Child Development

The child development & family studies program(s) provide students with an understanding of children’s growth and development, developmentally appropriate environments, family and community relationships, and professional practices that promote the learning of young children. Students learn meaningful curriculum and practices that will help them to demonstrate knowledgeable informed decisions when working with children. The curriculum covers health and safety, knowledge of state and federal guidelines, positive guidance strategies, meaningful learning experiences, developing meaningful relationships with families and community, evaluation and observation of children, how to address individual children to grow physically, emotionally, and cognitively according to their own individual needs. The child development program provides a background for further study or entry into a variety of child development professions.  Students must obtain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher for successful degree completion. 

Intended Program Outcomes 

• Explain the multiple influences and positive ways that affect children’s ability to grow and learn in various environments that are supportive, challenging, respectful, and healthy.  
• Measured by effectively communicating thru reading and writing assignments, observations, and exams. 
• Communicate in writing to express solutions in child development topics. 

Measured by completing assigned writing assignments that demonstrate effective critical thinking to identifying and defining problems and then formulating conclusions based upon assigned reading assignments.  

•  Apply critical thinking skills to observe and evaluation children’s development. 

Measured thru completion of performance-based assessments and observations.  

• Develop specialized technical knowledge and skills relevant to the field of child development. (computer & writing skills)

Measured by demonstrating basic technology skills for class success, i.e. computer, research, on-line discussions.

• Assess the philosophy, theories, policies, practices, processes, and environments of the child development field. 

Measured by exams, observations and writing assignments. 

• Review and explore the historical, philosophical and social foundations that influence children’s growth and development as a professional by using appropriate professional literature, organizations, resources and experiences in order to improve the practice of teaching young children.

Measured by exams, observations, and writing assignments. 

NOTE:  * = General Education Requirement ** = Program Core Requirement and *** = Option Requirement