Child and Adolescent Development

Program Description

The Department of Child and Adolescent Development offers an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary undergraduate degree program focusing on the study of human development from conception through emerging adulthood. The degree program leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development. Students elect to complete the option in Applied Developmental Science or the option in Early Childhood Development.

The option in Applied Developmental Science emphasizes the analysis and synthesis of classic and contemporary research in the interest of promoting positive developmental outcomes spanning conception through early adulthood. Students in this option explore theories, concepts, and phenomena relevant to the development of individuals and social systems, including the wide range of familial, biological, societal, cultural, physical, ecological, political, and historical settings of human development. Students who elect to complete the option in Early Childhood Development develop a strong foundation of content knowledge and practical skills applicable to working with young children (i.e., conception through age 7). Students in this option have the opportunity to complete all of the requirements for the Child Development Permit (credential required for preschool teachers, administrators, and childcare professionals) during the degree program. Many students in this option may choose to add the Minor in Child-Care Administration (see Department of Family and Consumer Sciences) without delaying completion of the degree. Note that 9 units in the Early Childhood Development option meet the requirements for the Minor in Child-Care Administration.

Both options in the degree program emphasize using research- and evidence-based knowledge to empower students to become critical consumers of theoretical perspectives and information relating to the physical, social, and cognitive development of children and adolescents. This foundation allows students to develop content knowledge and skills essential to participating in informed public dialogue, social policy, and interventions/best practices facilitating positive development.

Students learn ways to use primary and applied research to explore educational and mental health issues, including cultural processes, atypical developmental trajectories, resiliency, developmental transitions, motivation, physical and psychological well-being, and major developmental milestones. The department is committed to an ecological model that examines developmental changes and processes across multiple contexts to identify human universals, as well as context-specific differences in human development.

The domains of cognitive and social development receive particular emphasis throughout the degree program. The program also emphasizes practical applications of theoretical and research-based knowledge gained in the classroom. Students are provided the opportunity to complete a department-sponsored year-long internship with selected community organizations and schools throughout the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.

Students in the major complete coursework from multiple academic departments across the Cal State Northridge campus that centers around (a) general foundations of the field of human development, (b) in-depth exploration of social and cognitive development, (c) ways in which practitioners and scholars conduct and use research, (d) best-practices for practitioners, (e) exploration of cultural and linguistic influences throughout development, (f) identification of academic and professional pathways to pursue upon completion of the B.A. degree, and (g) developing breadth and/or depth of study through a robust menu of elective coursework.

Coursework in the major prepares students to be competitive applicants for postbaccalaureate graduate programs in child and adolescent development, educational psychology, developmental psychology, school psychology, early childhood education, special education, educational leadership, marriage and family therapy, counseling, clinical social work, clinical psychology and teaching credential programs. Students earning the Bachelor of Arts degree in Child and Adolescent Development are also prepared to enter the workforce in entry-level positions in a host of job settings serving children, youth, and families. Given the broad interdisciplinary focus of coursework leading to the degree, students can tailor their courses to prepare for a host of professional programs, such as counseling, teacher education, social work, law school, medical school, nursing, child life, and occupational therapy.

Obtaining a Child Development Permit

The Child Development Permit is a State of California authorized credential, which verifies completion of the requirements established by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for assisting, teaching or supervising in a child development program (e.g., pre-kindergarten/early childhood education programs) in the State of California. Students who complete the option in Early Childhood Development and Minor in Child-Care Administration will have satisfied coursework and practicum/fieldwork requirements for the Permit. Most undergraduate students pursuing careers in Early Childhood Education are eligible for financial support (grants and stipends) through the Child Development Training Consortium. See also the disclosure statement regarding Programs Leading to Licensure and Credentialing.

