Child Development
Program

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Undergraduate Competencies
The undergraduate program is organized around six broad competencies — child development knowledge/foundations; the research process; legal, ethical and pragmatic issues; leadership; child guidance, and integration of a personal/professional world view. Students are introduced to these competencies in CDEV 3000 Professional Issues in Child Development, at the beginning of their program, and compile a professional portfolio to document their progress throughout their academic program. These portfolios are presented at the end of the program in CDEV 4965, Senior Seminar.

Bachelor of Arts in Child Development

Child Development Graduate Certificate*

Liberal Studies degree concentration in Child Development

*See the Graduate catalog.

Bachelor of Arts in Child Development

The program leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Child Development provides students with a background of knowledge and skills in child growth and development. The degree is housed in the Department of Psychology. Courses are selected from child development, psychology, and related fields, and include laboratory and field experiences at the CSU Stanislaus Child Development Center as well as other applied settings.

All students are expected to:

1. Complete a professional development class;
2. Complete a core of required courses;
3. Complete one of the tracks described; and
4. Complete a capstone senior seminar and corequisite internship.

Tracks are designed to provide students with specialized knowledge and abilities in the following areas of child development:

1. Working as teachers and administrators of child development programs (Child Programs Track);
2. Pursuing advanced studies or research careers in education, psychology, social sciences, special education, and child development (Child Research Track);
3. Serving the social welfare and guidance needs of young children, parents, families, and the community (Child Services Track).

A General Track is available for those students who wish to tailor their academic programs to a particular developmental focus. A general track plan must be developed with an academic adviser and submitted to the Child Development Committee for approval prior to completing courses.

Follow the instructions on the general track plan form. General tracks must include 12 units of upper-division coursework including an application component to be approved. Course that do not appear on the list of approved CDEV electives must be accompanied by departmental petitions.

Students should note that Senior Seminar and Internship are required assessment courses for the Child Development Major. The seminar is integrated with a senior internship that culminates the student’s educational plan and relates to the student’s track and prospective career. Students may not take these courses until they have met all prerequisites.

Students should take Senior Seminar in the last semester of coursework and should consider carefully the amount of time that will be required to complete successfully the course and internship.

Students should plan for participation in a field site for approximately 6 hours per week throughout the entire semester, strict class attendance, and group participation on arranged time with classmates and professional persons. Finally, students should consider that the semester project includes the preparation and presentation of individualized professional portfolios, demonstrating individual achievement of the program’s competencies. See departmental information regarding prerequisites and enrollment procedures for these classes.

Students pursuing authorization to teach in public elementary schools must complete a Multiple Subject Credential concurrent with or upon completion of the baccalaureate.

There are two routes to the credential:

1. Completion of the Child Development major;
2. The Liberal Studies major with a Child Development Concentration, described in the Liberal Studies section of this catalog. Students may wish to consult their advisers before choosing their major.

Requirements

1. Complete University General Education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree (51 units minimum).
2. Complete the lower-division prerequisites to the major plus major requirements of not less than 37 units of approved upper-division coursework as outlined.
3. Community college transfer students with an Associate of Arts in child development or early childhood education, upon advisement, may waive CDEV 3140, and complete the remainder of required coursework, plus additional upper-division coursework for a total of 37 units.
4. Community college transfer students without an Associate of Arts in child development or early childhood education must complete course requirements as outlined for a minimum total of 37 units of approved upper-division coursework.
5. All students must take at least one non-research child development laboratory course in residence at CSU Stanislaus. All students must complete CDEV 3010, Child Abuse and Neglect, prior to enrollment in the following lab courses: CDEV 3020, CDEV 3181, CDEV 3320, CDEV 3550, CDEV 3440, CDEV 4180 and 4190, or CDEV 4280.
6. Child development majors must take all courses counted toward the major for a letter grade if the letter grade option is available. In addition, no more than 6 units of credit-graded coursework may apply toward the major.
7. A maximum of 6 units of combined coursework in field work and internships may be counted toward the major with approval by the major adviser.

