COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Child Development program offers a robust curriculum of 29 core units designed to prepare students for impactful careers in early childhood education. The core coursework covers a wide range of foundational topics essential to understanding and supporting the developmental needs of young children. These include introduction to child development, curriculum planning, child-family-community relationships, and promoting health and safety in children’s programs. Students also explore diversity in early education, early literacy development, and behavior observation, assessment, and guidance techniques. Specialized courses delve into hands-on learning experiences through language arts, social sciences, math, science, and creative visual and performing arts, with practicum opportunities provided to apply theory in real classroom settings.In addition to the core curriculum, students can choose from three optional specializations to align their studies with specific career goals. The Infant/Toddler specialization focuses on developmental milestones and appropriate care practices for children from birth to age three. The Special Education specialization includes courses on the fundamentals of special education and inclusive practices in early childhood settings. For those seeking leadership roles in preschool administration, the Preschool Director Certificate of Achievement adds coursework in early childhood program administration, personnel and leadership, and adult supervision and mentoring. These specialized options allow students to tailor their degree to match their interests and career aspirations in areas such as teaching, program leadership, and inclusive education. This well-rounded program ensures that graduates are not only prepared to educate and nurture young learners but are also equipped to lead, advocate, and innovate within early childhood education environments.