Program Requirements

1. Lower Division Required Courses (9-10 units)

Introduction to the Field

2. Additional Required Courses (47 units)

a. Domains of Development (6 units)

CADV 350 Applied Cognitive Development (3)
CADV 352 Applied Social Development (3)

b. Modes of Inquiry (8 units)*

CADV 380/L Methods of Child and Adolescent Study and Lab I (3/1)
CADV 381/L Methods of Child and Adolescent Study and Lab II (3/1)

*Note: Students double-majoring in Psychology may use PSY 320/L and PSY 321/L to fulfill the Modes of Inquiry requirement.

c. Cultural/Linguistic Contexts of Child and Adolescent Development (9 units)

CADV 460 Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Culture in Development (3)

Choose one of the following Cultural Contexts courses:

AAS 355 Biracial and Multiracial Identity (3)
AAS 450 Asian American Child and the Schools (3)
AAS 453 Asian American Families (3)
AFRS 322 African-American Family (3)
AFRS 420 The Black Child (3)
AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues (3)
ANTH 308 Gender and Culture (3)
ARMN 440 Armenian American Child (3)
CAS 410 The Central American Child (3)
CHS 430 The Chicana/o Child (3)
CHS 431 The Chicana/o Adolescent (3)
CHS 432 Counseling the Chicana/o Child (3)
DEAF 200 Introduction to Deaf Studies (3)
SOC 401 Class, Status and Power (3)
SOC 452 Sociology of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities (3)

Choose one of the following Linguistic Contexts courses:

AFRS 395 Bilingualism in the African-American Community (3)
ANTH 310 Language in Culture: Anthropological Linguistics (3)
CHS 433 Language Acquisition of the Chicana/o and ESL Speakers (3)
CHS 482 Language of the Barrio (3)
ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
ENGL 405 Language Differences and Language Change (3)
LING 441 Sociolinguistics (3)

d. Professional Development (12 units)

CADV 470 Advanced Theories in Child and Adolescent Development (3)

Complete an additional 9 units from the courses below:

CADV 310 Developmental Impacts of Abuse and Neglect (3)
CADV 327 Infancy and Early Childhood (3)
CADV 335 Middle Childhood (3)
CADV 361 Adolescence (3)
CADV 373 Emerging Adulthood (3)
CADV 394 Child and Adolescent Development Internship I (3)**
CADV 406/L/RTM 406/L Enhancing Childhood Creativity and Lab (2/1)
CADV 450 Helping Children Cope with Medical Environments (3)
CADV 451 Alternative Approaches to Discipline (3)
CADV 452 Child Advocacy (3)
CADV 453 Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (3)
CADV 455 Effective Mentoring in Child and Adolescent Development (3-3)
CADV 456 Coping with Grief and Loss in Childhood and Adolescence (3)
CADV 494 Child and Adolescent Development Internship II (3)**
CADV 495A Child and Adolescent Development Graduate School Skills and Applied Research Training I (3)**
CADV 495B Child and Adolescent Development Graduate School Skills and Applied Research Training II (3)**
CADV 497AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Child and Adolescent Development (3)
CADV 499C Independent Study (3)**

**Students who are interested in enrolling in these courses must complete an application available at the department office (SQ 285).

e. Electives (12 units)

Choose any 12 units of coursework from the list below. Although some of these courses can be used to fulfill other requirements for the major, courses used for such requirements may not be used to satisfy the electives in the major.

Development

CADV 327/PSY 327 Infancy and Early Childhood (3)
CADV 335/PSY 335 Middle Childhood (3)
CADV 361/PSY 361 Adolescence (3)
CADV 373 Emerging Adulthood (3)
CADV 406/L/RTM 406/L Enhancing Childhood Creativity and Lab (2/1)
CADV 451 Alternative Approaches to Discipline (3)
CADV 497AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Child and Adolescent Development (3)
CD 405 Phonetics (3)
CD 415 Speech and Language Development (3)
ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
FCS 335 Prenatal and Infant Development (3)
FCS 438 Adolescents in the Family Context (3)
LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)
PSY 453 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality (3)

Atypical Development

CADV 310 Developmental Impacts of Abuse and Neglect (3)
CADV 453 Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (3)
PSY 310 Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY 351 Behavioral Psychology and Therapy (3)
PSY 454 Clinical Psychology (3)
PSY 464 Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention Techniques (3)
SOC 348 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
SPED 400 Developmental Differences and Implications in Special Education (3)
SPED 402 Promoting and Supporting a Positive and Inclusive School Climate (3)
SPED 431 Atypical Development in Young Children with Disabilities (3)

