Academic Catalog

Child Development

Program Description

The Child Development Program is an academic and vocational training program that prepares students for future work as early childhood educators in diverse early childhood settings. Courses and certificates are designed to meet entry-level requirements for the level of work chosen and/or meet the requirements needed to obtain a California Child Development Permit to become an Assistant Teacher, Associate Teacher, Teacher, Master Teacher, and/or Site Supervisor in state-licensed, publicly funded, center-based child care and development programs. Students planning to transfer to a four-year university as a child development or related major may be able to apply some child development units toward the lower division major preparation requirements or qualify for the AS-T in Early Childhood Education. Please see a Foothill counselor for more information.

Learn more about the program on the Child Development and Education website.

Associate Degree for Transfer

This program also offers Associate Degrees for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the following listings: Child and Adolescent Development AA-T, Early Childhood Education AS-T, and Elementary Teacher Education AA-T.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the needs and characteristics of children from birth through middle childhood, and the multiple influences on their development as related to the high-quality care and education of young children.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of ethical standards and professional behaviors that deepen knowledge and commitment to the field of early care and education as related to National Association for the Education of Young Children Code of Ethical Conduct.

Career Opportunities

The Child Development program is an academic and vocational training program which prepares students for future work as early childhood educators in diverse early childhood settings. Coursework and certificates meet professional requirements for work in early childhood programs. Students wishing to pursue careers in related fields such as human development, child psychology, social work, and primary education should see a counselor to determine the transfer requirements of specific four-year universities.

Award Type(s)

  • AA = Associate in Arts Degree
  • CA = Certificate of Achievement

Units Required

  • Major: 49
  • Certificate(s): 18-85

Associate Degree Requirements

English Proficiency
Select one of the following:
ENGL 1ACOMPOSITION & READING5
ENGL 1AHHONORS COMPOSITION & READING5
ESLL 26ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING5
or equivalent
Ethnic Studies
Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC
Mathematics Proficiency
College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra

A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:

  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • Core courses (43 units)
  • Support courses (6 units)
1

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates. Coursework that applies to permits or licenses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses
CHLD 1CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD4
CHLD 2CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT II: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADOLESCENCE4
CHLD 8CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY4
CHLD 51AAFFIRMING DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION4
CHLD 56OBSERVATION & ASSESSMENT4
CHLD 56NPRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN4
CHLD 86AMENTORING THE EARLY CARE & EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL4
CHLD 86BPRACTICUM STUDENT TEACHING IN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM5
CHLD 88BPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT2
CHLD 89CURRICULUM FOR EARLY CARE & EDUCATION PROGRAMS4
CHLD 95HEALTH, SAFETY & NUTRITION IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS4
Support Courses
Select at least six units from the following:6
INFANT & TODDLER DEVELOPMENT & CARE
SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
WORKING WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
ARTISTIC & CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING CREATIVE ART ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
LANGUAGE, LITERACY & THE DEVELOPING CHILD
MUSIC & MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY YEARS
SCIENCE & NATURE
COMMUNICATION & SELF-REFLECTION PRACTICES FOR NANNIES
CURRICULUM IN THE HOME
SAFETY & NUTRITION OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE HOME
PLANNING CREATIVE DRAMATICS
ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS PART I
ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS PART II
ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION: ADULT SUPERVISION & LEADERSHIP
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
Total Units49

Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Teacher

  • Units: 73

This certificate prepares future early childhood educators to work with diverse children in early childhood settings. The program includes academic instruction, job skills training, and field experiences. Students develop skills in integrating developmentally appropriate practices in teaching young children and acquire abilities in building relationships with children and their families.

This certificate fulfills course requirements to qualify as a teacher in an early childhood development program licensed by the Department of Social Services. It also meets the course requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development Teacher Permit and Child Development Associate Teacher Permit.

This certificate is awarded upon completion of the core and support courses and 24 units of general education courses (at least one course from each of the following categories):

  1. Humanities and/or Fine Arts
  2. Social Sciences
  3. English/Language Arts
  4. Mathematics or Science

Certificate of Achievement in Program Supervision and Mentoring

  • Units: 85

This certificate prepares future early childhood educators to direct and supervise an early childhood development program; provide care, education, and instruction of children in an early childhood development program; and serve as coordinator of curriculum, instruction, and staff development.

This certificate fulfills course requirements to qualify as a director in an early childhood development program licensed by the Department of Social Services. It also meets the course requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Site Supervisor Permit.

This certificate is awarded upon the completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Teacher (73 units) and the following:

CHLD 90BADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS PART I4
CHLD 90CADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS PART II4
CHLD 91ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION: ADULT SUPERVISION & LEADERSHIP4
or CHLD 86A MENTORING THE EARLY CARE & EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL

Certificate of Achievement in Infant and Toddler Development and Care

  • Units: 22

This certificate meets the requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development Associate Teacher Permit. There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

CHLD 1CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD4
CHLD 8CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY4
CHLD 50DINFANT & TODDLER DEVELOPMENT & CARE5
CHLD 53NCSUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS3
CHLD 56NPRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN4
CHLD 88BPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT2
Total Units22

Certificate of Achievement in Elementary After Care Education

  • Units: 21

There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

CHLD 2CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT II: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADOLESCENCE4
CHLD 8CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY4
CHLD 53NCSUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS3
CHLD 56NPRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN4
CHLD 59WORKING WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN4
CHLD 88BPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT2
Total Units21

Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Special Education

  • Units: 20

This certificate meets the requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development Associate Teacher Permit. There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

CHLD 1CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD4
CHLD 8CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY4
CHLD 53NCSUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS3
CHLD 53NPDEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS3
CHLD 56NPRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN4
CHLD 88BPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT2
Total Units20

Certificate of Achievement in Nanny, Child, and Family Studies

  • Units: 20

There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

CHLD 1CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD4
CHLD 8CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY4
CHLD 50DINFANT & TODDLER DEVELOPMENT & CARE5
CHLD 80ACOMMUNICATION & SELF-REFLECTION PRACTICES FOR NANNIES2
CHLD 80BCURRICULUM IN THE HOME2
CHLD 80CSAFETY & NUTRITION OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE HOME1
CHLD 88BPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT2
Total Units20

Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Education Fundamentals

  • Units: 18

This certificate meets the requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development Associate Teacher Permit. There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.

CHLD 1CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD4
CHLD 8CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY4
CHLD 56NPRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN4
CHLD 88BPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT2
CHLD 89CURRICULUM FOR EARLY CARE & EDUCATION PROGRAMS4
Total Units18