Notes:

1. Courses listed in the tracks are offered on a rotation basis. Students should check with advisers/departments for scheduled semesters and times.
2. Prior to Winter 1996, Child Development courses were noted by a PSYC prefix.
3. The following courses are recommended for students who anticipate pursuing graduate work:
   CDEV 4000 Child Development Research Methods, 3 units
   MATH 1600 Statistics, 4 units
   PSYC 3000 Experimental Methods and Design, 4 units
   PSYC 4120 Human Development Research Seminar (WP), 3 units

Complete the following prerequisites to the major (10 units):

BIOL 1010 Principles of Biology, 3 units and
BIOL 1020-1029 Special Laboratory Studies, 1 unit
PSYC 2010 Introduction to Psychology, 3 units
PSYC 2020 Introduction to Psychological Methods, 3 units

The following lower-division courses also are recommended:
ANTH 2060 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, 3 units, or
ANTH 2080 Introduction to Physical Anthropology, 3 units
SOCL 1010 Introduction to Sociology, 3 units

The Major (37 units)

1. Complete the following required upper-division core (25 units):
   1. Complete all of the following courses:
      CDEV 3000 Professional Issues in Child Development, 3 units
      CDEV 3010 Child Abuse and Neglect, 1 unit
      CDEV 3140 Human Development I: Childhood, 3 units
      CDEV 3170 Early Cognitive Development, 3 units
      CDEV 3180 Early Social and Emotional Development, 3 units
   2. Select one of the following Application courses (may not cross count with any other part of CDEV major):
      CDEV 3020 Child Guidance and Management, 3 units, or
      CDEV 3181 Early Childhood Development, 3 units, or
      CDEV 3320 Infant Development and Group Care, 3 units, or
      CDEV 3440 Developmental Assessment, 3 units, or
      CDEV 3550 Early Intervention with High-Risk Children, 4 units or
      CDEV 4180 Developmental Programs for Preschool Children, 3 units and
      CDEV 4190 Developmental Programs Laboratory, 1 unit or
      CDEV 4280 Development of Social Cognition, 3 units
   3. Select one of the following Life Span courses:
      CDEV 3240 Human Development II: Adolescence, 3 units, or
      CDEV 3340 Human Development III: Adulthood and Aging, 3 units
   4. Select one of the following Family courses:
      ANTH 4165 The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective, 3 units, or
      ETHS 4000 The Mexican American Family, 3 units, or
      ETHS 4010 The African American Family, 3 units, or
      ETHS 4030 Asian American Families, 3 units, or
      SOCL 3150 The Family, 3 units
   5. Complete both of the following capstone courses:
      CDEV 4965 Child Development Senior Seminar, 1 unit, and
      CDEV 4948 Child Development Senior Internship, 2 units
2. Complete one of the following tracks (12 units):
   1. Child Development Programs Track
      1. Complete the following (8 units):
         CDEV 4180 Developmental Programs for Preschool Children, 3 units, and
         CDEV 4190 Developmental Programs Laboratory, 1 unit
         CDEV 4960 Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Education Programs, 4 units
      2. CDC Internships (2 units minimum):
         CDEV 4945 Internship at Child Development Center as Instructional Aide, 1 unit, or
         CDEV 4946 Internship at Child Development Center as Head Teacher, 2 units, or
         CDEV 4947 Internship at Child Development Center as Assistant Administrator, 2 units
      3. CDEV 4940 Fieldwork in Child Development (2 units minimum)
   2. Child Development Research Track
      1. Complete the following: (12 units)
         SSCI 3000 Library Resources for the Social Sciences, 2 units
         PSYC 3000 Experimental Methods and Design, 4 units
         PSYC 4120 Human Development Research Seminar (WP), 3 units
         CDEV 4000 Child Development Research Methods, 3 units
   3. Child Development Services Track
      1. Complete the following: (9 units)
         PSYC 4130 Psychological Disorders of Children, 3 units
         PSYC 4150 Learning Disabilities, 3 units
         SOCL 4790 Social Welfare Services, 3 units
      2. CDEV 4940 Fieldwork in Child Development (3 units minimum)
   4. General Track A general track plan must be developed with the student’s academic adviser and submitted for the Child Development Committee’s approval. Select 12 units of upper-division classes from the following:

