Cerritos College
This program welcomes students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Male students are encouraged to investigate career opportunities in Child Development.
The Child Development Department offers several different options for the student interested in working with young children:
A. Department Verifications – The verifications are designed to meet the minimum requirements of the Department of Social Services to teach in licensed private preschools and childcare programs. This is a limited career choice.
B. The Child Development Permit – The permit is from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and entitles the holder to teach in state and federally funded programs. This is an expanded career choice and has levels of advancement. See attached matrix.
C. Certificates of Achievement – This is a carefully planned course of classes that will meet requirements of The Department of Social Services and The Child Development Permit as well as when combined with the required general studies class will lead to an AA Degree in Child Development. This offers even greater career options.
D. AA Degree – Child Development – This option requires one of the Certificates of Achievement and the required general education courses at Cerritos College. (See college catalogue). This offers the best career options and prepares the student for transfer to a university.
NOTE: Application for the following verifications of completion MUST be made at the Health Occupations pision.
I. ASSOCIATE TEACHER: Department Verification of Completion (12 units)
The following courses meet the minimum educational requirements under Title 22 (Department of Social Services) to qualify the student to teach in a state licensed preschool or childcare program. The student must have taken the courses within the last five years and must have attained a grade of “C” or higher in each course. In addition, to qualify for this verification, the student must complete three out of four courses at Cerritos College.*
CD 110: Child Development - DS 1 3 units
CDEC 111: Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education - DS3 3 units
CDEC 112: Early Childhood Education Curriculum - DS 3 3 units
CDEC 113: The Child, Family and Community - DS2 3 units
These courses also meet the unit requirements for Associate Teacher level for California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. See Child Development Permit Matrix. You must also meet the experience requirement of 50 days in an instructional capacity in a child care and development program, working at least three hours per day within the last two years.
II. PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR: Department Verification of Completion (15 units)
The following courses meet the minimum educational requirements under Title 22 (Department of Social Services) to qualify the student to be a director of a state licensed preschool or childcare program. *The student must have attained a grade of “C” or higher in each course. In addition, to qualify for this verification, the student must complete four out of five courses at Cerritos College.* For employment, the Department of Social Services (DSS) will also require four years of teaching experience in a preschool or child care program if applicant has only the above minimum education requirements.
These courses alone do not qualify at any level of the Child Development Permit from the California commission of Teacher Credentials.
CDEC 66: Administration and Supervision of Early Childhood Education Programs - DS 6 3 units
CD 110: Child Development - DS 1 3 units
CDEC 111: Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education - DS3 3 units
CDEC 112: Early Childhood Education Curriculum - DS 3 3 units
CDEC 113: The Child, Family and Community - DS2 3 units
III.SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE: Department Verification of Completion (24 units)
The following courses meet the minimum educational requirements for the Department of Social Services for school-age child caregivers. *The student must have attained a grade of “C” or higher in each course. In addition, to qualify for this verification, the student must complete six out of eight courses at Cerritos College.
CDEC 62: Exploring Creative Art Expression by Children 3 units
CD 110: Child Development - DS 1 3 units
CDEC 161: Nutrition, Health and Safety in Children's Programs - DS 7 3 units
CDEC 63: Early Childhood Experiences in Language Arts and Social Sciences 3 units
CDEC 113: The Child, Family and Community - DS 2 3 units
CDSA 152: School-Age Child Care Supervision and Administration - DS6 (offered in Spring semester only) 3 units
CDSA 155: School-Age Child Care Activities - DS5 (offered in Fall semester only) 3 units
CDSA 259: School-Age Child Care Practicum - DS5 3 units
IV. INFANT/TODDLER TEACHER: Department Verification of Units (18 units)
The following courses meet the minimum educational requirements for the Department of Social Services for infant/toddler caregivers. The student must have attained a grade of “C” or higher in each course. In addition, to qualify for this verification, the student must complete four out of five courses at Cerritos College.*
CD 110: Child Development - DS 1 3 units
CDEC 111: Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education - DS3 3 units
CDEC 112: Early Childhood Education Curriculum - DS 3 3 units
CDEC 113: The Child, Family and Community - DS2 3 units
CDIT 151: Infant Toddler Development - DS 4 3 units
CDIT 152: Infant and Toddler Programs 3 units
V. FAMILY CHILD CARE: Department Verification of Completion (12 units)
To qualify for this verification, the student must complete three out of four courses at Cerritos College. The student must have taken the courses with the last five years and must have attained a grade of “C” or higher in each course.*
CD 110: Child Development 3 units
CDFC 10: Family Child Care Providers (offered Spring semester only) 3 units
CDEC 161: Nutrition, Health and Safety in Children's Programs 3 units
Choose one of the following courses:
CDSA 155: School-Age Child Care Activities (offered Fall semester only) 3 units
CDEC 111: Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education 3 units
CDIT 151: Infant Toddler Development 3 units
*TO QUALIFY FOR CREDIT FOR VERIFICATION OF COMPLETION OR THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT, COURSES NOT COMPLETED AT CERRITOS COLLEGE MUST BE COMPARABLE IN CONTENT, UNITS, AND GRANTED BY A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ACCREDITED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
VI. TEACHER – The Child Development Permit
The following courses meet the requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing that are required to teach in state and federally funded programs for young children or any privately funded programs that also require the Child Development Permit.
