Overview

The Department of Child and Adolescent Development offers an interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary 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.

Both options in the degree program emphasize the use of 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 basic 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 in order 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 greater Los Angeles area. 

Students in the major complete coursework from multiple academic departments across the Cal State Northridge campus that center 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) identifying 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 post-baccalaureate 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 degree, students can tailor their courses used for the degree 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.

Pursuing a Multiple Subject Preliminary Teaching Credential

Child and Adolescent Development majors interested in pursuing a Multiple Subject Teaching (MST) Credential at Cal State Northridge may begin completing selected requirements before earning the B.A. degree, which may ultimately decrease time to complete the credential. Students interested in beginning coursework toward the MST Credential:

• May complete the following four classes: (a) EED 500 Fundamentals of Teaching, (b) EED 515 Basic Technology Methods, (c) ELPS 417 Equity and Diversity in School and (d) HSCI 496 during their junior or senior years.
• Are eligible to formally apply to the CSUN Credential Program (upon completion of EED 500, EED 515, ELPS 417 and HSCI 496). Important Note: student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Are eligible to enroll in EED 520 Reading Instruction for Diverse Learners and EED 565M Mathematics Curriculum and Methods (upon admission into the Credential Program),
• Are strongly encouraged to prepare for and pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) as passing this exam is a required before students can complete student teaching requirement of the program.

For more information on earning the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, visit the Elementary Education section of this Catalog and contact the CSUN Credential Office for advisement. The Credential Program advisors and staff can be reached at (818) 677-2586.

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 Childcare 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.

Program Requirements

1. Lower Division Required Courses (10 units)

Introduction to the Field

CADV 150 Foundations of Child and Adolescent Development (3)
MATH 140 Introductory Statistics (4)*
PSY 150 Introduction to Psychology (3)*

*Also counts as General Education.

2. Upper Division 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 420 The Black Child (3)
AFRS 421 Strategies for Black Child Development (3)
AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues (3)
ANTH 308 Women, Sex Roles and Culture (3)*
ARMN 440 Armenian 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)

*Also counts as General Education.

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)
DEAF 360 American Deaf Culture (3)
ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
ENGL 405 Language Differences and Language Change (3)
LING 441 Sociolinguistics (3)
SPAN 310 Language and Contemporary Hispanic Life (3)

*Also counts as General Education.

d. Professional Development: Choose Pattern A or Pattern B (12 units)

Students are eligible to apply for and complete a Department-Sponsored Internship (Pattern A) or expand their breadth and/or depth of knowledge in connecting theory-to-practice through completing related coursework (Pattern B).

Pattern A—Department Sponsored Year-Long Internship

CADV 470 Advanced Theories in Child and Adolescent Development (3)
CADV 394 Child and Adolescent Development Internship I (3)***
CADV 494 Child and Adolescent Development Internship II (3)***
Complete an additional 3 units from any course(s) listed in Pattern B (see below)

Pattern B—Practitioner-Based Skill Sets and Content Areas

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/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 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)***
FCS 480 The Helping Professional (3)
PSY 453 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality (3)
SOC 459 Child Welfare (3)

***Students 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 courses listed below 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 250 The Child and Adolescent Development Profession (3)
CADV/PSY 327 Infancy and Early Childhood (3)
CADV/PSY 335 Middle Childhood (3)
CADV/PSY 361 Adolescence (3)
CADV/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)
ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)
FCS 335 Prenatal and Infant Development (3)
FCS 438 Adolescents in the Family Context (3)
PSY 453 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality (3)

Atypical Development

CADV 310 Developmental Impacts of Abuse and Neglect (3)
PSY 310 Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY 317 Psychopharmacology (3)
PSY 351 Behavioral Psychology and Therapy (3)
PSY 406 Developmental Psychopathology (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 401A Instruction in Special Education: Assessment and Instruction (3)
SPED 402A Behavior Assessment and Positive Behavior Support (3)
SPED 431 Atypical Development in Young Children with Disabilities (3)

Education

ART 383 Art in Early Childhood 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 452 Child Advocacy (3)
CADV 451 Alternative Approaches to Discipline (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)
HSCI 465ELM Teaching Health in the Elementary School Classroom (1)*
HSCI 466ADO Health Issues of the Adolescent (1)†
KIN 370/L Physical Education in Early Childhood Education (2/1)
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)

*Also counts as General Education.
†This class fulfills a requirement for the Multiple Subject Credential Program and may be taken before applying to the Credential Program.

Counseling

ART 481 Art as Therapy (3)
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)
PSY 483 Principles of Human Relations (3)
SOC 345 Social Psychology (3)
SOC 426 Social Legislation and Social Policy (3)
SOC 459 Child Welfare (3)
SOC 481 Counseling, Interviewing and Intervention (3)

Culture, Language and Development

AAS 355 Biracial and Multiracial Identity (3)
AAS 450 Asian American Child and the Schools (3)
AFRS 420 The Black Child (3)
AFRS 421 Strategies for Black Child Development (3)
AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues (3)
ANTH 308 Women, Sex Roles and Culture (3)*
ANTH 310 Language in Culture: Anthropological Linguistics (3)
ARMN 440 Armenian 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 485 Issues in American Sign Language (3)
ENGL 301 Language and Linguistics (3)
LING 417 Language Development and Acquisition (3)
SPAN 310 Language and Contemporary Hispanic Life (3)

*Also counts as General Education.

Research, Methodology and Assessment

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)
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/L Child and Family Assessment and Lab (3/1)
PSY 320/L Statistical Methods in Psychological Research and Lab (3/1)
PSY 321/L Research Methods in Psychology and Lab (3/1)
PSY 420/L Advanced Statistical Methods and Lab (3/1)
PSY 492SOC Professional Development in the Social Sciences I (1)
PSY 493SOC Professional Development in the Social Sciences II (1)
RTM 403 Evaluation Research in Recreation and Human Services (3)

3. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
Several major courses also meet GE requirements. MATH 140 is a Basic Skills course. PSY 150 is a social science General Education course. ANTH 308, ANTH 310, FCS 340 and RTM 352 meet Upper Division General Education requirements.

Total Units in the Major: 57

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