COURSE CURRICULUM

The Honours Bachelor of Child Development program offers an eight-semester curriculum that blends theory, applied learning and field experience to prepare students for careers supporting children and families. Early semesters build foundations in health and safety, human development from conception through school age, teaching and learning, professional practice in diverse cultures, ethics, policy, art and science, and observation skills, supported by liberal studies courses. As students progress, they complete integrative seminars tied to placements with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and children up to Grade 3, gaining hands-on experience in real settings. Mid-program courses focus on children with diverse abilities, physical literacy, partnership with families, attachment, mathematics and digital literacy, child and family relationships and critical social theories. Advanced semesters emphasize community placement, mental health intervention, emotional well-being, interprofessional collaboration, Indigenous awareness, brain and cognitive development, research methods, language development and family collaboration. A required work-integrated learning term provides practical experience that often leads to employment. The final year includes courses on the effects of stress and trauma, global childhood contexts, screening and assessment, transformative community learning, early intervention and an applied research proposal and paper. Flexible delivery formats, including hybrid, online and in-person classes, support diverse learning needs.