Family Services & Child Development – Child Development

Program Goals & Outcomes

Family Services and Child Development students develop the skills needed to provide professional early childhood education services for young children and families. This introductory-level program will acquaint students to the multi-faceted, multi-skilled early childhood profession. Students learn issues in the provision of services to children birth through age 8 in a child-care setting. The program also requires service learning where students are assigned to work with seasoned professionals in the field, enabling application and further understanding of theoretical frameworks discussed in class.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Explain child development and learning in context;
• Assess and foster family-teacher partnerships and community connections;
• Document meaningful child observations and assessments;
• Demonstrate teaching practices that are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate;
• Create curricular materials for early childhood learners that integrate both knowledge-based and applicative elements; and
• Exhibit a professional demeanor in early childhood environments.