All candidates for the child development major must complete a series of general education requirements, and must take the following prescribed core (31-40 hours) as well as an additional three courses (9-10 hours) from the list of approved electives. In addition to the child development major, students may choose to complete licensure requirements: child development with B-K licensure and child development with K-6 licensure.

Students may earn course credit in child development by studying abroad.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT COURSES

CD 234 DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG CHILD 3 hours
A study of the behavior and development of young children two through eight years of age. Students will participate in the care, guidance, and education of a group of children in an early childhood classroom.  Content includes major developmental theories and research applications. Students are to register for a separate off campus practicum (sections such as 234L).  Three hours of lecture and three hours of practicum each week. (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

CD 334 INFANT DEVELOPMENT 3 hours

This course will provide the theoretical foundations of infant-toddler development as students examine the current research on the growth and development of very young children from a multidisciplinary perspective.  Students will participate concurrently in a field experience in a program serving infants and toddlers.  Three hours of lecture and three hours of practica each week.

Prerequisite: CD-234  (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

CD 335 FAMILIES AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS 3 hours
A functional course designed to help students achieve an understanding of various family structures and interpersonal dynamics.  Students will examine theories of family structure, of family function, and of interpersonal and close relationships that can be applied to their personal and professional lives.  (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

CD 340 DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS 3 hours

This course emphasizes strong teacher-child relationships as a foundation for child development in all domains.  Students will learn and practice positive interaction strategies to promote young children's development and learning. The course also focuses on how interactions with peers and the structure and organization of indoor and outdoor environments influence the development and learning of children.  Students will learn to support and facilitate children's play as the major context for development and learning, create inclusive indoor and outdoor environments, and meet diverse individual needs through sensitive interactions and environmental design.  Weekly field experience required. (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

Prerequisites: CD-234.

CD 345 CURRICULUM FOR YOUNG CHILDREN 4 hours
Students will design and implement activities that integrate multiple developmental areas and levels of ability that are in accordance with the guidelines of developmentally appropriate practice. Placements will be in preschool programs that provide services for typically and atypically developing children. Instructor's consent required. Course fee assessed.  (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, CD-340, and BK-337

CD 404 FAMILIES IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT 3 hours

This course will analyze the needs of families from a global perspective.  Using an interdisciplinary approach, this course will examine the family in various cultures.  Major trends that affect families worldwide will be examined.  Students will use action research and/or cooperative problem solving to address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.  (Course offered every year, Fall.)  

CD 434 INFANT CURRICULUM 3 - 4 hours
Methods of developing, implementing and evaluating curriculum experiences which are developmentally based for both typical and atypical infants and toddlers will be addressed. Program issues that relate to the needs of infants and toddlers and their families will be examined. Three hours of field experiences per week. Instructor’s consent required. Course fee assessed.  (Course offered every year, Fall.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, CD-340.

CD 436 ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN 3 hours
A study of administration and the role of leadership in programs serving young children.  Primarily through project and portfolio work, students will demonstrate competency in understanding the role of developmental theory in establishing and developing programs; the practical needs of programs in terms of staffing, financial management, licensing, environmental design, equipping and furnishing classrooms; working with parents and governing boards; and assessment and development of teaching staff. Health, safety and nutritional concerns will also be addressed. May be taken without prerequisite course with permission from the instructor.

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, CD-340.  (Course offering varies; contact Department Head.)

CD 438 SUPPORTING AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES 3 hours
An overview of current information related to working with families of young children. Family and social systems theories and research provide a foundation for an ecological transactional view of families of diverse structural and sociocultural backgrounds. The emphasis of the course is on providing family-centered services that support and strengthen the family unit. Field experiences required.  (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, BK-337.

CD 440 READINGS IN EARLY EDUCATION AND EARLY INTERVENTION 3 hours
This course will trace the history and supporting theoretical bases of early education and early childhood special education in the United States. Models of early education and early intervention will be examined from a national perspective.  Current trends and legislation at the state and national level will also be investigated.  Program models designed to serve the needs of economically disadvantaged and at-risk children and families will be a focus of examination.  Observations of programs that exemplify different models will be conducted during the semester.  (Course offered every year, Spring.)

CD 450 ADVANCED PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR 6 hours
Supervised student teaching will provide an in-depth opportunity for students to plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and instruction for young children. Student teaching is co-supervised by a cooperating classroom teacher and a member of the Child Development faculty. In addition to 300 contact hours spent in the classroom, students will meet weekly to discuss, analyze and evaluate their field experiences. Students need to have four consecutive days when they can participate in the classroom on a full time basis.  Course fee assessed.  Instructor's consent required.  (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, CD-340, CD-345, BK-337 and BK-445.

