Child Development

To prepare students of diverse backgrounds and abilities with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to foster developmentally appropriate experiences for young children, the Child Development Program has adopted the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) associate degree standards.  These standards are the foundation our curriculum and the core of our accountability, ensuring the program meets its objectives and students achieve their learning outcomes.

 About the Profession

Graduates of the Child Development Program work with young children and families in preschools, child care centers, home-based child care centers, Head Start Programs, as well as after-school, recreational, and religious programs designed for young children.  Early childhood educators’ roles depend on the setting in which they work.  Preschool teachers and child care providers provide care and education for groups of children under the supervision of a director who handles administrative and program development responsibilities. Teacher assistants and aides help with individual or small group instruction of children, in addition to handling routine tasks that allow lead teachers more time for instruction. Preschool teachers introduce young children to formal learning through planning and executing a developmentally appropriate curriculum.