The Bachelor of Arts in Child Development

Strategic Learning Priorities

Students in the child development program will become knowledgeable in six areas:

1. Foundations of Child Development
Students will understand the theoretical, empirical, and philosophical foundations of the discipline. In addition, students will apply their knowledge while working with children, families, and professionals.

2. Child Assessment and Study
Students will understand, perform, and appreciate multiple forms of child assessment. Students will be able to use qualitative and quantitative methods of assessing children. They will be able to use the information to help identify a child’s strengths and develop, implement, and evaluate plans of intervention to resolve areas of need.

3. Programs for Children and Families
Students will understand model programs for both children and families and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum activities. Students will evaluate the impact and efficacy of these programs for children, families, and communities.

4. Professional Qualities
Students will understand professionalism by demonstrating knowledge, attitudes, and skills of those individuals who are committed to understanding and working with children and families. They will demonstrate mastery of communication (reading, writing, listening, computer, and speaking skills), leadership, research, assessment and evaluation, and collaboration skills.

5. Critical Thinking Skills
Students will understand and demonstrate various methods of learning about the discipline including scientific inquiry and field-tested practices. Students will focus on understanding the relationships among their own personal theories, scientific theories, empirical research, and best practices regarding children’s development.

6. Developmental Context
Students will understand the multiple environmental contexts in which children grow and develop. Students will appreciate and interpret how social class, parents, families, peers, types of children’s programs, culture, societal changes, and communities influence the course of development.

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree: 120 units

See “Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree” in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

The department has prepared a suggested Four Year Advising Plan to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major adviser or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

See “General Education Requirements” in The University Catalog and The Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings. The course requirements marked below with an asterisk (*) may also be applied toward General Education.

Cultural Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See “Cultural Diversity” in The University Catalog. Most courses used to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.

American Institutions Requirement: 6 units

See the “American Institutions Requirement” under “Bachelor’s Degree Requirements.” This requirement is normally fulfilled by completing HIST 050 and POLS 055. Courses used to satisfy this requirement do not apply to General Education.

Literacy Requirement:

See “Mathematics and Writing Requirements” in The University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better to receive WP credit. See The Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a C- or better before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 54 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, dependent upon a selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.

DEGREE CORE PROGRAM: 39 units

CORE I: 14 units

Must be completed prior to taking C D 192.

4 courses required:

C D    050    Child Development    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Concurrent registration in C D 051 for Child Development majors and minors.

C D    051    Observational Techniques    2.0    FS

C D    152    Devel Approp Curric for Children    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051.

C D    153    Methods of Inquiry in Child Dev    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; General Education math course; C D 050, C D 051.

1 course selected from:

HCSV    260    Hlth Ed for Elem School Teachers    3.0    FS

NFSC    025    Basic Nutrition    3.0    FS *

CORE II: 13 units

Must be completed prior to taking C D 292 or C D 295.

1 course selected from:

BIOL    103    Human Genetics    3.0    FS *

Prerequisites: One biological sciences course.

BIOL    118    Biology of Childhood    3.0    FS *

Prerequisites: One biological sciences course.

3 courses required:

C D    192    Child Development Practicum    4.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; C D 050, C D 051, C D 152, C D 153; NFSC 025 or HCSV 260; junior standing; faculty permission.

C D    240    Issues in Assess Chld/Fam    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051, and GE math

PSY    202    Child/Adolescent Psychology    3.0    FS

CORE III: 12 units

The Child

2 courses selected from:

C D    150    Prenatal-Infant Development    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: C D 050 or C D 052 or PSY 202.

C D    154    School-Aged Child    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: C D 050 or C D 052 or PSY 202.

C D    254    Adolescent Development    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: C D 050 or C D 052 or PSY 202.

PSY    112    Learning in the Young Child    3.0    FS

PSY    203    Advanced Child Psychology    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: PSY 202 or equivalent.

The Family

1 course selected from:

C D    055    Marriage/Family Relationships    3.0    FS *

C D    255    Seminar in Family Relations    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: C D 055; either C D 050 or C D 052.

