Child Development (CHD)
CHD-110 
Child Health, Safety and Nutrition
3 Credits
Lecture: 3 hours per week
Offering: Fall, Spring, and Summer, All Years
This course introduces students to best practices in nutrition, health, and safety for young children, prenatal through age eight. Students will explore equipment and environment safety, prevention of infectious diseases and injuries, nutrition planning and preparation, physical and mental health issues, and available community resources. Emphasis is placed on establishing and maintaining a healthy, safe early learning/home environment, planning nutritious meals and snacks for young children, and educating young children on a wide variety of health, safety, and nutrition topics.
CHD-134 
Infancy Through Middle Childhood
3 Credits
Lecture: 3 hours per week
Offering: Fall, Spring, and Summer, All Years
This course provides an introductory overview of human development from conception through middle childhood. Physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of typically and atypically developing children will be examined in the context of biological, historical, cultural, and familial influences.
CHD-150 Professional Partnerships - Families, Schools, and Community
3 Credits
Lecture: 3 hours per week
Offering: Fall, Spring, and Summer, All Years
This course will cover the essentials for professionally managing an effective early care and education program or classroom by developing partnerships among staff, family, and community members. Topics include the design and implementation of contracts and policies, record keeping, communication strategies, family involvement, professional affiliations, and the importance of collaboration to supporting typically and atypically developing children and their families. Students will become aware of the impact personal attitudes and philosophies have on building partnerships, solving problems, and resolving conflicts. Students will become familiar with the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and its practical application.
CHD-165 CDA Professional Portfolio Development
1 Credit
Lecture: 1 hour per week
Offering: Fall, Spring, and Summer, All Years
This course is designed as the final step for individuals working in early childhood programs who are preparing to apply for their national Child Development Associate (CDA). Participants will be guided through the development of the final requirements for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, including: professional portfolio completion, collection of required resources, writing of six reflective statements of competence, administration/summary/reflection of parent questionnaires, and development of a professional philosophy statement as outlined by the CDA application requirements. Students will also prepare for their CDA verification visit, online exam and will finalize their application to the National Council for Professional Recognition.
CHD-171 Early Childhood Curriculum
3 Credits
Lecture: 3 hours per week
Offering: Fall and Spring Only, All Years
This course will examine the critical role of curriculum in meeting the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of all children from birth through age 8. Strategies for creating a child-centered approach to curriculum will be practiced including the use of space, materials, relationships, and routines. Self reflection and hands-on learning are vital components of this course. This course is required for the Academic Certificate in Child Development, as well as the A.S. in Child Development.
Prerequisites: CHD-134
Corequisites: CHD-198
CHD-198 Child Development Practicum I
3 Credits
Lecture: 1 hour per week, Lab: 4 hours per week
Offering: Fall and Spring Only, All Years
This course offers a supervised experience working with young children in the NIC Children's Center. It is required for the Academic Certificate in Child Development, and is the first of two practicum experiences for students in the A.S. Child Development program. Students gain practical experience working with mentor teachers, observing and assessing classroom environments, and learning how to meet the individual needs of children with varying abilities. Students will use information gained in the co-requisite course CHD-171: Early Childhood Curriculum to complete their guided experiences in this course.
Prerequisites: CHD-134
Corequisites: CHD-171
CHD-235 Observation and Assessment
3 Credits
Lecture: 3 hours per week
Offering: Fall Only, All Years
Students will investigate the interrelatedness of all domains of development with current theory and practice in early childhood in order to understand the value of both formal and informal observations. Students will utilize the knowledge gained from class lecture to complete weekly observations of children, record and analyze their observations, then collect documentation, with the purpose of completing a child study portfolio that assesses the development and learning of a child. Students will spend time observing children in early childhood classrooms in order to complete assignments.
Prerequisites: CHD-134
CHD-243 Early Childhood Education
3 Credits
Lecture: 3 hours per week
Offering: Fall and Spring Only, All Years
This course introduces students to the field of early childhood education. Developmentally appropriate practices for programs serving both typically and atypically developing children birth to age eight are examined. Topics include curriculum, play theory, literacy, behavior guidance, early care, education programs in the U.S. and internationally, primary grade education, and working with families.
CHD-254 Child Guidance Theory
3 Credits
Lecture: 2 hours per week, Lab: 2 hours per week
Offering: Spring Only, All Years
This course introduces students to brain-based social learning theories that build resilience in children, families, teachers and schools. Students will explore strategies and skills necessary for connecting child development to appropriate expectations, designing responsive and supportive learning environments, and promoting pro-social behavior by helping children gain important social skills such as self-regulation, problem-solving, negotiation, understanding conflict as learning opportunity, and building respectful relationships with self, peers, and adults. Additional focus on children with unique needs and chronic behavior issues will be explored as well as the importance of early intervention. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in an early childhood setting to gain practical application through direct participation with children.
Recommended Prerequisites: CHD-134
CHD-298 Child Development Practicum II
4 Credits
Lecture: 1.5 hours per week, Lab: 5 hours per week
Offering: Fall and Spring Only, All Years
This course offers students an opportunity to continue their child development practical experience working directly with young children in a supervised setting, such as in the NIC Children's Center, NIC Head Start program, or other approved setting. During practicum, lab students will continue to practice skills in team teaching, curriculum development, guidance techniques, and working with young children of varying abilities. Practicum 298 seminars will focus on professional roles and responsibilities in early childhood education as wells as local, national, and global issues facing early childhood education today.