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.
A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared 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 taken 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 130 and POLS 155. 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 130 (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, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.
DEGREE CORE PROGRAM: 39 units
Foundation Core: 5 units
2 courses required:
| CHLD | 250 | Child Development | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Registration in CHLD 251 for Child Development majors and minors.
| CHLD | 251 | Observational Techniques | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: concurrent registration or prior completion of CHLD 250 or CHLD 252.
Core I: 9 units
Must be completed prior to taking CHLD 392.
2 courses required:
| CHLD | 352 | Devel Approp Curr for Children | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250, CHLD 251.
| CHLD | 353 | Meth of Inquiry in Child Dev | 3.0 | FS WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; General Education math course; CHLD 250, CHLD 251.
1 course selected from:
| HCSV | 363 | Child Health | 3.0 | FS * |
| HCSV | 450 | Hlth Ed for Elem School Tchrs | 3.0 | FS |
| NFSC | 100 | Basic Nutrition | 3.0 | FS * |
CORE II: 13 units
Must be completed prior to taking CHLD 492 or CHLD 495.
1 course selected from:
| BIOL | 303 | Human Genetics | 3.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: One biological sciences course.
| BIOL | 318 | Biology of Childhood | 3.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: One biological sciences course.
3 courses required:
| CHLD | 392 | Child Development Practicum | 4.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250, CHLD 251, CHLD 352, CHLD 353; NFSC 100 or HCSV 450; junior standing; faculty permission.
| CHLD | 440 | Issues in Assess Chld/Fam | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250, CHLD 251, and GE math.
| PSYC | 355 | Child/Adolescent Psychology | 3.0 | FS |
CORE III: 12 units
The Child: 6 units
2 courses selected from:
| CHLD | 350 | Prenatal-Infant Development | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252 or PSYC 355.
| CHLD | 354 | School-Aged Child | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252 or PSYC 355.
| CHLD | 357 | Adolescent Development | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252 or PSYC 355.
| PSYC | 353 | Learning in the Young Child | 3.0 | FS |
| PSYC | 456 | Advanced Child Psychology | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: PSYC 355 or equivalent.
The Family: 3 units
1 course selected from:
| CHLD | 255 | Marriage/Family Relationships | 3.0 | FS * |
| CHLD | 355 | Children, Families, Soc Policy | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252 or CHLD 255 or PSYC 355.
| CHLD | 455 | Seminar in Family Relations | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250 or CHLD 252 or CHLD 255.
| PHIL | 323 | Moral Issues in Parenting | 3.0 | FS * |
| SOCI | 235 | Contemporary Families | 3.0 | FS * |
| SOCI | 435 | Family: Past/Present/Future | 3.0 | FS |
The Society and Culture: 3 units
1 course selected from:
| PSYC | 151 | Socio-Cultural Psy Development | 3.0 | FS * |
| PSYC | 341 | Cross-Cultural Psychology | 3.0 | FS *NW |
| PSYC | 351 | Socio-Cultural Psy Development | 3.0 | FS * |
| SOCI | 360 | 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:
| CHLD | 492 | Child Dev Pract Child/Family | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 303 or BIOL 318; CHLD 392, PSYC 355, senior standing, faculty permission.
1 course selected from:
| CHLD | 495 | Senior Sem in Child Dev | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 303 or BIOL 318; CHLD 392, PSYC 355, senior standing; faculty permission.
| CHLD | 495H | Senior Seminar in Child Dev | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: BIOL 303 or BIOL 318; CHLD 392, PSYC 355, senior standing; acceptance in undergraduate honors program; faculty permission.
Depth Core: 9 units
See academic adviser for recommended courses focused on student interests and professional preparation.
3 courses selected from:
| ARTS | 493 | Art Ed in Elementary & Mid Sch | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing or faculty permission.
