Family Studies and Child Development Associate in Arts

General Requirements: Total Hours: 62 • Minimum GPA: 2.0Program Description: Associate in Arts in Family Studies and Child Development is a preparatory degree to allow students to pursue a degree in the area of family studies and/or child development. The degree provides a background for students to learn about families and family relationships.

General Education Requirements:    37 hours
Area Min. Hours Course Code Course Description
Communications 9 ENGL 1113 English Composition I
    ENGL 1213 English Composition II
    SPCH    1113 or SPCH    2133 Fundamentals of Speech or Interpersonal Communication
Social Science 6 HIST 1483 or HIST 1493 U.S. HIST to 1877 or U.S. HIST 1877-Pres
    POLS    1113 U.S. Government 
Life Science 3 BISC, BOT, MICR, ZOOL (Lecture)
Physical Science 3 CHEM, ASTR, GEOL, PHSC, PHYS (Lecture)
Science Lab 1 BISC, BOT, CHEM, ASTR, GEOL, MICR, PHSC, PHYS, ZOOL (Lab)
Humanities 6 See humanities course options
Mathematics 3 MATH    1303 or General Quantitative Reasoning or 
    MATH    1483 or Functions and Modeling or
    MATH    1513 College Algebra
Selected Gen Ed Requirements 6 PSY    1113 Elements of Psychology
    SOC    1113 Introduction to Sociology
 
Program Core Requirement:   22 hours
Child Dev/Sociology 12 CD    2053 Child Growth and Development
    CD    2043 Parent and Community Relations
    CD    2063 Behavior and Guidance of Young Child
    CD    2023 Nutrition, Health and Safety
    CD    2173 Cognitive Skills of the Child
    CD    2073 Music, Movement and Creative Arts
    CD    2103 Education and Services for Children w/Special Needs
    CD    2183 Language and Social Skills
    CD    2223 Professionalism in CD
    CD    2233 Assessment and Evaluation of Child
  3 CD    2203 or ECM    2123 Program Planning and Evaluation or Center Financial Planning and Management 
  7 CD    2101 Portfolio Development
    SOC    2183 Sociology of the Family
    MGMT    2103 Occupational Technical Internship
Institutional Requirements:   3 hours
Computer Science 3 CMSC    1223 Business Applications Software

 

Plan of Study

Course Code Course Description Hours
Freshman 1st Semester
ENGL 1113* English Composition I 3
HIST 1483 or HIST 1493* U.S. HIST to 1877 or U.S. HIST 1877-Pres 3
Math 1513 or 1483 or 1303 Math 3
PSY 1113 Psychology 3
SOC 1113 Introduction to Sociology 3
Total 13
 
Freshman 2nd Semester
ENGL 1213* English Composition II 3
SPCH 1113 or 2133 Speech 3
CMSC 1223** Business Applications Software 3
Life Science BISC, BOT, MICR, ZOOL
CHEM, BOT, GEOL. PHSC, PHYS
7
Physical Science
Total Science Lab 16
 
Sophomore 1st Semester
CD 2101 Portfolio Development in CD 1
CD Elective   3
CD 2203 Program Planning & Evaluation 3
CD Elective    3
Humanities Humanities 6
Total 16
 
Sophomore 2nd Semester
MGNT 2103 Occupational Tech Internship 3
SOC 2183 Sociology of the Family 3
CD Elective   3
CD Elective   3
POLS 1113 U.S. Government 3
Total 15

NOTE:  * = General Education Requirement ** = Program Core Requirement and *** = Option Requirement

Program Outcomes

The child development & family studies program(s) provide students with an understanding of children’s growth and development, developmentally appropriate environments, family and community relationships, and professional practices that promote the learning of young children. Students learn meaningful curriculum and practices that will help them to demonstrate knowledgeable informed decisions when working with children. The curriculum covers health and safety, knowledge of state and federal guidelines, positive guidance strategies, meaningful learning experiences, developing meaningful relationships with families and community, evaluation and observation of children, how to address individual children to grow physically, emotionally, and cognitively according to their own individual needs. The child development program provides a background for further study or entry into a variety of child development professions.  Students must obtain an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher for successful degree completion. 

Intended Program Outcomes 

  • Explain the multiple influences and positive ways that affect children’s ability to grow and learn in various environments that are supportive, challenging, respectful, and healthy.  
  • Measured by effectively communicating thru reading and writing assignments, observations, and exams. 
  • Communicate in writing to express solutions in child development topics. 

Measured by completing assigned writing assignments that demonstrate effective critical thinking to identifying and defining problems and then formulating conclusions based upon assigned reading assignments.  

  •  Apply critical thinking skills to observe and evaluation children’s development. 

Measured thru completion of performance-based assessments and observations.  

  • Develop specialized technical knowledge and skills relevant to the field of child development. (computer & writing skills)

Measured by demonstrating basic technology skills for class success, i.e. computer, research, on-line discussions.

  • Assess the philosophy, theories, policies, practices, processes, and environments of the child development field. 

Measured by exams, observations and writing assignments. 

  • Review and explore the historical, philosophical and social foundations that influence children’s growth and development as a professional by using appropriate professional literature, organizations, resources and experiences in order to improve the practice of teaching young children.

Measured by exams, observations, and writing assignments.