Child and Adolescent Development, B.A.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the program in Child and Adolescent Development will be able to:

1. Identify and describe normative similarities and differences of cognitive, emotional, social and physical theories at each developmental stage from prenatal through adulthood.
2. Illustrate how children’s play facilitates integration of cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development.
3. Evaluate the effects of family systems on the development of children and adolescents.
4. Identify and discuss scientific research in understanding different philosophical views of growth and development, both historical and current.
5. Analyze what are developmentally appropriate concepts, activities, materials, and resources as related to infant through adolescent development.
6. Assess research of theoretical and appropriate practical elements of parenting to facilitate decisions for a healthy environment for children and adolescents.
7. Describe the adult-child dynamics and processes essential for building strengths of character and competence in children and adolescents.
8. Examine hereditary, cultural, and environmental factors inherent in ways children and adolescents develop physically, cognitively, morally, socially, and emotionally.
9. Evaluate the effects of society and culture upon the family microsystems, family types, and the subsequent macro systems with which they co-exist.
10. Identify career paths within the child and adolescent professions.

Lower-Division Requirements

• FCS 101 - Introduction to Family and Consumer Sciences (1)
• FCS 120 - Child and Adolescent Development (4)
• FCS 150 - Human Development (3)
• FCS 203 - Infant and Toddler Development (3)
• FCS 230 - Personal and Consumer Financial Management (2)

Upper-Division Requirements

• FCS 305 - Life Cycle Nutrition (4)
• FCS 313 - Adolescent Development in the Family Context (2)
• FCS 315 - Personal, Family, and Community Health (GE) (3)
• FCS 355 - Development of Special Needs Children (3)
• FCS 385 - Family and Parenting (2)
• FCS 420 - Child Development in the Family and Community (4)
• FCS 425 - Child and Adolescent Nutrition (3)
• FCS 497 - Family and Consumer Sciences Senior Seminar (2)
• LIT 325 - Children’s Literature (3)
• PSY 321 - Abnormal Psychology (3)

Note(s):

Students must be fingerprinted through community care licensing to obtain Child Abuse Central Index Clearance.

Students graduating with a Child Development major may qualify for the “Child and Adolescent Development Site Supervisor” permit with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.