COURSE CURRICULUM

The Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) PK–3 Integrated Teacher Education Program BA is a 124-unit integrated degree and credential pathway that combines academic study in child and adolescent development with professional teacher preparation aligned to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) requirements. The program is designed to prepare students for early childhood education careers by integrating coursework that builds understanding of developmental theory, learning processes, and classroom practice with structured field experiences and student teaching. The curriculum addresses PK–3 Subject Matter Competency and Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs), ensuring graduates meet state standards for effective teaching in early childhood settings. Students complete foundational lower-division coursework in psychology, child development, lifespan development, and quantitative methods, followed by upper-division core courses in research methods, cognitive and social-emotional development, parenting, risk and resilience, and early childhood program administration. Credential coursework emphasizes literacy and mathematics instruction, early intervention for children with disabilities, supportive learning environments, and language development for second-language learners, alongside supervised student teaching in PK–3 classrooms. The program also includes upper-division general education, writing-in-the-discipline requirements, and university electives to ensure a well-rounded academic foundation. Admission to the integrated credential pathway typically occurs in the junior year after meeting program standards and undergoing screening. Students must maintain a minimum grade of C or higher in credential courses and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Upon successful completion, graduates earn a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development along with a Preliminary PK–3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Teaching Credential, qualifying them to teach in diverse early childhood and elementary education settings.