SOCI    132    Modern Families    3.0    FS *

SOCI    232    Family: Past/Present/Future    3.0    FS

The Society and Culture

1 course selected from:

PSY    041    Socio-Cultural Psy Development    3.0    FS *

This course is the same as PSY 141 which may be substituted.

PSY    142    Cross-Cultural Psychology    3.0    FS *NW

This course is the same as MCGS 142 which may be substituted.

SOCI    214    Self and Society    3.0    FS

PROFESSIONAL CORE: 6 units

Before you enroll in the professional core, you must complete Core I and Core II as described above. You also must complete the Professional Core Advising Questionnaire (available from the program office or from a child development adviser) during the semester prior to beginning the professional core. The questionnaire insures that the prerequisites have been completed and that a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 has been maintained.

1 course required:

C D    292    Child Dev Pract Child/Family    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: BIOL 118 or BIOL 103; C D 050, C D 051, C D 152, C D 153, C D 192; HCSV 260 or NFSC 025; PSY 202; senior standing; faculty permission.

1 course selected from:

C D    295    Senior Sem in Child Development    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: BIOL 118 or BIOL 103; C D 050, C D 051, C D 152, C D 153, C D 192; NFSC 025 or HCSV 260; PSY 202; senior standing; faculty permission.

C D    295H    Senior Seminar in Child Develop    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: BIOL 118 or BIOL 103; C D 050, C D 051, C D 152, C D 153, C D 192; NFSC 025 or HCSV 260; PSY 202; senior standing; acceptance in undergraduate honors program; faculty permission.

Advising Pattern Course Requirements: 9 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required depending upon the advising pattern chosen. Students must select one of the following advising patterns for completion of the major course requirements.

Administration of Child Development Programs

9 units selected from:

C D    251    Staff-Parent-Child Relations    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051.

C D    256    Admin Child Development Programs    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051.

C D    262    Adult Sup in Chld Dev Programs    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051, faculty permission.

ENGL    130    Report Writing    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: ENGL 001.

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

HCSV    279    Grant Writing/Other Fundraising    3.0    FS

MGMT    131    Human Resource Management    3.0    FS

MGMT    180    Managing People, Bus Proc, & Chg    3.0    FS

POLS    260A    Intro to Public Administration    3.0    FS

POLS    262    Organizational Theory    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: POLS 260A or concurrent enrollment.

POLS    271A    Public Policy Formation    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in POLS 199A required.

POLS    273    Congress    3.0    SP

SWRK    220    Child Welfare    3.0    FS

Early Childhood Education

9 units selected from:

C D    251    Staff-Parent-Child Relations    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051.

C D    256    Admin Child Development Programs    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051.

C D    262    Adult Sup in Chld Dev Programs    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: C D 050, C D 051, faculty permission.

ART    207    Development of Children’s Art    3.0    FS

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

ART    208    Development of Adolescent Art    3.0    FS

MUS    129    Music for Children    3.0    FS

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

MUS    156    Music for Early Childhood    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: MUS 129; faculty permission.

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

MUS    157    Music in Recreation    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: MUS 129; faculty permission.

BLMC    236    Intro to Multicultural Education    3.0    FS

PHED    102    Foundations Childhood Phys Educ    3.0    FS

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

PHED    103    Develop Motor Behavior Children    3.0    FS

PHED    212    Intro to Adapted Phys Activities    3.0    FS

RDGL    154A    Literature for Young Children    3.0    FA

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

RDGL    254A    Literature for Children    3.0    FS

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

THEA    124    Children’s Lit in Performance    3.0    FS

This course is the same as THEA 024 which may be substituted.

SPED    143    Overview of Special Education    3.0    FS

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

PSY    240    Psychology of Exceptional Child    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: PSY 202 or equivalent.

SPED    244C    Collab in Educ & Hlpng Professns    2.0    FS

Prerequisites: SPED 143, SPED 289C. Senior standing is recommended.

SPED    289C    Field Exp: Gen & Spec Education    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of SPED 143.

