Child Development (CDT)
View the required classes for the Child Development program.
View the Policies and Procedures.
You have the energy and determination needed and have dreamed of working with young children. You don’t need daring; you need to make a difference - in the life of a child. If this is your calling - your vision - then the specialized Associate of Applied Science in Mental Health Child Development Major is the program for you!
If you have the drive and dedication to embark on this journey, you will engage in many of the same professional and technical courses as Mental Health majors. Then you will also take a block of highly-specialized, stimulating courses that are focused directly on child development.
And then. . . exciting career opportunities await you in:
- School Systems (ParaProfessionals)
- Early Intervention Agencies
- Preschools
- Public Day Care Centers/Public Pre K.
- Private Day Care Centers
- Head Start
- Group Homes for Children/Case Management
- Other Related Facilities including Children's Advocacy or Centers related to Autism/or other disorders
Past graduates have gone on to major in Social Work, Education/Special Education or Psychology dependent on their field of interest.
Propel your dream in the right direction by seizing the opportunity today to begin your program as a Child Development Major!
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe sequences, stages, and milestones of children’s growth and development, social, emotional and cognitive domains and recognize variations of typical and atypical developmental characteristics of young children, from pre-natal periods through the age of eight.
- Preliminary understanding of historical and contemporary theories and research, to include psychoanalytic, behaviorist, Piagetian, Vygotskyian, and information processing models, on the characteristics and needs of children from birth through age eight to include aspects of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and aesthetic domains, play, activity, learning process, and motivation to learn. Candidates recognize that developmental domains are interrelated and provide examples of interrelationships among developmental domains.
- Recognize and articulate multiple influences on children’s development and learning which include the diverse cultural, economic and linguistic contexts for development, ecological contexts (home, community, support systems, etc.) child’s health status and disabilities, individual developmental variations and learning styles, and opportunities to play and learn.
- Demonstrate familiarity with well known interventions programs such as The Perry Pre-School Project, Chicago Parent-Child Program, and Head Start.
- Cite current research about the influence of early intervention programs on child outcomes.
- Describe the essentials of developmental research and the principles used as a basis for creating effective learning environments.
- Acknowledge and value the central role of relationships and efficacy in the promotion of learning.
- Recognize elements of preliminary early childhood learning environments and opportunities to learn that are healthy, respectful, and supportive.