Child Development: BA

Program Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of professional standards and guidelines as set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children
2. Design, adapt and evaluate integrated curriculum, inclusive environments, teaching practices and children’s learning utilizing reflective practice, developmentally appropriate guidelines, and evidence-based research;
3. Write critically about theories and constructs of child and adolescent development
4. Demonstrate technological literacy that allows both access to and dissemination of information electronically. Demonstrate effective management of information by utilizing media sources and complying with the ethics of manipulating and presenting information
5. Use observation, documentation and assessment to support young children and families;
6. Articulate and demonstrate mastery of family-centered practices and strategies for working with families of young children;
7. Evaluate, interpret and translate various empirical methodologies used to study child and adolescent development; professional literature, and theory into best practices for children and their families
8. Advocate for children and families on the basis of best practices and policy; and
9. Participate in professional organizations serving children and families such as:
   a) National Association for the Education of Young Children http://www.naeyc.org
   b) National Head Start Association http://www.nhsa.org 

Training Model

The goal of the program is to educate professionals who bring critical thinking and active problem solving skills to bear on human problems. Students are educated and trained to be able to intervene effectively using multiple methods of assessment and intervention, working with diverse populations, across many settings, and in changing and evolving contexts.

The Child Development program subscribes to the belief that effective professionals must be aware of and responsive to the broader social and cultural contexts in which they function. Thus, students must attain proficiency in providing services to individuals of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The standard curriculum is four years for students who are attending full time, but students may attend part-time which will extend their time to completion.

Beginning in the first year, practicum placements are required in order to integrate classroom learning with practical experience. The selection of professional training (practicum) placements for each student is guided by:

• HSOE’s requirement for a broad range of diverse and rigorous professional training experiences;
• HSOE’s commitment to education and training in multicultural competence

Specialized Admissions Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the requirements stipulated in the “Admissions and Registration” section of the University catalog, and must also meet the following criteria:

• Hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Minimally have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale overall;
• Submit a personal essay;
• Submit information on any professional experience they have had;
• Submit two letters of recommendation;
• Attend an in-person or telephone interview (for finalists for admission); and
• For international students whose native language is not English have the appropriate TOEFL score of 550 (229 computer-based).
• Have an interview with the relevant Admissions Committee.

Upon receipt and review of all documentation, the candidate will be considered for final admission. Final admissions decision will be made by the Program Faculty.

Specialized Admissions Requirements: Credit for Previous Graduate Work

Incoming students who can present acceptable proof that they have taken courses from regionally accredited schools that are judged to be the equivalent of courses offered at Alliant may be granted transfer credit. These courses must be no older than 5 years. Thus, courses transferred from other accredited institutions in essence replace the Alliant courses and thereby reduce the number of credits earned at Alliant to complete the degree.
a. Students accepted into the Program may transfer a maximum of 60 general education credits/units from another institution.
b. Practicum: requests to approve practicum experience from another university require approval of faculty review team to establish equivalency with accreditation requirements.

Waivers are granted only when there is evidence of mastery of the content of the course (or other requirement) in question. Waivers do not reduce the number of units the student must complete for the Alliant degree. Waivers therefore function to provide the student with an additional elective. The faculty review team must approve all waivers for incoming students. If a required course is waived, another Alliant course must be substituted.

* Note that when courses are waived (or transferred), the student will be accountable for that content in future courses and exams.

Degree and Curriculum Requirements

The BA degree (4 years, 120 units) will be delivered in a hybrid format online and on-ground with practicum work at appropriate sites.

Curriculum Plan

The following is a course of study for students who anticipate entering the program and attending on a full-time basis. Those students wishing to attend part-time will work with a faculty advisor to develop their course of study.