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Welcome to the Child Development Department (CHDV)

Child Development Program

The Child Development Department of California State University, Sacramento offers students the opportunity to study physical, socio-emotional and cognitive growth and development from conception through adolescence. The program offers students both classroom and fieldwork experience with children from infancy through adolescence. Our graduates go on to pursue careers in daycare and preschool teaching and administration, parent education, elementary school teaching, or work with a variety of counseling and community agencies. Many of our students pursue an elementary (multiple subjects) teaching credential. Our graduates go on to pursue careers in daycare and preschool teaching and administration, parent education, elementary school teaching, community college teaching, or work with a variety of counseling and community agencies which serve children and families.

Bachelors of Arts

Child Development Majors select one of five possible concentrations: Elementary Pre-credential, Early Development, Care and Education (EDCE), Social and Community Settings, Individualized Concentration, and the Integrated Pre-Credential Subject-Matter Concentration. Central to each concentration is a core set of courses on children's growth and development, across contexts and developmental phases. Within each concentration, students work with a faculty advisor to select courses from a list of elective courses to best fit their personal and career interests. Other careers, such as child life specialist, research or investigative agencies, mentoring opportunities, administrative or directorship roles and graduate or post-graduate school are also open to students. Students may also apply for a Child Development Permit through the California Teacher Credentialing Commission.

Pre-Credential Concentrations

While any of the child development concentrations would be an acceptable major prior to entering a credential program, two are specifically designed for those who are interested in this career path. The Integrated Pre-Credential Subject Matter concentration is a comprehensive program designed for students intending to pursue a multiple-subjects (elementary school) teaching credential. It combines the core child development academic program with courses in other subject areas which prepare students to take the CSET exam. However, the subject matter program is a very structured program because it is designed in accordance with the regulations of the CTCC while incorporating the "General Education" graduation requirements for CSUS. For this reason, students do not follow the general education pattern. The Elementary Pre-credential concentration (non-subject matter), does follow the university General Education pattern, and is a more flexible way to fulfill the pre-requisites for multiple-subjects credentials at Sac State.

Field Service Opportunities

Students are encouraged to participate in one of the many community service-learning opportunities offered for credit through our program. These include child-life specialists, Head-start substitute teaching, volunteering with children with special needs, and tutoring programs. For contact information and registration requirements contact the department office (Brighton Hall 137) or call (916) 278-7192.

Child Development Masters Program

Students who wish to continue in graduate school have several Masters Degree options within the College of Education. One option is the Child Development Masters program, which allows students to enhance knowledge already obtained in the B.A., plus develop research, observation and reporting skills and further experience in the professional field. Students wishing to enter the program must apply to Graduate Studies Division of CSUS. If accepted, Child Development will review the application for classification approval in the Masters program. Information concerning required GPA, B.A. coursework and university deadlines is available in the university course catalog and on the Child Development website (http://edweb.csus.edu/chdv).