Child Development

A child development degree program analyzes the developmental stages of children, including their physical, emotional, social and psychological changes. Child development programs merge theory and practical applications to give students a developmental perspective when monitoring a child’s growth and mental development. The goal of this program is to improve the overall well-being of children, while addressing major issues that affect child development. Students will learn how to spot children’s developmental dysfunctions, learning disabilities and social inadequacies, as well as know how to handle these topics. Some classes you can expect to take are human growth and development, children’s literature, adult-child interaction, young children with special needs, cooperative education and other relevant developmental courses.

Child development graduates can find work in a number of child care and education fields, where they can apply their child development knowledge and skills. They are often hired at child day care centers, elementary and secondary schools and residential care facilities. With your hands-on experience and coursework, you can hold positions as a day care teacher, a supervisor or an administrator. Students who love teaching and caring for children may find a child development degree very rewarding. It’s important that degree candidates are also patient, observant and dedicated to helping children succeed in all stages of life.