B.S. in Child Development Curriculum
Infants and young children experience life differently than older children. Learn how to assess their progress, meet special needs, and apply developmental research to enhance their lives. With a major in child development, you'll investigate parenting, literacy, and psychosocial development. An advanced senior year seminar will inspire you to research, examine, and analyze current and relevant issues that affect young children and their families.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (30 CREDITS)
Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT MAJOR (39 credits)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECDP 3321 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
| ECDP 3334 | Preschool, Primary, and Middle Childhood Development | 3 |
| EECP 3351 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| ECDP 3341 | Child and Adolescent Mental Health | 3 |
| ECDP 3338 | Cultural and Social Issues in Child Development | 3 |
| EECP 4330 | Promoting Child Health and Safety | 3 |
| ECDP 4423 | Child Abuse and Neglect | 3 |
| EDEC 2405 | Supporting Children & Adolescents with Special Needs | 3 |
| ECA 0218 | Child Observation & Assessment for Decision Making | 3 |
| EDEC 4320 | Cultural Perspectives in Working with Children and Families | 3 |
| ECDP 3345 | Parenting Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ECDP 4518 | Family Systems | 3 |
| ECDP 4990 | Advanced Senior Seminar | 3 |
CONCENTRATIONS (15 CREDITS)
Students may choose to select one of the following concentrations or any combination of courses across the concentrations to meet the 15-credit concentration requirement:
LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION (15 CREDITS)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECA 0270 | Administration of Child Care and Education Programs | 3 |
| ECA 2273 | Child Care Administration: Organizational Leadership and Management | 3 |
| ECA 0275 | Child Care Administration: Financial and Legal Issues | 3 |
| ECA 0278 | Curricular Programming in Early Childhood Centers | 3 |
| EDEC 3420 | Families of Children with Special Needs: Challenges and Opportunities | 3 |
*Students completing courses in the Leadership and Administration concentration are prepared to lead in a child care setting and will have satisfied the requirements for the Florida Director Credential.
EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT (15 CREDITS)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECA 0203 | Foundations of Early Care and Education | 3 |
| ECA 0101 | Introduction to Early Childhood: Professionalism, Safety, Health, and Learning Environment | 3 |
| ECA 0112 | Introduction to Early Childhood: Physical, Cognitive, Communication, and Creative Development | 3 |
| ECA 0114 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education: Families, Schools and Communities | 3 |
| ECA 0267 | Literacy Development in Multilingual Communities | 3 |
*Students completing courses in the Early Child Development concentration will have met the required coursework to satisfy the training component necessary to apply for the Child Development Associate Credential.
CHILD LIFE (15 CREDITS)
The Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) has pre-approved the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Child Life Professional Certification Examination: ECDP 3510, ECDP 3321, ECDP 3334, ECDP 3351, ECDP 4518, ECDP 4367, HUMN 4100, ECDP 4510, HS 3300, EDEC 4320, and ECDP 3341. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
For those interested in learning and understanding the ACLP certification requirements, please visit the Association of Child Life Professional’s website: https://www.childlife.org/certification
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECDP 3510 | Foundations in Child Life and Family Centered Care | 3 |
| ECDP 4367 | Play and Children Curricular Applications | 3 |
| ECDP 4510 | Research Methods and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| HS 3300 | Ethical and Professional Issues in Human Services | 3 |
| HUMN 4100 | Death and Dying | 3 |
| ECDP 4525 | Child Life Internship (Elective) | 3 |
| ECDP 4520 | Child Life Practicum (Elective) | 3 |
*Students completing the Child Life concentration may satisfy the course requirements set forth by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). The Child Life concentration does not directly lead to the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification upon graduation.
*Students seeking CLS certification must complete a minimum of five courses (15 credit hours) to a maximum of seven courses (21 credit hours) in the Child Life concentration.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION (15 CREDITS)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 2010F | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| ESOL 3340F | Survey of TESOL for Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 3360 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 3525F | Practices of Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 3535F | Educational Assessment | 3 |
*Students completing courses in the Curriculum and Instruction concentration can pursue an alternative pathway to teacher certification. All Fischler Academy students are required to complete the Curriculum and Instruction concentration. * Although completion of this concentration provides a pathway to alternative certification, this degree is not designed to lead to certification or licensure. Candidates seeking teacher certification must pass all required Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE).
ELECTIVES (33 CREDITS)
Select an additional 33 credits of open electives from any courses, including those listed under the concentrations.
See the entire program at a glance. The four-year plan of study will assist you in planning your future at NSU. It presents an overall idea of the order in which courses might be taken in a four-year plan during a student's college career.
2021-2022 4-Year Plan of Study
2022-2023 4-Year Plan of Study
The field experiences provide students with an opportunity to perform the duties of a child development professional within an early childhood setting. The purpose of these experiences is to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the competencies and national guidelines for early childhood professionals. Field experiences are infused into the coursework throughout the degree program.