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Child Development
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College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing
Division of Human Development
Bachelor of Science
General Elective Concentration
Early Teaching and Learning Concentration
Counseling and Family Services Concentration
Juvenile Delinquency Concentration
Management and Administration Concentration
Faculty
Veronica Allen, Interim Coordinator
Veronica Allen, Field Experience Supervisor
Cornelia Brentano, Anupama Joshi, Megumi Kuwabara, Kimberley Radmacher
Program Office: WH 320, (310) 243-2029
Program Description
The field of Child Development is dedicated to understanding how individuals change over time from conception through adolescence. The knowledge of developmental processes, of what changes and what stays constant, and of what influences change is essential for making sound decisions regarding children's welfare and individual success. The program in Child Development includes in-class and field experiences to prepare students to become knowledgeable and effective child and family professionals. Initially, students master the basics of development in different developmental periods. As they advance through the program, they focus on specific areas with the goal of developing a deeper understanding of issues related to development, its study, and its application.
Features
The Child Development major is a single-field major. A minor is not required. The program offers students the opportunity to work in the field as well as receive rigorous scientific training. The curriculum spans the period of infancy through adolescence, thus preparing students for working with any age group. Special courses such as the one on immigrants set the relevant context for students, especially those from Southern California.
Academic Advisement
New students are required to see an academic advisor prior to enrolling in the classes. Students may call the Student Services Center at (310) 243-2120 or (800) 344-5484, WH A-300.
Preparation
High school students are encouraged to take as many courses in English, mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences as possible. Courses in biology and life sciences are also recommended.
Transfer students should take equivalents of CDV 150, CDV 180, CDV 225, CDV 240 and MAT 131.
Career Possibilities
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Child Development can work as parent educators, preschool teachers, youth counselors, program planners, school-age program professionals and child development consultants. Child development majors work in settings such as schools, children's courts, pediatric wards in hospitals, recreation programs for children and youth, and for companies that manufacture products for children such as toys, books and software.
Graduation with Honors
An undergraduate student may graduate with Honors in Child Development provided that the following criteria are met:
- A minimum of 36 units in residence at CSU Dominguez Hills;
- A minimum grade point average of at least 3.5 in all courses used to satisfy the upper division requirements in Child Development;
- Recommendation by the faculty in the department or program in which the honors are to be awarded.
Bachelor of Science in Child Development
Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree
See the "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
Elective Requirements
Completion of elective courses (beyond the requirements listed below) to reach a total of a minimum of 120 units.
General Education Requirements (55-62 units)
See the "General Education" requirements in the University Catalog or the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement
See the "Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement" in the University Catalog.
Minor Requirements
Single field major, no minor required
Major Requirements (65 units)
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.
The Child Development Program does not accept courses in the major that have been completed more than 10 years ago.
All Child Development courses applied to the B.S. in Child Development must be passed with a grade of "C" or better.
A. Lower Division Required Courses (15 units):
CDV 150. Introduction to Child Development (3)
CDV 180. Methods of Studying Children (4)
CDV 225. Infant Development (4)
CDV 240. The Preschool Years (4)
NOTE: Students must complete MAT 131 under General Education Area B4: Quantitative Reasoning.
B. Upper Division Required Courses (38 units)
1. Required Courses (27 units):
CDV 330. The School-age Years (3)
CDV 360. Adolescence (3)
CDV 366. Parenting (3)
CDV 380. Stress, Risk and Resiliency (3)
CDV 423. Child Development and Social Policy (3)
CDV 440. Becoming American: Immigrant Children and Families in the US (3)
CDV 444. Cognition, Language and Schooling (3)
CDV 450. Development in Poverty (3)
CDV 490. Senior Seminar (3)
2. Research and Field Requirements (11 units):
CDV 420. Methods and Analysis in Child Study (4)
CDV 496. Directed Field Experience (4)
CDV 498. Directed Research (3)
C. Elective Requirement (12 units):
Each student must select one of the concentrations listed below:
1. General Elective Concentration (12 units)
Electives must be selected in consultation with an advisor.
