Child Development
- Program Description
- Associate Degree for Transfer
- Program Learning Outcomes
- Career Opportunities
- Award Type(s)
- Units Required
- Associate Degree Requirements
- Certificate Requirements
- Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Teacher
- Certificate of Achievement in Program Supervision and Mentoring
- Certificate of Achievement in Infant and Toddler Development and Care
- Certificate of Achievement in Elementary After Care Education
- Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Special Education
- Certificate of Achievement in Nanny, Child, and Family Studies
- Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Education Fundamentals
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
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| 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
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CHLD 1 | CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD | 4 |
| CHLD 2 | CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT II: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADOLESCENCE | 4 |
| CHLD 8 | CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY | 4 |
| CHLD 51A | AFFIRMING DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION | 4 |
| CHLD 56 | OBSERVATION & ASSESSMENT | 4 |
| CHLD 56N | PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN | 4 |
| CHLD 86A | MENTORING THE EARLY CARE & EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL | 4 |
| CHLD 86B | PRACTICUM STUDENT TEACHING IN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM | 5 |
| CHLD 88B | POSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| CHLD 89 | CURRICULUM FOR EARLY CARE & EDUCATION PROGRAMS | 4 |
| CHLD 95 | HEALTH, SAFETY & NUTRITION IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS | 4 |
| 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 | ||
or ANTH 2AH | HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | |
| CHILDREN'S LITERATURE | ||
| CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT | ||
| ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY | ||
| Total Units | 49 | |
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):
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts
- Social Sciences
- English/Language Arts
- 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:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHLD 90B | ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS PART I | 4 |
| CHLD 90C | ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS PART II | 4 |
| CHLD 91 | ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION: ADULT SUPERVISION & LEADERSHIP | 4 |
| 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.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHLD 1 | CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD | 4 |
| CHLD 8 | CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY | 4 |
| CHLD 50D | INFANT & TODDLER DEVELOPMENT & CARE | 5 |
| CHLD 53NC | SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS | 3 |
| CHLD 56N | PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN | 4 |
| CHLD 88B | POSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| Total Units | 22 | |
Certificate of Achievement in Elementary After Care Education
- Units: 21
There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHLD 2 | CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT II: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADOLESCENCE | 4 |
| CHLD 8 | CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY | 4 |
| CHLD 53NC | SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS | 3 |
| CHLD 56N | PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN | 4 |
| CHLD 59 | WORKING WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN | 4 |
| CHLD 88B | POSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| Total Units | 21 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHLD 1 | CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD | 4 |
| CHLD 8 | CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY | 4 |
| CHLD 53NC | SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS | 3 |
| CHLD 53NP | DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS | 3 |
| CHLD 56N | PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN | 4 |
| CHLD 88B | POSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| Total Units | 20 | |
Certificate of Achievement in Nanny, Child, and Family Studies
- Units: 20
There are no English or mathematics proficiency requirements for this certificate.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHLD 1 | CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD | 4 |
| CHLD 8 | CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY | 4 |
| CHLD 50D | INFANT & TODDLER DEVELOPMENT & CARE | 5 |
| CHLD 80A | COMMUNICATION & SELF-REFLECTION PRACTICES FOR NANNIES | 2 |
| CHLD 80B | CURRICULUM IN THE HOME | 2 |
| CHLD 80C | SAFETY & NUTRITION OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE HOME | 1 |
| CHLD 88B | POSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| Total Units | 20 | |
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.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHLD 1 | CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD | 4 |
| CHLD 8 | CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY | 4 |
| CHLD 56N | PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN | 4 |
| CHLD 88B | POSITIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| CHLD 89 | CURRICULUM FOR EARLY CARE & EDUCATION PROGRAMS | 4 |
| Total Units | 18 | |