Child Development - Advanced Certificate

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Program Code: CSA.35763

Child development teachers work in a variety of settings providing care and guidance of young children. This includes concern for the mental, social, physical, and emotional growth and development of the child. As a child development teacher, you should be able to work under supervision and work cooperatively with other personnel. Each employee should gain the respect, confidence, and cooperation of children, maintain discipline, and enforce as well as deal with emergency situations calmly. Physically, you must maintain good health and be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. Good vision and hearing are necessary as well as being able to lift up to 40 pounds. Applicants for child development positions are to be free of communicable diseases including a negative TB test. A DHS clearance for child abuse/neglect is required, as is a criminal background check.

The Child Development Certificate prepares students for positions as assistant teachers or teachers in early childhood education and care programs. Students learn to plan and implement high quality, developmentally appropriate programs for all ages of children, infants through school-age, in both centers and family child care homes.

The curriculum for the certificate is aligned with the standards issued by the National Association for the Education of Young Children

Fall First Year:

CD 111W - Introduction to Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
CD 112W - Learning Center Activities Credits: 3
CD 113W - Child Guidance Strategies Credits: 4
LWT 165 - HeartSaver First Aid with CPR Credits: 1
PSY 211W - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 4

Total Semester Credits: 15

Winter First Year:

CD 110W - Infant/Toddler Development Credits: 4
CD 115W - Introductory Preschool Practicum Credits: 3
ED 201W - Education of the Exceptional Child Credits: 3
PSY 223W - Child Psychology Credits: 3

Total Semester Credits: 13

Fall Second Year:

CD 116W - Diversity and Families in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
CD 117W - Student Teaching Practicum Credits: 6

Total Semester Credits: 9

Total Credits: 37

Notations

CD 110W , CD 111W , CD 113W , CD 115W , are Key courses and must be completed within 5 years of completing certificate. Failure to complete within the stated time frame will require you to repeat this course. See Graduation Requirements .
A grade of “C” (2.0) or higher is required in all courses for the certificate.
CD 111W and CD 115W may be articulated if the student has earned a CDA credential (Center-based Preschool and Family Child Care CDAs), an elementary education degree or a high school career-technical certificate. CD 110W and CD 111W may be articulated if the student has earned a Center-based Infant Toddler CDA credential. Articulated credits will not count towards DHS requirements for a director using a CDA certificate. The 18 required credits for a child care director must be regular classes with a grade for credit.
A Child Development information session is held in November, April and August. CD 110W , CD 113W , CD 115W , and CD 117W students must attend one of these sessions. Be sure you notify the Academic Advising Office to state your major as Child Development.
All CD 110W , CD 113W , CD 115W , and CD 117W students must complete the following and submit the appropriate documentation to the program coordinator: 1) TB Skin Test. You must submit evidence of freedom from communicable tuberculosi; 2) Criminal background check; 3) DHS Child Abuse/Neglect clearance check; 4) Employment and volunteer contract (practicum agreement).
CD 110W and CD 113W each require 30 hours of volunteer work at a licensed childcare program. CD 115W requires 90 hours and CD 117W requires 150 hours of teaching in a licensed program other than your current employment site. CD 115W and CD 117W must be unpaid and outside of your work schedule. More information will be given at the information sessions.