2. Early Teaching and Learning Concentration (12 units)
a. Required Courses (9 units):
LBS 310. Early Language and Literacy (3)
LBS 330. Bridging Cultures through Literacy and Learning (3)
LBS 340. Early Mathematical Concepts and Reasoning (3)
b. Elective Courses (3 units):
Must be selected in consultation with an advisor.
3. Counseling and Family Services Concentration (12 units)
a. Required Courses (12 units)
Select four courses from the following:
SOC 320. The Family (3)
SOC 363. Sociology of Alcohol and Other Drug Use (3)
SOC 386. Sociology of the Helping Professions (3)
PSY 314. Behavior Modification (3)
PSY 353. The Experience of Death and Dying: Psychological Perspectives (3)
PSY 360. Theories of Personality (3)
PSY 363. Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY 464. Introduction to Clinical Psychology (3)
PSY 367. Effective Communication Skills (3) or
SOC 341. Seminar in Small Groups (3)
4. Juvenile Delinquency Concentration (12 units)
a. Required Courses (6 units)
CJA 444. Juvenile Justice Processes (3)
SOC 369. Juvenile Delinquency (3)
b. Elective Courses (6 units)
Select two courses from the following:
CJA 340. Criminal Justice and the Community (3)
CJA 443. Criminal Law and Justice Administration (3)
SOC 306. Program Evaluation (3)
SOC 362. Gangs and Adolescent Subcultures (3)
SOC 363. Sociology of Drug and Alcohol Use (3)
SOC 365. Deviant Behavior (3)
PSY 367. Effective Communication Skills (3) or
SOC 341. Seminar in Small Groups (3)
5. Management and Administration Concentration (12 units)
a. Required Courses (6 units)
MGT 310. Management Theory (3) or
PUB 300. Foundations of Public Administration (3)
MGT 312. Organizational Behavior (3) or
PUB 301. Administrative Leadership and Behavior (3)
b. Select two courses from the following Business Management or Public Administration Emphasis (6 units)
i. Business Management Emphasis
MGT 416. Leadership (3)
MKT 350. Principles of Marketing (3)
FIN 360. Business Finance (3)
BUS 301. Employment Communications (1) and
BUS 302. Written Communications (1) and
BUS 303. Oral Communications (1) or
PSY 367. Effective Communications (3)
NOTE: Students must take BUS 301, BUS 302 and BUS 303 or PSY 367.
ii. Public Administration Emphasis
PUB 426. Intergovernmental Relations and Grant-Writing (3)
PUB 450. The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3)
PUB 451. Managing the Nonprofit Organization (3)
SOC 306. Program Evaluation (3)
Course Offerings
The credit value for each course in semester units is indicated for each term by a number in parentheses following the title. For course availability, please see the list of tentative course offerings in the current Class Schedule.
Lower Division
CDV 150 Introduction to Child Development (3).
Overview of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development from conception through the end of adolescence; theoretical advances in child development; individual and contextual contribution to developmental processes.
CDV 180 Methods of Studying Children (4).
Prerequisite: Live Scan and current negative TB documentation.
Overview of and introduction to methods of studying children; the basic research paradigm; observational methods; ethical issues in the study of children; generation and interpretation of data. 1 unit of observations of children in different settings.
CDV 225 Infant Development (4).
Prerequisites: Live Scan and current negative TB documentation. CDV 180.
Development from conception through 2 years; changes through prenatal period; birth; development of attachment; infant care issues. 3 hours of lecture, 1 unit of observation in infant-care settings.
CDV 240 The Preschool Years (4).
Prerequisites: Live Scan and current negative TB documentation. CDV 180.
Physical, cognitive, social and emotional development from 2 to 6 years. An overview of issues and philosophical models related to care and education during preschool years. 3 hours lecture, 1 hour of field observation.
Upper Division
CDV 330 The School-age Years (3).
Prerequisite: CDV 180.
Physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development from 6 to 12 years. Emphasis on home, school, and community contexts and their interconnections; developmental analysis related to contemporary issues in areas of health and education.
CDV 360 Adolescence (3).
Prerequisite: CDV 180.
Physical, cognitive, social and emotional development from 12 to 20 years, focusing on developmentally unique changes at individual, interpersonal, and social levels.
CDV 363 Development in Diverse Contexts (3).
Prerequisites: CDV 225, CDV 240, CDV 330 and CDV 360.
The development of the individual identity along multiple dimensions of age, gender, and abilities in the contexts of class, culture, and ethnicity. Issues of hierarchies, the development of prejudice and discrimination at individual and institutional levels.
CDV 366 Parenting (3).
Prerequisites: CDV 225, CDV 240, CDV 330 and CDV 360.
The development of the parent-child relationship from birth through young adulthood. Changes in attachment, intimacy, and distance; changing demands of parenting with developmental changes in children, parents, and the family.
CDV 372 Social Development and Interpersonal Relationships (3).
Prerequisites: CDV 225, CDV 240, CDV 330 and CDV 360.
Study of social and emotional development from birth through adolescence; development of the self; temperament and emotion; attachment, peer, parent-child, and early romantic relationships; interpersonal skills and moral development.
CDV 380 Stress, Risk, and Resiliency (3).
Prerequisites: CDV 225, CDV 240, CDV 330 and CDV 360.
Childhood stress; concept of and theories explaining developmental risk; coping mechanisms; resiliency and protective factors; transactional processes between individuals and contexts underlying coping.
CDV 420 Methods and Analysis in Child Study (4).
Prerequisites: CDV 225, CDV 240, CDV 330, CDV 360 and MAT 131.
Various methods used to study children; quantitative and qualitative data; measurement issues; basic data analytic techniques. 3 hours lecture, 1 hour lab.
CDV 423 Child Development and Social Policy (3).
Prerequisite: CDV 420.
Enduring issues related to children's development that have led to policy decisions; process of policy making; current issues that require policy decisions; evaluating the impact of policy on children and families.
CDV 440 Becoming American: Immigrant Children and Families in the US (3).
Prerequisite: CDV 420.
The process of immigration as an influential factor in development; changing ecologies and adaptation demands on individuals and families; informal and formal support structures.
CDV 444 Cognition, Language and Schooling (3).
Prerequisite: CDV 420.
Theoretical and empirical overview of cognitive and language development from birth through the end of adolescence; second language acquisition; interconnections between cognitive development, language development, and schooling.
CDV 450 Development in Poverty (3).
Prerequisite: CDV 420.
Poverty as a unique context of development; developmental processes and child outcomes in poverty; family interactions and generation of coping mechanisms in the context of poverty; special needs of poor children.
CDV 490 Senior Seminar (3).
Prerequisites: CDV 450 and all lower division courses.
Integration of knowledge about theories, empirical findings and practice in Child Development; emphasis on writing and presentation skills.
CDV 494 Independent Study in Child Development (1-3).
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
Investigation of a single topic, chosen in consultation with a faculty member, culminating in a paper, presentation, or project. Repeatable course.
CDV 495 Special Topics in Child Development (1-3).
Prerequisites: Upper division standing.
Contemporary topics of interest in Child Development. Repeatable course.
CDV 496 Directed Field Experience (4).
Prerequisites: Live Scan and current negative TB documentation. Upper division standing; departmental approval.
Faculty supervised field experience in any approved Child Development setting. Weekly seminar designed to facilitate the integration of Child Development knowledge and theory with students' fieldwork experience. Students will examine and integrate personal and professional goals and values to gain an understanding of the self in a professional role. Each seminar provides an opportunity to share field experiences and problem solve.
CDV 498 Directed Research (1-6).
Prerequisites: Upper division standing; 2.5 GPA and consent of instructor.
Project selected in consultation with a faculty supervisor and a plan made to implement the project; meetings held regularly. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.