Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]


Baccalaureate Degree Requirements Advising Sheet

Child Development B.A.



View information for the Child Development Program , including Learning Objectives.

View the degree program Roadmaps, which provide recommended advising maps to complete the degree program. Please consult your academic advisor as you develop your academic plan.

The program leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Child Development provides students with a background of knowledge and skills in child growth and development. The degree is delivered by the Department of Psychology and Child Development. Courses are selected from child development and related fields, and include laboratory and field experiences at the Stanislaus State Child Development Center as well as other applied settings.  The Child Development major is designed to prepare students for professional occupations with children and families as well as to prepare students to pursue advanced studies or research careers.

The Child Development Major is organized around six broad competencies-child development knowledge/foundations; the research process; legal, ethical, and pragmatic issues; professionalism; personal and interpersonal skills; developmentally-appropriate practices; and integration of a personal/professional worldview.  Students are introduced to these competencies in CDEV 3000 - Professional Issues in Child Development , at the beginning of their program, and compile a professional portfolio to document their progress throughout the academic program.  These portfolios are presented at the end of the program in CDEV 4965 - Child Development Senior Seminar .

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Child Development Knowledge/Foundations: Graduating students will demonstrate a strong understanding of the child development theories, developmental knowledge, contemporary issues and the relationship between theory and research.
  2. The Research Process: Students will demonstrate information competency, the ability to critically evaluate research, and an understanding of research and developmental methods as well as ethical issues related to doing research with children.
  3. Leadership: Students will have refined management and personal skills as well as the ability to work successfully in a team setting.
  4. Child Guidance: Students will demonstrate strong child guidance skills and an understanding of developmentally appropriate behavior.
  5. Integration: Students should be able to integrate what they have learned into a cohesive framework so that they can successfully argue a position on an issue and be able to speak of their personal worldview regarding child development.
  6. Legal, Ethical, and Pragmatic Issues: Students will be aware of children’s rights, engage in advocacy for children, and demonstrate good moral character.

The Major

All students are expected to:

  1. Complete the prerequisites to the major;
  2. Complete the core of required courses;
  3. Complete one of the program tracks described below; and
  4. Complete the capstone senior seminar and co-requisite internship.

Program Tracks

Three professional tracks are designed to provide students with specialized knowledge and abilities:

  1. Child Development Early Childhood Track - prepares professionals as teachers and administrators of child development programs, curriculum specialists, program evaluators, etc.
  2. Child Development Middle Childhood Track - prepares students for careers as elementary teachers and administrators, recreational leaders, and other work with children and families in the community.
  3. Child Development Services Track - prepares professionals to meet the social welfare and guidance needs of young children, parents, families, and the community in agencies, parent education programs, foster care, etc.

A General Track is available for those students who wish to tailor their academic programs to a particular developmental focus. A general track plan of thematically related units must be developed with the student’s academic adviser and submitted for the Child Development Committee’s approval prior to completion of coursework.  The requirements for the General Track are shown in the catalog sections that follow and on the general track plan form.

Senior Capstone Experience

The Child Development major culminates in a senior seminar and internship experience related to the student’s career goals.  These classes provide opportunities for students to work side-by-side with professionals while developing a worldview and documentation of their accomplishment of program competencies.  It should be noted that Senior Seminar and Internship are required assessment courses for the Child Development Major. These courses culminate the student’s educational plan; students may not take these courses until they have met all prerequisites.

Requirements


1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements.


A student must comply with all University regulations and satisfy the following requirements:

  1. Units and Residency  (minimum of 120 units: 40 units of upper division coursework and 30 semester units at Stanislaus State. At least 24 of these 30 units must be earned in upper-division courses, at least 12 must be in the major, and at least 9 must be applicable to General Education-Breadth requirements)
  2. Grade Point Average  (minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better)
  3. General Education  (minimum of 49 units)
  4. Upper Division Writing Proficiency  (minimum of 3 units)
    - Writing Proficiency (WP) Course (may double count in the major)
  5. United States Constitution and California State and Local Government  (minimum of 3 units)
  6. Multicultural Requirement  (minimum of 3 units) (may double count with General Education requirements or in the major)

Subsequently all students must submit an application for graduation and receive approval from the major advisor, department chair, and Director of Academic Advising. For more information see the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

2. Complete Required Coursework


Complete the 6 lower-division prerequisites to the major, the major core 29 units, and a track of 13/14 units as outlined.

3. Child Development Transfer Waiver


Community College transfer students with an Associate of Arts (AA or AA-T) or Associate of Science (AS or AS-T) in Child Development or Early Childhood Education qualify for the Child Development Transfer Waiver. Students are waived automatically from CDEV 3140 Human Development I - Childhood (3 units) and Child Development track elective (3 units). The Transfer Waiver reduces the Child Development Major from 42-43 units to 36-37 units.

4. CDEV 3010, Child Abuse and Neglect


All students must complete CDEV 3010 - Child Abuse and Neglect , prior to enrollment in the following courses: CDEV 3020, CDEV 3050, CDEV 3181, CDEV 3320, CDEV 3440, CDEV 3550, CDEV 4000, CDEV 4180, CDEV 4280, CDEV 4380, CDEV 4940 (fieldwork), or CDEV internships (4945, 4946, 4947, 4948). 

5. Grading Requirements for Major Courses


Child Development majors must take all courses counted toward the major for a letter grade if the letter grade option is available. In addition, no more than 6 units of credit-graded coursework may apply toward the major.

6. Fieldwork and Internships


A maximum of 9 units of combined coursework in fieldwork and internships, exclusive of CDEV 4948 - Child Development Senior Internship , may be counted toward the major with approval by the major adviser.

Notes:


  1. Prior to Winter 1996,  Child Development courses were noted by a PSYC prefix.
  2. Prerequisites to the Graduate program in Child Development at Stanislaus State include a minimum of 15 units of upper-division child development coursework with a GPA of 3.0.  Suggested content includes statistics, upper-division child development theory, developmental research methods, and prevention and reporting of child abuse.  Child development laboratory courses or supervised professional work experience is desirable.

The Child Development Major


(42-43 units)

Complete the following prerequisites to the major:


(6 units)

1. Complete the following required upper-division core:


(may not cross count with any other part of CDEV major)

(29 units)

a. Complete all of the following courses:


b. Select one of the following Application courses:


(may not cross count with any other part of CDEV major)

c. Select one of the following Research-based courses:


d. Select one of the following Life Span courses:


f. Complete both of the following capstone courses:


2. Complete one of the following tracks:


(13-14 units)

a. Child Development Early Childhood Track


(13-14 units)

i. Complete the following:

(13-14 units)

ii. CDEV Elective

(3 units)

b. Child Development Middle Childhood Track


 (14 units)

ii. CDEV Electives

(6 units)

Minimum of 3 units must have CDEV prefix.

c. Child Development Services Track


 (14 units)

d. Child Development General Track


A general track plan of 15 thematically-related upper-division units must be developed with the student’s academic adviser and submitted for the Child Development Committee’s approval prior to completion of coursework.  The general track plan must include a minimum of 9 units with a CDEV prefix and at least 2 units of fieldwork or upper-division application.  Program coursework may be selected from the list of approved CDEV electives; other coursework may be approved by departmental petition (track coursework may not cross count with any other part of the CDEV major).  Follow the instructions on the general track plan form.

Electives: