Degrees & Certificates
Degrees and Certificates
- A.A. Degree in Child Development
- Certificate of Achievement in Child Development and Educational Studies
- Certificate of Proficiency in Child Development: Spanish Early Childhood Education
- A.S.-T Degree in Early Childhood Education
- Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Education
- Certificate of Achievement in Early Intervention Assistant
- Certificate of Achievement in School Age Child Care
- A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts: Elementary Education Emphasis
A.A. Degree: Child Development
The Associate Degree prepares students to transfer to four year colleges and universities and provides an introductory sequence of classes leading to careers in child development and elementary and secondary education. Students completing an A.A. degree are also eligible to apply for a California Child Development permit at the Teacher level. The Child Development Permit Matrix was developed to ensure a career pathway for child development professionals in state or federally funded programs.
Program Learning Outcomes: After completing the Associate Degree in Child Development a student will be able to:
- articulate five major child development theories and translate these theories into appropriate classroom environments that include learning centers and materials.
- plan developmentally appropriate curriculum activities in the four domains of development: Cognitive (intellectual), Affective (social-emotional), Psychomotor (physical) and Language Development.
Graduates will:
- function within the scope of approved state and nationally accredited early childhood and childcare competencies.
- practice within professional and legal standards, ethical principles, and demonstrate a sensitivity to language and cultural differences of the children, families, and staff where they will be working or completing their cooperative work experiences.
- apply principles of written and verbal communication, and research to communicate relevant, accurate and complete information.
- apply child development principles and sensitivity to theory and applications of working with families of children with special needs.
- demonstrate an ability to design, develop and implement curriculum, appropriate educational environments, and successful teaching practices that enhance development in children in the early years.
Associate Degree in Child Development: Associate degree students need to complete the required courses and student teaching practicum and General Education requirements. In order to qualify for the California Child Development Permit, coursework in required classes must be completed with a letter grade of “C” or higher.
Student Teaching Practicum: Associate Degree students are required to complete a two-semester Student Teaching Practicum in an approved child development site under the supervision of a Gavilan College instructor. The Student Teaching Practicum consists of CD 30A & B, a two semester curriculum course, (CD 30A - Practicum I - Early Childhood Field Experience and CD 30B - Practicum II: Advanced Early Childhood Field Experience, 4/4 units). Prerequisites for CD30A are completion of CD 1, CD 2/or CD40, CD32 and CD 5 or CD7.