Purpose
Elective coursework is included in the curriculum to provide students with an opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills related to the professional position they hope to work in, but may not receive through the Core Child Development coursework. For example, a student who is interested in working in the early childhood education would benefit from taking courses in early language and math learning. Similarly, students interested in entering a master’s program in occupational therapy might consider completing requisite courses in anatomy and physiology.

Criteria for Elective Courses

• Students must complete 12 units of electives.
• Course content must not duplicate content covered in Core coursework or General Education (GE) coursework.
• Electives selected must not duplicate the course content of other electives chosen (e.g., you may not take SOC 321 – Sociology of Education and SOC 322 – Social Environment of Education).
• If you are planning to minor or double major in a different discipline, you may not double count that coursework to satisfy electives requirements. No course may count in both the major and minor (see University Catalog).
• All courses MUST be listed on the list of Approved CSUDH Electives or Approved non-CSUDH Electives (for courses taken at other colleges or universities).
• For transfer students pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education (ECE), select ECE courses taken at Community Colleges may also count towards your elective requirement (see courses listed below).
• Courses that are not approved will not be accepted.
• Courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

How to choose Elective Courses

Students should reflect upon the knowledge or skills they may require in their desired work and choose coursework that would enable them advance their professional goals. Students are encouraged to select courses within one of the established options listed below. These options aggregate courses that will enhance your knowledge and skills in a particular career area. Students who have a professional goal that is not listed in the established options may select a unique set of courses from the Approved List of CSUDH Electives that they feel will advance their professional goals. Electives may be taken at any time after lower division GE requirements have been met.

Students are responsible for making sure that their elective choices meet the criteria stated above. Elective choices that do NOT meet the above criteria will NOT be approved. If you have questions regarding course eligibility you should meet with your academic advisor to clarify any concerns. If all of your electives were completed at CSUDH, your elective will appear on your academic progress report after the course has been successfully completed. Students must pass their elective course with a grade of “C” or better. Your electives will undergo final approval by your Child Development Academic Advisor during your Graduation Check. Please review the Child Development Advisement webpage for information on applying for graduation.  To make an advisement appointment for your Graduation Check, please contact Student Services at (310) 243-2120.

Applying Prior Coursework towards the Elective Requirement
If you have taken coursework elsewhere that you think could meet the Elective coursework requirement (see criteria above), please review the list of Approved non-CSUDH Electives to verify if your coursework taken at another 4-year University is already approved. For ECE courses taken at a Community College, please review the list of eligible courses below.

If the course has previously been approved and appears on the transfer credit page in MYCSUDH, please contact Student Services at (310) 243-2120 to make an advisement appointment with your academic advisor to have these courses applied as electives. Please bring a completed non-CSUDH Electives Approval Form to your scheduled appointment.

If your coursework is not on the list of Approved non-CSUDH Electives, the course must be approved by your Faculty Advisor. Please note that the ECE courses listed below are the only courses from the Community Colleges that will be approved. Rare exceptions will be made for students who need to take a course a course at a Community College that is required for entry into a graduate program and the course is not offered at CSUDH (e.g., the separate anatomy and physiology courses needed for Occupational Therapy Programs).

To have a potential course substitution evaluated, submit the following materials to the Child Development Program Office: (1) a completed Course Substitution Form, (2) a copy of the course description from the college’s catalog, and (3) a copy of the original course syllabus so the substance of the course can be evaluated. Before you submit a course substitution form, please verify that the course in listed on the transfer credit page in MYCSUDH. Courses that do not appear on your transfer credit page and incomplete submissions will not be considered. Not all courses are eligible for substitution.

Once your course has been approved, please contact Student Services at (310) 243-2120 to make an advisement appointment with your Child Development Academic Advisor to have the course applied as an elective. If you have multiple courses that need approval, please wait until all courses have been approved before making your appointment. The combination of your CSUDH and non-CSUDH electives will undergo final approval by your Academic Advisor during your Graduation Check. Please review the Child Development Advisement webpage for information on applying for graduation.  To make an advisement appointment for your Graduation Check, please contact Student Services at (310) 243-2120.

Approved Community College ECE Courses
The California Curriculum Alignment Project (CAP) was developed by the Community Colleges of California to create standards in the field of ECE and assure consistency in student learning outcomes across campuses.  Standards were created for 8 Core courses (CAP 8 Core). Four of these courses articulate with your CDV Core Curriculum. The remaining four courses may be used as CDV Electives. Students who transferred from a Community College in California and their career objective is Early Childhood Education (ECE) may transfer the following CAP 8 Core courses:

1. CAP 2 – Child, Family and Community
2. CAP 6 – Health, Safety, and Nutrition
3. CAP 7 – Teaching in a Diverse Society
4. CAP 8 – Practicum in Early Childhood Education

In order to transfer, all courses MUST be CAP Approved and CSU Transferable. Please visit the Child Development Training Consortium website for a list of Community Colleges and their courses that are CAP Approved. Please check www.assist.org for updated information on CSU transferability. If one or more of the courses above are both CAP Approved and CSU Transferable, you may petition to have that course count as an elective (see Applying Prior Coursework towards the Electives Requirement above for instructions). If the course in not CAP Approved or CSU Transferable, it will not be accepted. No additional ECE courses taken at the Community College will be approved.

Areas of Interest in Child Development

• Early Teaching and Learning
• Counseling and Family Services
• Juvenile Justice
• Management and Administration
• Pre-Occupational Therapy
• Children and the Arts
• Community Intervention
• Special Education

Early Teaching and Learning:

The courses recommended for Early Teaching and Learning Concentration are designed to prepare students to enhance children’s language and math learning in early childhood. Students who intend to work as preschool teachers, childcare providers, or develop curriculum for childcare centers would benefit from selecting the courses in this option. Students will gain an understanding of the concepts and theories associated with language and math development and learning from birth through age 5. Students will learn how to plan and implement age-appropriate learning experiences as well as assess children’s abilities in these two domains.

Recommended Courses (12 units):

• LBS 310 – Early Language and Learning (3)
• LBS 320 – Emergent Literacy and Learning (3)
• LBS 330 – Bridging Cultures through Literacy and Learning (3)
• LBS 340 – Learning Early Mathematical Concepts and Reasoning (3)

Counseling and Family Services:

The courses recommended for Counseling & Family Services Concentration are designed for students who may work in a variety of career settings serving families and children and/or counseling. Students will gain knowledge and skills pertaining to working with families, cultural diversity in child and family services, and common problems in families and communities. Students will further gain knowledge and skills to prepare them for entry into graduate programs such as marriage and family therapy, social work, counseling, and clinical psychology. Students interested in careers in family and child services, social work, counseling, child life, or parent education would benefit from taking courses in this area. Students should (1) examine the admission requirements for the graduate programs they plan to apply for and (2) select elective courses accordingly.  

Select four courses from the following (12 units):

• PSY 367 – Effective Communication Skills or SOC 341 – Seminar in Small Groups (3)
• SOC 320 – The Family (3)
• SOC 363 – Sociology of Alcohol and Other Drug Use (3)
• SOC 386 – Sociology of the Helping Professions
• PSY 314 – Behavior Modification (3)
• PSY 360 – Theories of Personality (3)
• PSY 353 – The Experience of Death and Dying: Psychological Perspectives (3)
• PSY 363 – The Abnormal Personality (3)
• PSY 464 – Introduction to Clinical Psychology (3)

Child Life Specialist – Students interested in a career in child life should consider the following course: PSY 367, PSY 353, PSY 363, PSY 464, SPE 460*, PSY 314, and PSY 360. For more information on curriculum recommendations and careers as a child life specialist, please visit the Child Life Council website.

* Please see criteria for enrolling in Special Education courses listed under the Special Education Option below.

Juvenile Justice:

The courses recommended for the Juvenile Delinquency Concentration are designed for students who intend to work with at-risk youth in community organizations, juvenile courts, group homes, and/or youth programs for high risk youth. Potential careers include guidance counselors, probation officers, or youth program coordinators. Students will gain an understanding of (1) the theories, policies, and procedures of the juvenile justice system and (2) the causes of delinquent behavior among adolescents as well as the adjustment problems and treatment of delinquent youth. Students will have an opportunity to gain knowledge about (1) the development and perpetuation of gangs and adolescent subcultures, (2) social interactions and facilitation of small groups (especially for students who plan to facilitate youth group interventions), (3) drug and alcohol use and abuse (a common problem behavior among adolescents), (4) the forms and processes of deviant behavior, or (5) the political, social, and cultural factors associated with criminal justice administration and police-community relations. Students who choose this concentration must take the required courses and then select two courses from the listed options.

Recommended Courses (6 units):

• CJA 444 – Juvenile Justice Process (3)
• SOC 369 – Juvenile Delinquency (3)

Select two courses from the following (6 units):

• CJA 340 – Criminal Justice and the Community (3)
• CJA 443 – Criminal Law and Justice Administration (3)
• SOC 306 – Program Evaluation (3)
• SOC 341 – Seminar in Small Groups (3) or PSY 367 – Effective Communication Skills (3)
• SOC 362 – Gangs and Adolescent Subcultures (3)
• SOC 363 – Sociology of Drug and Alcohol Use (3)
• SOC 365 – Deviant Behavior (3)

Management and Administration:

The courses recommended for the Management and Administration Concentration are designed to prepare students for careers as managers, supervisors, owners, or founders of businesses and organizations that focus on the enrichment and development of children and adolescents. Students will gain an overall understanding of management theory and organizational dynamics. In addition, they will acquire knowledge and skills in specialized areas of business that coincide with their professional interests and goals. Students will have an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in (1) finance, (2) human resource management, (3) marketing, and (4) business and interpersonal communication. Students may also choose an array of courses that allow them to acquire knowledge and skills geared towards (1) evaluating the effectiveness of a program, (2) understanding the philosophical, economic, political, and social basis of non-profit organizations, (3) managing non-profit organizations, and (4) acquiring the capital to fund a non-profit.

Recommended Courses (6 units):

• MGT 310 – Management Theory (3) or PUB 300 Foundations of Public Administration
• MGT 312 – Organizational Behavior (3) (Prerequisite: MGT 310) or PUB 301 – Administrative Leadership and Behavior (3)

Select two additional courses from the following (6 units):

• MGT 416 – Leadership (3) (Prerequisite: MGT 312)
• MKT 350 – Principles of Marketing (3)
• FIN 360 – Business Finance (3)
• HRM 313 – Human Resource Management (3) (Prerequisite: MGT 310)
• BUS 300 – Business Communications (3)
• PUB 426 – Intergovernmental Relations and Grant Writing (3)
• PUB 450 – Nonprofit and Voluntary Sectors (3)
• PUB 451 – Managing the Nonprofit Organization (3) (Prerequisite: PUB 450)
• PSY 367 – Effective Communication Skills (3)
• SOC 306 – Program Evaluation (3)

Pre-Occupational Therapy:

Students who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) should consider taking some of the common prerequisite requirements for Occupational Therapy master’s program. Students will gain general knowledge and skills in human anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. In addition, students will gain an understanding of the causes and manifestations of psychological disorders. While the suggested courses are common prerequisite requirements for Occupational Therapy programs, students should check the current admission requirements for the specific universities they plan to apply to as admission requirements vary by university and are subject to change.

Recommended Courses:

• Human Anatomy w/lab
• Human Physiology w/lab
• PSY 363 – The Abnormal Personality (3)
• PSY 352 – Psychology of Adult Development and Aging (3)
• KIN301 – Kinesiology (3)

Children and the Arts:

The courses recommended for the Children and the Arts option are designed to allow students to develop an understanding of arts in relation to children’s development as well as to learn the skills necessary for engaging children in the arts. These courses focus on the important contribution of the expressive arts to the development of children and youth.

Select four courses from the following (12 units):

• SOC 321 – Sociology of Education or SOC 322 – Social Environment of Education (3)
• ART 301 – Arts and Crafts for the Non-Major (3)
• DAN 440 – Dance for Children or KIN 447 – Dance Education in the Elementary School (3)
• MUS 340 – Music for Children (3)
• THE 337 – Creative Dramatics (3)
• ENG 308 – Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature (3)

Community Intervention:

The courses recommended for Community Intervention option are designed for students who intend to work in community or government agencies with the goal to enhance the positive and healthy functioning of youth and their families. Many recent community interventions have been heavily influenced by public health approaches. Comprehensive prevention strategies typically involve multiple contexts (e.g., family, community, schools, youth organizations, health professionals, public agencies) and are maintained for several years to positively affect a population. Communitywide programs may aim to reduce risk and enhance protective factors to alleviate various social problems including substance abuse, health and mental health issues, school failure, and teen pregnancy. Community interventions may include: citizen mobilization, situational prevention, comprehensive community interventions, mentoring, afterschool recreation programs, policing strategies, policy change, and media interventions. Classes address theories and issues in community studies, and ethics and will prepare students for careers in areas such as research, program evaluation, social work, non-profit management, urban planning, and public policy.

Select four courses from the following (12 units):

• SOC306 – Program Evaluation (3)
• SOC 367 – Sociology of Law (3) or CJA 340 Criminal Justice & the Community (3)
• SOC 384 – Resistance, Inequalities, and Communities (3)
• PUB371 – Health Services Administration and Public Policy Development (3)
• PUB 373 – Health Policy (3; Prerequisite PUB 371)
• PSY 470 – Community Psychology: Issues & Practices (3; Prerequisite PSY 363)
• POL370 – Public Opinion and Propaganda (3)
• POL 312 – State and Local Government: Organization and Problems (3)
• POL 318 – Public Policy Choices: Distribution of Wealth (3)

Special Education:

Students who are interested in entering master’s degree or credential programs in special education should consider taking one or two of the special education courses listed below. Student should consider SPE 460 or SPE 480 and SPE 481 depending on the prerequisites required for the credential program they intend to apply for.  Students may also consider enrolling in courses in the Early Teaching and Learning or Children and the Arts Options.

To be eligible to enroll in Special Education courses, Child Development majors MUST meet the following criteria:

1. Have senior-level standing (90+ units completed)
2. A minimum 2.75 GPA
3. Complete ALL Child Development Advanced Level* coursework successfully (i.e., received a grade of “C” or better)

* Advanced Level Courses include CDV 366, CDV 380, and CDV 420.

If you meet these criteria, you may contact the Child Development Program office to receive a memo verifying that you are eligible to enroll in the Special Education courses. On the first day of class, you MUST present this memo to the instructor of the course. If there is room available in the course, the instructor will provide you with a permission number to enroll.

Students may NOT enroll in these courses directly. Rather, you must obtain a permission number directly from the instructor of the course. Permission numbers will not be administered until the first day of classes at the start of the semester. If you enroll in one of these courses without obtaining a permission number from the instructor of the course, you will be dropped from the course.  If you would like to enroll in one of these Special Education courses, please contact the Child Development Program Office at cdevelopment@csudh.edu to arrange an appointment to receive a verification memo.

• SPE 460 – Introduction to Special Education (3)
• SPE 480 – Educating Exceptional Children and Youth (3)
• SPE 481 – Educating Diverse Learners with Exceptionalities (3)