Child Development: BA

Program Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate mastery of professional standards and guidelines as set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, California Preschool Learning Foundations, and the Common Core State Standards;
• Recognize benchmarks in the physical, emotional and cognitive development of children from birth to age 18 and the effects of heredity, environment and neuropsychology on developmental stages;
• Design healthy, safe, and ethical programs and policies;
• Design, implement and evaluate integrated curriculum, inclusive environments, and brain-based teaching techniques utilizing reflective practice, developmentally appropriate guidelines, and evidence-based research;
• Write critically about theories and constructs of child and adolescent development;
• Demonstrate a repertoire of observation, documentation and assessment techniques that support children and families;
• Communicate, collaborate and advocate for the well-being of children with families, stakeholders and agencies within a diverse community.

Training Model

The program is designed to honor Alliant International University’s commitment to education for professional practice. The program is designed to insure all graduates can integrate theory, ethical values, and leadership skills in the creation of exceptional learning environments and experiences for children. The program sequence is structured around two program features and two course features that challenge students to apply their knowledge from the first through the last course.

Applied learning program features:

1. A structured field experience conducted at a licensed California preschool, supervised and evaluated by a Child Development Permitted Teacher.
2. A Capstone project in which students demonstrate their ability to design a substantive program or address a significant issue for children at their chosen age of interest.

Both the structured field experience and the Capstone project require students to analyze the needs of diverse children across a span of ages, ethnicities, abilities and resources. Deriving from a careful needs assessment, both the structured field experience and the Capstone project require students to design lessons, a brief program, or a school or community project that meets the targeted need.

Applied learning course features:

1. A project in every course that requires the application of course content to the needs of children and their families.
2. A systematic observation of children in a natural or classroom setting in every course.

The course projects and the structured observations train students to observe children in their community through the lens of professional experience.

Projects are relevant to the course content and flexible to the interests of the students.

A systematic child observation in each course trains students to become alert to children, their differences, and their needs in both natural and classroom settings. Mastering a variety of techniques ensures students become astute observers of children and prepared to base their leadership on real needs in their schools, families and community.

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 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 on-ground with practicum work at appropriate sites. This sequence is recommended, not required; flexibility is possible.

Curriculum Plan

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated.

Fast Track Curriculum

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise specified.

Licensure

The BA in Child Development fulfills the requirements for a California Master Teacher and Site Supervisor Child Development Permits; however, students must independently apply to the state for their permits subsequent to program completion.