Child Development and Education is an interdepartmental major that offers a holistic approach to child learning and development from birth through childhood. The major combines coursework in Education and Psychology. The requirements have been selected to provide students with a firm grounding in developmental psychology and the principles of elementary instruction and assessment. This curriculum has been designed to prepare future teachers with an understanding of the developmental needs and cognitive abilities of students across a broad range of situations and academic disciplines. The Child Development and Education Major consists of 14-16 courses. Majors are required to take:

Psychology 101, 102, 225, 275, 265, and either PSY 330 or EDU 403 

Education 201, 207, 301, 302, 303 and 304

Capstone Experience.

During the Spring term of their senior year all majors take a set of capstone courses which complete the major. Students seeking certification must take Education 406 and 407 (Student Teaching) which combined count as a full load of 4 courses. Students not seeking certification have the option to take Education 406 and 408 (Independent Study in Child Development and Education), which count as a standard 2 courses.

The Education Department recommends that students plan to take EDU 302, EDU 303 and EDU 403 in the fall of their senior year.

Elementary Education Certification:

In addition to the Child Development and Education Major, students pursuing elementary teacher certification must complete a set of Elementary Content Courses, as well as meet additional state requirements. Because of the number of courses required for elementary certification, students wishing to complete certification in 4 years should begin taking courses in the child development and education major by the beginning of their sophomore year.

Students interested in additional information should contact:

Dr. James Longo, Education Department

Dr. Rosalie Carpenter, Education Department

Dr. Elizabeth Bennett, Psychology Department

Or other members of the Psychology Department