Child Development
Cottey offers an online BA in child development
Program Description
Are you interested in building a career in an early childhood setting?
Cottey College’s Online Bachelor’s degree in Child Development equips women with the knowledge and skills to serve children and families in community, commercial, and nonprofit child care settings.
Grounded in Cottey’s three threads – leadership, social responsibility, and global awareness – this program prepares you to serve with professionalism, care, and integrity.
Foundational Courses
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ED103 Child Development
The study of the physical, motor, intellectual, social, and emotional development of the young child as well as the development of an intelligent philosophy of adult-child relationships.
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ED330 Curriculum Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education
Introduction to various curriculum models for children aged three years through eight years. Early childhood education is explored from an historical and philosophical perspective. Current issues in the field are discussed.
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ED204 Utilizing Family and Community Resources
The cooperation between home, school, and community to provide a supportive educational environment for the young child. Includes community exploration from an historical, philosophical, and social perspective; basic principles related to community resources; various child-rearing and parenting styles; and methods of utilizing and communicating with families and the community. Cultural and socioeconomic factors, and the realities of the changing family and variations among parent education program types are considered.
Prerequisites: ED103 – Child Development
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Students will also choose 8 credits of courses with an Emphasis on School-Aged Children
Example Courses:
- ED315 Reading and Writing with Young Children: Basic foundations of reading development. Includes current research, theories, techniques, and materials that meet both individual and group needs in oral and written language. Emphasis on the integration of the language arts: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Developing and sharing instructional methodology for diverse students is integral to this course. This course has 10 clock hours of clinical experiences.
- PY342 Psychology of the Exceptional Child: A study of techniques for increasing the academic, social, and vocational competence of disabled individuals. Attention is given to causal factors and behavioral characteristic associated with different exceptionalities.
Potential Career Outcomes
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Career Outcomes
Prepares students to work in early childhood learning environments, advocacy organizations, or social support programs.
Child Development degree graduates will be able to:
- Understand typical milestones for cognitive, social emotional, and physical development in children.
- Identify developmentally appropriate practices and employ them to serve children and families.
- Develop the ability to communicate and build relationships with children, families, and the professional colleagues in the field.
What You’ll Experience
- Build in-demand skills through courses
- Participate in hands-on learning through projects, preschool capstone experiences, and internships
- Obtain the educational background desired by employers in social work, home care, counseling, teaching, mentoring, and childcare leadership
Terms to Fit Your Schedule: Classes are either 8 or 16 weeks, providing more choice and flexibility for busy adults.
This program does not lead to certification or licensure.
Want to learn more? Contact Manager of Online Programs, Jen Harris at jharris@cottey.edu or 417-684-2696.