CD 498 HONORS THESIS IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT 3 hours

In conjunction with a faculty mentor, the student will formulate and execute a research project at an advanced level of complexity that will culminate in a paper and a presentation.  The project must meet Honors Program thesis requirements as well as the expectations of the child development faculty. A research proposal form completed by the student, faculty mentor, and Honors Program director is required for registration.  Open to seniors who are members of the Honors and/or Teaching Fellows Programs. (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

CD 499 RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT  1 - 3 hours

In conjunction with a faculty mentor, the student will develop and conduct a research project investigating topics and questions in Child Development.  This course will provide an introduction to research methods in social science and child development.  The research experience will culminate in a paper and presentation.  Open to junior and senior majors and others by permission of the instructor.  May be repeated for a total of six credit hours.  A research proposal form completed by the student and faculty mentor is required for registration.  Instructor's consent required.   (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, BK-337.

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BIRTH THROUGH KINDERGARTEN COURSES

BK 337 OBSERVATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN 3 hours
The history, philosophy and practice of observing, documenting and analyzing children’s behavior within an ecological framework will be presented. Specific observational techniques to assess adult-child and child-child interactions, assessment of play, and environmental assessment will be presented. Students will develop an assessment portfolio for individual children.  (Course offered every year, Fall and Spring.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, and PSY-210 or PSY-310.

BK 341 VARIATIONS IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT 3 hours
An examination of biological and environmental factors and their interactions as they impact the development of young children, and may interfere with typical growth and development. The effects of various risk factors, developmental delays or disabilities on patterns of development in the physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and adaptive domains will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on low-incidence disabilities.  Field experience required. (Course offered every year, Spring.)

Prerequisites: PSY-210 or PSY-310, PSY-312, CD-234.  Prerequisite or Corequisite courses: CD-340.

BK 342 SEMINAR:  MEETING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS 1 hour

This seminar gives students the opportunity to investigate current professional literature and integrate content from multiple courses and field experiences focused on meeting a wide variety of individual needs in early childhood environments.  Student-led discussions will focus on applying principles of universal design, inclusion, and developmentally appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities and delays.  Students will be introduced to Individualized Education Programs and will practice developing appropriate goals and objectives for children.  (Course offered every year, Spring.)

Prerequisites: PSY-210 or PSY-310 and PSY-312, CD-234, CD-334. Prerequisite or Corequisite courses: CD-340. 

Corequisite:  BK 341.

BK 350 EMERGENT LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION 3 hours
This course focuses on the development of reading and writing processes from birth through kindergarten and how technology can be integrated across the curriculum. This course gives students a deeper understanding of the theory, research and recommended practices behind emergent literacy, focusing on the development of reading and writing. Students will develop an initial electronic teaching portfolio and will conduct literacy and technology activities in inclusive preschool and kindergarten settings.  (Course offered every year, Spring.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, BK-337 and CD-345

BK 445 ADVANCED CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT 3 hours
This course will focus on the application of developmental theory to curriculum planning and developmentally appropriate practice; on linking assessment and curriculum planning; and on adapting and evaluating curriculum to promote the inclusion of young children of various developmental levels and abilities. Students will examine the underlying theory related to the development of an integrated curriculum for young children and the various strategies that can be employed to develop a comprehensive curriculum.  Specific ideas and strategies for planning and implementation will be discussed.  3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of practicum each week.  Course offered every year, Fall.)

Prerequisites: BK-337, CD-345.

BK 460 CLINICAL INTERNSHIP: INFANTS/TODDLERS 3 hours
Supervised clinical internship with infants and toddlers under the direction of a cooperating teacher with faculty supervision. Full-time teaching assignments with weekly seminars. Course fee assessed. Instructor’s consent required.  (Course offered every year, Fall.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, CD-340, CD-345, CD-434, BK-337, BK-341, BK-342. Corequisite courses: BK-465, CD-434.

BK 465 TEAMING AND COLLABORATION 3 hours
This seminar will introduce students to the function of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams and the primary disciplines involved in the delivery of services to young children and their families. The role of the professional in assessment, planning, intervention and case management will be examined as will the mechanisms whereby these services are coordinated, and the strategies for implementing interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary programs. Issues related to ethics and professional conduct will be discussed. Instructor’s consent required. (Course offered every year, Fall.)

Prerequisites: CD-234, CD-334, CD-340, CD-345, CD-434, CD-438, BK-341, BK-342, BK-337. Corequisite courses: BK-460.

BK 469 TEACHING AND LEADING 3 hours
In this professional seminar, students will explore the role of teacher as leader and advocate by examining current research and recommended practice in BK teaching and leading.  Topics will include professional learning communities.  Recognition and Response (Response to Intervention for early childhood), preventing overrepresentation of racially diverse students in early intervention, working with children and families who are English language learners, issues in BK curriculum, service-learning with young children, using digital technology, and career paths in birth-kindergarten.  In collaboration with the instructor, cooperating teachers and principals, students will select readings, lead discussions and host the seminar one time each in their student teaching sites.  In addition, students will construct and lead a service-learning project with their pupils, and will lead one professional discussion or activity with the faculty in their schools.  Students will reflect on their teaching and leadership.   Course offered every year, Spring.)

Corequisite courses: EDU-490.

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