Electives:
ANTH 4165 The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective, 3 units
CDEV 3020 Child Guidance and Management, 3 units
CDEV 3040 Child Development in Cultural Context, 3 units
CDEV 3181 Early Childhood Development, 3 units
CDEV 3240 Human Development II: Adolescence, 3 units
CDEV 3320 Infant Development and Group Care, 3 units
CDEV 3340 Human Development III: Adulthood and Aging, 3 units
CDEV 3440 Developmental Assessment, 3 units
CDEV 3550 Early Intervention with High-Risk Children, 4 units
CDEV 4000 Child Development Research Methods, 3 units
CDEV 4180 Developmental Programs for Preschool Children, 3 units, and
CDEV 4190 Developmental Programs Laboratory, 1 unit
CDEV 4280 Development of Social Cognition, 3 units
CDEV 4940 Field Work in Child Development, 1-2 units (must be approved by adviser)
CDEV 4945 Internship at Child Development Center as Instructional Aide, 1 unit
CDEV 4946 Internship at Child Development Center as Head Teacher, 2 units
CDEV 4947 Internship at Child Development Center as Assistant Administrator,
2 units
CDEV 4950 Selected Topics in Child Development, 1-4 units
CDEV 4960 Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Education Programs, 4 units
CDEV 4980 Individual Study, 1-3 units
CDEV 4990 Senior Honors Thesis, 3 units
COMM 3010 Language and Speech Development, 3 units
COMM 3400 Oral Interpretation of Children’s Literature, 3 units
ENGL 4620 Children’s Literature, 3 units
ETHS 4000 The Mexican American Family, 3 units
ETHS 4010 The African American Family, 3 units
ETHS 4030 Asian American Families, 3 units
MUS 3340 Music in Elementary School, 3 units, or
MUS 3341 Music for the Classroom Teacher, 3 units
PHED 3400 Elementary Physical Education, 3 units
PSYC 3700 Introduction to Learning and Motivation, 3 units
PSYC 4110 Behavior Genetics, 3 units
PSYC 4120 Human Development Research Seminar (WP), 3 units
PSYC 4130 Psychological Disorders of Children, 3 units
PSYC 4150 Learning Disabilities, 3 units
SOCL 3150 The Family, 3 units
SOCL 3160 Sociology of Youth, 3 units
THEA 3020 Children’s Theatre, 3 units, or
THEA 4020 Performance for Children, 4 units

Liberal Studies Concentration in Child Development
Please refer to the Liberal Studies section of the catalog.

State of California Children’s Center Permits
California requires that individuals who serve as teachers and administrators of funded child development programs hold permits issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. See your academic adviser for coursework that is likely to meet these requirements. Applications for the Child Center Permit may be picked up at the University Credential Processing Center at Demergasso-Bava Hall 303.

Learning Objectives

• Child Development Knowledge/Foundations: Graduating students will demonstrate a strong understanding of the child development theories, developmental knowledge, contemporary issues and the relationship between theory and research.
• The Research Process: Students will demonstrate information competency, the ability to critically evaluate research, and an understanding of research and developmental methods as well as ethical issues related to doing research with children.
• Leadership: Students will have refined management and personal skills as well as the ability to work successfully in a team setting.
• Child Guidance: Students will demonstrate strong child guidance skills and an understanding of developmentally appropriate behavior.
• Integration: Students should be able to integrate what they have learned into a cohesive framework so that they can successfully argue a position on an issue and be able to speak of their personal worldview regarding child development.
• Legal, Ethical, and Pragmatic Issues: Students will be aware of children’s rights, engage in advocacy for children, and demonstrate good moral character.

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