Human Services/Social Policy

9 units selected from:

HCSV    161    Community Health    3.0    FS

HCSV    168    Women’s Health    3.0    FS *

This course is the same as NURS 168 and WMST 168 which may be substituted.

POLS    271A    Public Policy Formation    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in POLS 199A required.

POLS    273    Congress    3.0    SP

PSY    273A    Counseling Psychology    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: PSY 225 or PSY 235; senior or graduate standing; faculty permission.

SOCI    131    Work and Family Issues    3.0    FS *

SOCI    159    Women in Contemporary Societies    3.0    FS *

This course is the same as WMST 159 which may be substituted.

SOCI    284    Youth, Crime, and Delinquency    3.0    SP

Prerequisites: SOCI 282 recommended.

SWRK    070    Social Welfare Institutions    3.0    FS *

SWRK    100    Multicultural Awareness-Hum Svcs    3.0    FS Eth

Prerequisites: No prerequisites or corequisites for non-majors; concurrent enrollment in SWRK 102 for majors.

SWRK    102    Hum Behavior Across the Lifespan    3.0    FS *

Prerequisites: No prerequisites or corequisites for non-majors; concurrent enrollment in SWRK 100 for majors.

SWRK    220    Child Welfare    3.0    FS

Teaching Credential Preparation

9 units selected from:

ART    207    Development of Children’s Art    3.0    FS

EDUC    102    Access & Equity in Education    3.0    FS

MUS    129    Music for Children    3.0    FS

PHED    102    Foundations Childhood Phys Educ    3.0    FS

THEA    124    Children’s Lit in Performance    3.0    FS

This course is the same as THEA 024 which may be substituted.

Early Intervention

9 units selected from:

SPED    229B    Curr & Instruc: Emph Incl Settg    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: SPED 143, SPED 298C. Recommended: senior standing.

OR     (the following course may be substituted for the above)

EDTE    229B    Curr Dev/Instruct Strategies    3.0    FA

Prerequisites: Admission to a Professional Education Program.

SPED    244C    Collab in Educ & Hlpng Professns    2.0    FS

Prerequisites: SPED 143, SPED 289C. Senior standing is recommended.

SPED    245A    Management of Learning Environ    2.0    SP

Prerequisites: SPED 143, SPED 289C. Recommended: senior standing.

SPED    289C    Field Exp: Gen & Spec Education    3.0    FS

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of SPED 143.

Professional Standards and Disqualification:

The child development degree signifies a readiness to begin professional work in areas requiring trust and high ethical standards. You are expected to meet ethical and professional standards set by the profession and the agencies with which you may serve as an intern. Should it be determined that you do not meet such standards, you may be disqualified from fulfilling the advanced internship of the major and thus be prevented from completing the child development major.

The professional standards include the following:
1. Honoring the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethics and the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Code of Ethics.
2. Meeting the expectations of field agencies and programs which provide internships.
3. Avoiding behavior that suggests potential harm to clients, colleagues, or themselves.

Please consult with the program office for more complete information regarding these standards.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor’s degree, select additional elective courses from the total university offerings. You should consult with an adviser regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your university experience and apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program.
Consult your undergraduate adviser for specific information.

Visit the Child Development Program Office for assignment to an undergraduate adviser.

Honors in the Major

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major.
It involves 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

Your Honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair. Most importantly, however, the Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the university for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows; such experience is valuable for graduate school and later professional life.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are

1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. At least 3 of these 6 units are independent study (299H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.
4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.
5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your Honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major adviser for further information.

Honors in Child Development

In addition to the requirements for all Honors in the Major programs listed above, specific requirements for Honors in Child Development include:
1. Successful completion of C D 153.
2. Faculty recommendation.
3. Students admitted to the Honors in the Major program in child development will enroll in C D 299H the first semester of their senior year and C D 295H the second semester. It is recommended that C D 299H be taken concurrently with C D 192. A public presentation of the completed project will take place during the second semester. Students must earn at least a B grade in both C D 299H and C D 295H.