Child Development Overview

General Information
The Child Development program prepares the successful student for a career working with children from birth to age eight (8). Courses emphasize understanding the development of the young child, the best approaches to educating young children, and the importance of family and community in developmental and educational processes.

Specific Information
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Child Development prepares students to work with children ages birth through age 5 in child care settings. This program has a specific set of required courses designed for those with the goal of becoming directors in early childhood centers or pre-school teachers in daycare settings. At the conclusion of the program there is required field practice - real classroom experience in a preschool program.

The Early Childhood Education minor (ZA endorsement) program prepares Elementary teacher certification students for the specialty endorsement to work with children ages birth through age 8, grades K-3. You must apply separately for the Elementary Level Teacher Certification Program in the Education Department, and may elect to add the Early Childhood Education minor alongside your teaching major. The Early Childhood Education minor program has a specific set of required courses in addition to the teacher certification courses. Students in the Teacher Certification Program are required to maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA. Please see the Teacher Certification Program section of the catalog, the Teacher Certification Program Student Handbook, and an advisor in the Education Department for current information.

Career Information

Bachelor of Arts, Child Development Major
There is demand for qualified professionals prepared to work in programs designed for educating and caring for young children. The Bachelor’s Degree earned with the Child Development major leads to become a skilled child care provider. This degree enables the successful graduate to serve as a pre-school teacher, program coordinator, or director in a child care center.

Bachelor of Arts, Early Childhood Education Minor
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) minor is done in conjunction with the Teacher Certification Program, along with a major leading to Elementary Level teacher certification (Language Arts, Integrated Science, Math, or Social Studies). The successful graduate will qualify for the endorsement in Early Childhood Education being added to an Elementary Level (K-8) teaching certificate. This added endorsement recognizes the graduate as a specialist for Kindergarten and primary level teaching in elementary schools.

Special Elements of the Program

Academic Performance
A grade point average no lower than 2.7 is required to be accepted to and remain in the Bachelor of Arts program in Child Development and the Early Childhood Education programs.

The Early Childhood Education program requires fulfillment of all teacher Certification program requirements and phases. As part of their programs, Education students are required to pass the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC) exams.

Transfer Students
The Child Development Program generally accepts transfer credit from accredited institutions of higher learning at the 100-200 level, except for methods credits and lab/practicum hours which are accepted as elective credits only. Advisors make this determination.

General Information
The Child Development program prepares the successful student for a career working with children from birth to age eight (8). Courses emphasize understanding the development of the young child, the best approaches to educating young children, and the importance of family and community in developmental and educational processes.

Specific Information
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Child Development prepares students to work with children ages birth through age 5 in child care settings. This program has a specific set of required courses designed for those with the goal of becoming directors in early childhood centers or pre-school teachers in daycare settings. At the conclusion of the program there is required field practice - real classroom experience in a preschool program.

The Early Childhood Education minor (ZA endorsement) program prepares Elementary teacher certification students for the specialty endorsement to work with children ages birth through age 8, grades K-3. You must apply separately for the Elementary Level Teacher Certification Program in the Education Department, and may elect to add the Early Childhood Education minor alongside your teaching major. The Early Childhood Education minor program has a specific set of required courses in addition to the teacher certification courses. Students in the Teacher Certification Program are required to maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA. Please see the Teacher Certification Program section of the catalog, the Teacher Certification Program Student Handbook, and an advisor in the Education Department for current information.

Career Information

Bachelor of Arts, Child Development Major
There is demand for qualified professionals prepared to work in programs designed for educating and caring for young children. The Bachelor’s Degree earned with the Child Development major leads to become a skilled child care provider. This degree enables the successful graduate to serve as a pre-school teacher, program coordinator, or director in a child care center.

Bachelor of Arts, Early Childhood Education Minor
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) minor is done in conjunction with the Teacher Certification Program, along with a major leading to Elementary Level teacher certification (Language Arts, Integrated Science, Math, or Social Studies). The successful graduate will qualify for the endorsement in Early Childhood Education being added to an Elementary Level (K-8) teaching certificate. This added endorsement recognizes the graduate as a specialist for Kindergarten and primary level teaching in elementary schools.

Special Elements of the Program

Academic Performance
A grade point average no lower than 2.7 is required to be accepted to and remain in the Bachelor of Arts program in Child Development and the Early Childhood Education programs.

The Early Childhood Education program requires fulfillment of all teacher Certification program requirements and phases. As part of their programs, Education students are required to pass the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC) exams.

Transfer Students
The Child Development Program generally accepts transfer credit from accredited institutions of higher learning at the 100-200 level, except for methods credits and lab/practicum hours which are accepted as elective credits only. Advisors make this determination.