Certificate in Child Development

Description

The School of Professional and Graduate Studies offers a post-secondary certificate in Child Development that prepares students to work with children from birth to age eight. Coursework encompasses the foundations of how children learn, strategies to help young children acquire language and literacy skills, how child-care centers, schools, and families interact to influence development and learning, and techniques for observing and assessing student growth.

In Trinity’s certificate program, faculty teach foundational knowledge in an applied format, integrating students’ work and life experiences with course materials and information. Trinity’s faculty have extensive experience in the field of early childhood education and all courses are designed around content immediately applicable to work with young children. Embedded course assignments and activities are designed to build a professional Child Development Associate (CDA) portfolio. All Trinity Certificate in Child Development courses are recognized at the Gold Standard level with the Council for Professional Recognition and prepare students for the CDA qualification.

Gaining a certificate from an accredited university can advance one’s career and provide a pathway toward earning a degree. All courses can apply towards an Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education at Trinity Washington University.

Program Requirements

Core Requirements (18 credits)

EDCC 205 Children, Families, Culture and the Community in Early ChildhoodThis course examines relationships among schools, children and families, introducing the complex social and cultural factors that influence children's development and learning, as well as the ethical guidelines that determine professional conduct. Within an orientation to the theoretical and developmental foundations of early learning education of young children, the course emphasizes current issues regarding families, community, and cultural diversity.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 207 Development of Learning Experiences in Early Childhood EducationThis course examines the historical, theoretical, and developmental foundations for learning in young children, birth to age 8 (specifically, pre-K to 3rd grade). Students learn how to create developmentally and individually appropriate lesson and activity plans. Learning experiences integrate the various content areas of literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts, and incorporate the social-emotional, cognitive, and physical domains of child development.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 211 Development of Early Childhood Oral Language and Literacy SkillsThis course introduces strategies for helping young children acquire communication skills. The contribution of appropriate children's literature to literacy development is demonstrated. Activities, materials, and lessons in these areas emphasize developmentally appropriate practices. This course requires a 10 hour on-site field component.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 213 Observation, Description and Measurement of Growth in Early ChildhoodIn this introductory course, students use developmentally appropriate observation and record keeping strategies to reflect upon, improve, maintain, and extend learning. Tools and techniques that promote growth across all domains of early childhood development-social-emotional, cognitive, and physical, and across language and other content areas-will be discussed and explored. This course requires a 10-hour on-site field component.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 215 Human Growth & DevelopmentReviews introductory theory and research in human growth and development over the life span. Focus is on the interdisciplinary nature of human development and relationships among the biological, cognitive, social, and psychological domains of the individual in her environment. Highlights critical life events and resulting change from the prenatal period through adulthood, stressing interactions between the developing person and a continually evolving world.
3 credits
EDTE 290 Practicum and Seminar in Early Childhood LearningThis course is composed of a practicum in one or more school settings and an on-campus seminar . Within the practicum, students will spend a minimum of four (4) hours a week in an approved early childhood learning site, observing, documenting, and working with early childhood educators and children. Within the weekly seminar, students will reflect upon, research, discuss, and write about theories and practices of early childhood education as experienced in their practicum sites and elsewhere. Note: Students must be available to spend the designated hours in a setting approved by the AA in Early Childhood Education program director.
3 credits
Prerequisites: All EDCC and EDTE courses, except EDCC 292; must be taken during the final 2 semesters.

Program Policies

Transfer Credit Policy: Transfer credits may be accepted for a certificate program if they meet the student’s planned degree program just as they are for undergraduate degree programs.  Students may transfer up to six total credits in alignment with the certificate curriculum.  All other Trinity transfer credit policies apply.

Stackable Credentials: Trinity certificate courses may be applied to degree programs.  Students enrolled in degree programs at Trinity may simultaneously pursue a certificate and these courses will count toward both credentials.

Academic Standing: Students must earn a C or better in all college level courses in order for the courses to count toward the post-secondary certificate.  Courses in the certificate programs are repeatable.  Satisfactory academic progress is a criterion for the award of financial aid.  Students not making academic progress will be referred to their academic advisor for academic counseling.  All other Trinity academic policies and procedures apply to certificate courses.