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| ARTS | 494 | Art Ed in Secondary Schools | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: ARTS 493 or faculty permission.
| CHLD | 456 | Admin of Child Dev Programs | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250, CHLD 251.
| CHLD | 462 | Adult Sup in Chld Dev Programs | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250, CHLD 251.
| CHLD | 499H | Honors Research in Child Dev | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250, CHLD 251, CHLD 352, CHLD 353; NFSC 100 or HCSV 450; faculty permission.
| CHLD | 551 | Staff and Family Relations | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CHLD 250, CHLD 251.
| EDTE | 302 | Access & Equity in Education | 3.0 | FS |
| ENGL | 230 | Intro to Technical Writing | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130.
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| HCSV | 579 | Grant Wrtg/Other Fundraising | 3.0 | FS |
| HCSV | 321 | Community Health | 3.0 | FS |
| HCSV | 368 | Women's Health | 3.0 | FS * |
| MGMT | 303 | Managing People/Bus Proc/Chg | 3.0 | FS |
| MGMT | 304 | Human Resource Management | 3.0 | FS |
| MUSC | 326 | Music for Children | 3.0 | FS |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| MUSC | 327 | Music for Early Childhood | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: MUSC 326, faculty permission.
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| MUSC | 328 | Music in Recreation | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: MUSC 326, faculty permission.
| KINE | 302 | Found Childhood Phys Educ | 3.0 | FS |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| KINE | 303 | Develop Motor Behav Children | 3.0 | FS |
| KINE | 315 | Intro to Adapted Phys Act | 3.0 | FS |
| POLS | 454 | Legal Research | 3.0 | FS |
| POLS | 489K | Internship in Legal Studies1.0 | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Faculty permission.
| PSYC | 573 | Counseling Psychology | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: PSYC 381 or PSYC 382, senior or graduate standing, faculty permission.
| RDGL | 354 | Literature for Young Children | 3.0 | Inq |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| RDGL | 554 | Literature for Children | 3.0 | FS |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| THEA | 311 | Children's Lit in Performance | 3.0 | FS |
| SOCI | 230 | Women in Contemp Societies | 3.0 | FS * |
| SOCI | 335 | Women, Work, and Family | 3.0 | FS * |
| SOCI | 484 | Youth, Crime, and Delinquency | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: SOCI 384 recommended.
| SPED | 343 | Overview of Special Education | 3.0 | FS |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| PSYC | 457 | Psy of Exceptional Child | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: PSYC 355 or equivalent.
| SPED | 561 | Curr & Instruc: Emph Incl Sett | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: SPED 343. Recommended: senior standing.
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| EDTE | 571 | Curriculum Dev & Instruc Strat | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: Admission to a Professional Education Program.
| SPED | 563 | Collab in Ed & Hlpng Professns | 2.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: SPED 343, SPED 569. Senior standing is recommended.
| SPED | 564 | Management of Learning Environ | 2.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: SPED 343, SPED 569. Recommended: senior standing.
| SPED | 569 | Field Exp: Gen & Spec Educ | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of SPED 343.
| SWRK | 170 | Social Welfare Institutions | 3.0 | FS * |
| SWRK | 200 | Multicult Awareness-Hum Svcs | 3.0 | FS Eth |
Prerequisites: No prerequisites or corequisites for non-majors; concurrent enrollment in SWRK 302 for majors.
| SWRK | 302 | Hum Behavr Across the Lifespan | 3.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: No prerequisites or corequisites for non-majors; concurrent enrollment in SWRK 200 for majors.
| SWRK | 320 | Child Welfare | 3.0 | FS |
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.
Obtaining a Child Development Permit
If you are interested in teaching or directing in a child development center with young children (0-8 years of age), you may want to obtain a Child Development (CD) Permit. Having a CD Permit may be required or highly recommended for certain types of centers (e.g., Title 5 Programs, child development programs funded by the State Department of Education, Head Start). For more information about obtaining a CD Permit, contact your academic adviser or the Child Development Program office.
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 possibly 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 (499H) 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 CHLD 353. 2. Faculty recommendation. 3. Students admitted to the Honors in the Major program in child development will enroll in CHLD 499H the first semester of their senior year and CHLD 495H the second semester. It is recommended that CHLD 499H be taken concurrently with CHLD 392. A public presentation of the completed project will take place during the second semester. Students must earn at least a B grade in both CHLD 499H and CHLD 495H.