Education

ART 383/L Art in Early Childhood and Lab (2/1)
ART 385/L Children’s Crafts and Lab (2/1)
ART 579/L Art Education Across Cultures and Lab (2/1)
CADV 406/L Enhancing Childhood Creativity and Lab (2/1)
CADV 451 Alternative Approaches to Discipline (3)
CADV 452 Child Advocacy (3)
CJS 410CS Mentoring to Overcome Struggles and Inspire Courage (MOSAIC) (3)
ENGL 428 Children’s Literature (3)
ENGL 429 Literature for Adolescents (3)
EPC 314 Psychological Foundations, K-12 (3)
EPC 315 Psychological Foundations of Learning and Teaching (3)
FCS 433 Administration of Children’s Programs (3)
FCS 436 Parental Development (3)
KIN 470/L Physical Education for Children and Lab (2/1)
MUS 361/L Music Literature for Children and Lab (2/1)
MUS 362/L Music for Early Childhood and Lab (2/1)
PSY 312 Psychological Aspects of Parenthood (3)
RTM 305 Dynamics of Early Childhood Play (3)
RTM 352 Play and Human Potential (3)
RTM 405 Play and the Exceptional Child (3)
SOC 411 Sociology of Education (3)

Counseling

CADV 450 Helping Children Cope with Medical Environments (3)
EPC 451 Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance (3)
FCS 340 Marriage and Family Relations (3)
FCS 432 Family Theories (3)
FCS 480 The Helping Professional (3)
PSY 460 Counseling and Interviewing (3)
SOC 426 Social Legislation and Social Policy (3)
SOC 459 Child Welfare (3)

Culture, Language and Development

AAS 355 Biracial and Multiracial Identity (3)
AAS 450 Asian American Child and the Schools (3)
AFRS 322 African-American Family (3)
AFRS 420 The Black Child (3)
AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues (3)
ANTH 308 Gender and Culture (3)
ANTH 310 Language in Culture: Anthropological Linguistics (3)
ARMN 440 Armenian American Child (3)
CAS 410 The Central American Child (3)
CHS 430 The Chicana/o Child (3)
CHS 431 The Chicana/o Adolescent (3)
CHS 432 Counseling the Chicana/o Child (3)
CHS 433 Language Acquisition of the Chicano/a and ESL Speakers (3)
DEAF 160 American Sign Language I (4)
DEAF 200 Introduction to Deaf Studies (3)
ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)
SOC 401 Class, Status and Power (3)
SOC 452 Sociology of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities (3)

Research, Methodology, Assessment and Professionalism

CADV 250 Professional Pathways and Careers in Child and Adolescent Development (3)
CADV 495A Child and Adolescent Development Graduate School Skills and Applied Research Training I (3)
CADV 495B Child and Adolescent Development Graduate School Skills and Applied Research Training II (3)
CADV 499C Independent Study (3)
FCS 431/FCS 431L Child and Family Assessment and Lab (3/1)
FCS 480 The Helping Professional (3)
PSY 420/L Advanced Statistical Methods and Lab (3/1)

3. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.

15 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: CADV 350 satisfies B2 Life Science; CADV 180 or MATH 140 satisfies Basic Skills B4 Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning; CADV 380 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; and CADV 150 and PSY 150 satisfy D1 Social Sciences. (CADV 150 also fulfills the Information Competence requirement.)

If taken, FCS 340 satisfies upper division D1 Social Sciences or E Lifelong Learning; PSY 312 satisfies upper division D1 Social Sciences; CADV 310 or RTM 352 satisfies E Lifelong Learning; and AFRS 322, ANTH 308 and/or ANTH 310 satisfies 3-6 units of upper division F Comparative Cultural Studies.

Total Units in the Major/Option: 56-57

General Education Units: 33

Additional Units: 30-31

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120