department also ready you for transfer to four year universities in majors such as human development, child development, liberal studies towards a teaching credential, and early childhood education. Parents and future parents will also benefit from the coursework as it prepares all adults to work successfully with children. We also offer specialization coursework as it prepares you to work with infants and toddlers, children with special needs and school age children in addition to coursework that meets the requirement to become a center director/site supervisor. The curriculum is a combination of classroom teaching, laboratory practicum experiences and community site visits based on a philosophy of active learning. Many courses are also available in an online format.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
1. Obtain, maintain, and advance in permit licensure and/or prepare for upper division transfer through appropriate academic preparation.
2. Apply critical thinking and effective communication to research, observe, assess, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize early learning and child development information.
3. Select, develop, and/or use educational equipment, curriculum, assessments, materials, technology, and environments that are culturally, linguistically, and developmentally relevant and appropriate.
