School-Age and Youth Development

Certificate in Applied Science

33 Credit Hours

The School-Age and Youth Development certificate program upgrades and enhances the skills of professionals and for those interested in a career in school-age care and youth development. Professionals working with children ages 5-17 will be provided with training related to experiences in human relationships; indoor/outdoor environments; activities; safety, health and nutrition; and administrative skills.

Major Requirements

SAC 101	Best Practices in School-Age and Youth Care Skills	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course introduces basic best practices of school-age and youth care skills for practitioners in out-of-school care environments.Learn More

SAC 200	Introduction to School-Age and Youth Care	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course introduces students to current theories and practices relevant to the care of school-age children and youth. Characteristics of the components of quality programs are explored using the nationally recognized program appraisal tool A.S.Q. (Assessing School-Age Child Care Quality).Learn More

SAC 201	Development of the School-Age Child and Youth	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course examines how to plan for and guide the social and emotional development of school-age children and youth. Students gain the knowledge and skills to interpret and evaluate behavior and to make appropriate decisions needed to work effectively with school-age children.Learn More Prerequisites SAC 101

SAC 202	Administration of School-Age and Youth	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course is designed to allow students to gain insight into the pragmatic aspects of program administration and supervision. Students will obtain an understanding of the skills needed to maintain, promote and enhance total program development and participate in forums with area program coordinators to discuss current issues related to program administration and supervision.Learn More Prerequisites SAC 101

SAC 203	Designing Model Environments for School-Age Child Care	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course focuses on the relationship between SAC curriculum and the SAC environment. Students explore curriculum design, standards of quality in the indoor and outdoor environment, as well as how to utilize existing shared indoor space effectively. Field trips are an integral component to the course.Learn More Prerequisites SAC 200

SAC 204	Safety, Health and Nutrition for School-Age Children and Youth	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course provides an in-depth look into security issues in school-age programs. Students plan nutritional snacks and learn techniques to protect and enhance the health of children.Learn More Prerequisites SAC 101

SAC 205	Guiding Behavior, Violence Prevention and Classroom Management Strategies	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 Students learn to recognize patterns of violence, how they develop and how they can be modified and controlled. Students also learn to incorporate positive behavioral skills used in guiding children’s behavior.Learn More Prerequisites SAC 101

SAC 206	Human Relationships for Children, Staff and Families	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course is a study in the human relationships present in school-age care programs. Focus will be on the examination of the various relationships and how the management of these relationships provides effective tools for developing quality programs.Learn More Prerequisites SAC 101

SAC 207	Science, Technology and Cultural Arts in School-Age and Youth Programs	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course provides an opportunity for students to learn to incorporate the use of science, technology and arts in planning activities and administering program operations.Learn More

SAC 208	Supervised Field Experience for School-Age and Youth Care	3
Lec: 2 Lab: 3 Credit:3 This course offers students the opportunity to put skills they have learned through the school-age curriculum into practice.Learn More

SAC 209	Introduction to Special Education for School-Age Children and Youth	3
Lec: 3 Lab: 0 Credit:3 This course includes an overview of school-age children and youth with special needs. The course will review the history of the field, basic beliefs, current trends and exceptionality categories emphasizing treatment modalities, community resources, federal legislation and strategies for inclusion.Learn More Prerequisites SAC 101

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Admission Requirements

Admission into this program requires proof of high school graduation (or GED) and qualifying placement levels.

Program admission requires that students have a health assessment denoting good health, a negative tuberculosis skin test and compliance with technical standards. A clear criminal background check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) also is required. In addition to SLED background checks, some child development centers and schools may require fingerprinting. Students entering these laboratory courses may opt to be fingerprinted. Fingerprinting and a SLED background check are required for the early care and education, school-age and youth, and human services workforce.