CD 110: Child Development - DS 1 3 units
CDEC 111: Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education - DS3 3 units
CDEC 112: Early Childhood Education Curriculum - DS 3 3 units
CDEC 113: The Child, Family and Community - DS2 3 units
The student must also choose and complete the second set of 4 required classes from the Certificate of Achievement in Child Development requirements to meet the required total of 24 units in Child Development. See Child Development Courses for the list of classes.
The student must also complete 16 units in general education in the areas stated at the bottom of the attached matrix. Also note that on the matrix there is required experience period.
The student must also meet the experience requirement of 175 days of experience in an instructional capacity in a child care and development program, working at least three hours per day within the last four years.
VII. MASTER TEACHER – The Child Development Permit
Requires all that is stated above in Teacher description plus the following:
CDEC 230: Adult Supervision in Child Care Programs 3 units
6 units of specialization – please see a full-time faculty member in Child Development for advisement
VIII. SITE SUPERVISOR – The Child Development Permit
Requires an AA degree or 60 units, which must include the following courses. If the AA does not include the following courses then these course must be taken in addition:
CD 110: Child Development - DS 1 3 units
CDEC 111: Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education - DS3 3 units
CDEC 112: Early Childhood Education Curriculum - DS 3 3 units
CDEC 113: The Child, Family and Community - DS2 3 units
Twelve additional Child Development units (choose from Certificate of Achievement - Early Childhood list)
CDEC 66: Administration of Early Childhood Programs 3 units
CDEC 67: Advanced Administration of Early Childhood Programs (offered in Spring semester only) 3 units
CDEC 230: Adult Supervision in Child Care Programs 3 units
Please note the required Experience Period.
For additional information on The Child Development Permit ask for the booklet issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing available in the Health Occupations pision office.
IX. CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT: CHILD DEVELOPMENT/EARLY CHILDHOOD
In order to receive the Certificate of Achievement, all courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
NOTE: APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT MUST BE MADE AT THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS AND RECORDS.
CD 110: Child Development - DS 1 3 units
CDEC 111: Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education - DS3 3 units
CDEC 112: Early Childhood Education Curriculum - DS 3 3 units
CDEC 113: The Child, Family and Community - DS2 3 units
CDEC 124: The Child in the perse Society: 3 units
CDEC 139: Observation, Assessment and Positive Guidance of Early Childhood Behavior 3 units
CDEC 161: Nutrition, Health and Safety in Children's Programs 3 units
CDEC 164: Early Childhood Education Practicum 3 units
Choose 6 units from the following list:
CDEC 62: Exploring Creative Art Expression by Children 3 units
CDEC 63: Early Childhood Experiences in Language Arts and Social Sciences 3 units
CDEC 65: Music and Movement for Young Children - DS3 3 units
CDEC 133: Early Childhood Experiences in Math and Sciences - DS3 3 units
*CDEC 173/174 or 73/74: Early Childhood Education Occupational Work Experiences - DS3 3 or 4 units
CDIT 151: Infant Toddler Development - DS4 3 units
CDIT 152: Infant Toddler Programs 3 units
CDSA 155: School-Age Child Care Activities - DS5 (offered in Fall semester only) 3 units
CDSA 152: School-Age Child Care Supervision and Administration 3 units
CDSE 50: Survey of Special Education 3 units
CDSE 52: Special Education Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs 3 units
*Students must be concurrently enrolled in a minimum of seven units in CDEC, including work experience. CDEC 173 requires that you work or volunteer a minimum of 15 hours per week and CDEC 174 requires that you work or volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per week in a program for young children. Work Experience classes may be taken more than one semester.
X. CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT: CHILD DEVELOPMENT/PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR
NOTE: APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT MUST BE MADE AT THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS AND RECORDS
Students must complete the Certificate of Achievement requirements listed in Child Development/Early Childhood and the following courses:
CDEC 66: Administration and Supervision of Early Childhood Education Programs - DS6 3 units
CDEC 67: Advanced Administration and Supervision of Early Childhood Education Programs - DS6 (offered Spring semester only) 3 units
CDEC 230: Adult Supervision in Child Care Programs 3 units
XI. ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE:
Meet the requirements for a Certificate of Achievement. In addition, for an AA Degree a student must complete PSYCH 101 and general education requirements to achieve a minimum of 60 units.
(Meets the unit requirements for Site Supervisor on the Matrix. Six units of Administration and two units Adult Supervision are also needed.)
See Cerritos College Graduation Requirements
