Graduation Requirements | Major Requirements | Advising | Specializaitons | Suggested General Education Electives | Other Electives | Child and Family Development Minor | Family Life Education Certificate | Career Opportunities | Course Descriptions | Undergraduate Catalog |

Child Development Major
Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts and Sciences

Goals of the Major: The interdisciplinary major (major code 08231) in child development prepares students for a variety of professional specialities. Graduates with competencies in this major find positions in preschools, day care centers, schools, hospitals, clinics, residential institutions, counseling centers, mental health centers, public welfare agencies, family service agencies, family planning clinics, community programs, business and industry, and government agencies. Students may prepare for teaching credentials and specialized certification (e.g., a teacher of single/multiple subjects in elementary or secondary education, or a family life educator by completing a 15-unit certificate program). A child development major provides preparation for graduate study in child or family development, social work, counselor or special education, law and the social sciences. Descriptions of career opportunities of the major and ways to meet credential and certification requirements are available from the undergraduate adviser.

Graduation Requirements: Follow the appropriate catalog for General Education (G.E.) requirements and the requirements of the Child Development major:

  • A student may follow the GE requirements in effect during the year entered SDSU or another campus in the CSU system or a California Community College, provided that continuous attendance, (as defined in the SDSU General Catalog) was maintained.
  • A student may follow the General Catalog that is currently in effect at the time of entrance to SDSU or the General Catalog that is in effect at the time of graduation.
  • A student may follow the Child Development major requirements of the General Catalog that is current (in effect) at the time of the declaration of the major or that is in effect at the time of graduation.

Undergraduate Advising: See the appropriate persons for advising. Direct all questions or clarification of General Education (G.E.) requirements to the Undergraduate Advising Center on campus located in the Student Services Building, room 1641 (594-6668).
Direct all questions about the Child Development major to our Undergraduate Advising Center for CFD majors located in PSFA-460. Dr. Carolyn Balkwell is the department's Undergraduate Advisor and posts her office hours on her voice mail (594-3713). You will need to call first to obtain information regarding her office hours.
All Child Development majors should request an SDSU evaluation as early as possible after completing 56 units (whether they were taken elsewhere and transferred in, or they were taken at SDSU). Call RegLine at 594-7800 to request an SDSU evaluation. Following your request, it will take approximately two months to receive their written evaluation. It will be mailed to your address on file, so make sure you have a current address on file with the office of admissions and records, and not your parents address. An evaluation is a summary of college work completed and of requirements yet to be completed for completion of your degree. To be eligible for an evaluation, a student must be currently enrolled, have completed at least 56 units, and have a declared major (not undeclared). An evaluation cannot be done until official copies of all transfer transcripts have been received and are on file in the Office of Admissions and Records. This written evaluation will be a complete breakdown by the Evaluations Office showing both your general education and your work in your declared major. The far right column of the sheet will show you what SDSU feels you still need to take to graduate with the major you have declared.

Requirements of the Child Development Major: Undergraduate Advising Sheet for 1995-96, 1996-97,1997-98 and 1998-99 General Catalogs Note: There will be major curriculum changes for the 1999-2000 academic year catalog! No minor is required. If however, you wish to complete one, suggestions can be made. No foreign language is required for the major.
The B.S. degree in Child Development consists of 128 units (49 which are SDSU General Education requirements (see your general catalog for your GE requirements; they are not listed on this sheet).
Check-off List of Requirements:Preparation for the major (lower division requirements).A total of 25-26 units as follows:

___CFD 135: Principles of Family Development (3)
___CFD 270: Principles of Child Development (3)
___CFD 270L: Principles of Child Development Lab (1)
___CFD 272: Child, Family, Community (3)
___CFD 275: Developmentally Appropriate Practices (3)
___BIO 100: General Biology (3)
___PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology (3)
___SOC 101:Introduction to Sociology (3)
and
___PSY 270: Statistical Methods in Psychology (3) (Plus 1 unit lab)
___PSY 271: Data Analysis in Psychology (1)
or
___SOC 201: Elementary Social Statistics (3)
Total = 25-26 units

Upper Division Writing Requirement: Passing the University Writing Examination or completing one of the approved writing courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Major (upper division requirements):
A minimum of 38 upper division units to include:

___CFD 335: Interaction in Families (3)
___CFD 370: Research, Assessment, and Evaluation of Children & Families (3)
___CFD 371: Human Development: Middle Childhood and Adolescence (3)
___CFD 375: Child Development Programs (3)
___CFD 537: Child Abuse and Family Violence (3)
___CFD 575: Public Policy & Professional Ethics in Child and Family Development (3)
___CFD 590: Developmental Dysfunctions (4), AND
one of the three specializations listed below.

Specializations:

Child Development Specialist:
___CFD 376A: Laboratory Experiences with Children and Families: (Programs for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool) (1),
___CFD 377: Adult Supervision in Child & Family Development Programs (3),
___CFD 477: Administration of Child Development Programs (3),
___CFD 570: Infant/Toddler Development (3),
___CFD 577:Advanced Administration of Child Development Programs (3), AND
___ A 3-unit upper division course to be selected with approval of adviser (3)

Family Development Specialist:
___CFD 376C: Laboratory Experiences with Children and Families (Programs for Families) (1),
___CFD 536: Divorce and Remarriage (3),
___CFD 578: Parent-Child Relationships Across the Life Span (3), AND
___ 9 units selected with the approval of the program adviser.(9)

General Child and Family Development Specialist:
___CFD 376A: Laboratory Experiences with Children and Families (Programs for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool) (1) OR
___CFD 376B: Laboratory Experiences with Children and Famlies (Program for Adolescents) (1) OR
___CFD 376C: Laboratory Experiences with Children and Families (Programs for Families) (1) AND
____ 15 units selected with the approval of the program adviser.(15)


Note: Before registering each term, be sure to CHECK THE PREREQUISITES for the courses you intend to register in. The department is strict about prerequisites. The prerequisites to all courses are listed in the General Catalogue. At this point in your studies, you will need to consult with the CFD Undergraduate Adviser, Dr. Carolyn Balkwell (619-594-3713), to file a master plan. You will need to complete 16 units in any one of the three specializations listed below. The master plan will indicate which of the specializations you have selected and the 16 units to be completed. It is intended that by completing the majority of the units above, you will have gained sufficient knowledge and experience to help you determine which of the specializations would best fit with your career goal. Because of this, we ask that you do not attempt to file a Master Plan until you are almost finished with the courses listed above.

Suggested General Education Courses for the CFD Major:
These are suggestions only. You may select from the complete list contained in your General Catalog. This is a partial list.

I. Communication and Critical Thinking-one course from each section (9 units)

1. Oral Communication-student's choice
2. Composition-student's choice
3. Intermediate Composition & Critical Thinking-student's choiceII.

II. Foundations

A. Natural Sciences and Quantitative Reasoning (one course from each of the 4 categories)

1. Physical Sciences-student's choice
2. Life Sciences-Biology 100 (required for preparation to the major)
3. Laboratory-Biology 100L
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning-Psych 270 or Soc 201
(required for preparation for the major)

B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (two courses/6 units).
Take Psychology 101 and Sociology 101 (required for preparation for the major)

C. Humanities (complete one course in each of four of the following five categories).

1. Literature-student's choice
2. Art, Classics, Dance, Drama, Humanities, & Music-student's choice
3. History-student's choice
4. Philosophy and Religious Studies-student's choice
5. Foreign Language-student's choice

III. American Institutions- see general catalog for American Institutions requirement.

(The following Grossmont Community College courses will also clear the SDSU American Institutions Requirement: History 120, History 121, Political Science 121).

IV. Explorations (one course from A,B and C; one course must be asterisked (*) in catalog).

A. Natural Sciences-one course

Biology 307-Biology of Sex
Biology 321-Human Heredity
Biology 336-Human Physiology
Biology 339-Sociobiology
General Studies 340-Confronting AIDS

B. Social and Behavioral Sciences-one course.

Africana Studies 341-Cultural Patterns and African American Identity
Africana Studies 445-Ethnicity and Social Psychology
Anthropology 410-Language in Culture
Communication 371-Intercultural Communication
Education 350-Education in American Society
Linguistics 420-Linguistics and English
Psychology 340-Social Psychology
Social Work 360-Perspectives on Human Behavior & Social Environment
Sociology 320-Sex/Gender Roles in American Society
Sociology 352-Contemporary Social Problems
Sociology 421-The American Family and its Alternatives
Women's Studies 320-Socialization of Women
Women's Studies 325-Psychology of Women

C. Humanities-one course

Student's choice

Suggestion on Upper Division Writing Competency:
English 306A: Children's Literature and English 306W-Advanced Composition----------

Suggested General Electives for CFD Majors: They will not count toward the child development major or your general education (unless otherwise indicated), but are excellent courses if you need elective units or you are interested in taking them on your own for professional growth and preparation. You will need to check course prerequisites in your general catalog.

Key:
CDS=Child Development Specialist
LSD=Life-Span Development Specialist
FDS=Family Development Specialist
GCF=General Child/Family Development
ADS=Adult Development Specialist AFRAS 330: Black Child Development (CDS, LSD)
AFRAS 331: The Black Family (All areas)
CDIS 106: Communicative Disorders (CDS, GCF)
CDIS 159: Beginning American Sign Language (CDS)
CDIS 159L: Beginning American Sign Language Laboratory (CDS)
CDIS 322: Psychological Foundations of Communicative Disorders (CDS, GCF)
CDIS 350: Introduction to Deaf Culture (All areas)
CDIS 459: Fingerspelling (CDS, GCF)
CDIS 580: Communication Problems of the Aging (CDS, GCF)
COMM 452: Interaction and Gender (All areas)
COMM 455: Conflict Management Communication (All areas)
CSP 310: Group Leadership in Educational Settings (CDS, GCF)
CSP 400: Counseling and the Helping Professions (All areas)
CSP 401: Theories & Processes of Personal Integration (All areas)
DRAMA 310: Creative Drama (CDS, GCF)
DRAMA 315: Theatre for Young Audiences (CDS, GCF)
DRAMA 329: Practicum in Theater for Young Audiences (CDS, GCF)
DRAMA 480: Drama in the Classroom: K-12 (CDS, GCF)
DRAMA 510: Creative Drama II (CDS, GCF)
DRAMA 515: Directing for Young Audiences (CDS, GCF)
ECON 382: Economics of Marriage and the Family (FDS)
ED 451*: Introduction to Multicultural Education (CDS, GCF)
EDTEC 470**: Technologies for Teaching (All areas)
EDTEC 532: Production of Instructional Materials (All areas)
EDTEC 541: Multimedia Development All areas)
ENGL 501: Literature for Children (CDS, LSD, GCF)
ENGL 502: Adolescence in Literature (CDS, LSD, GCF)
ENS 241A: Physical Education of Children-Theory (CDS, GCF)
ENS 241B: Physical Education of Children-Activities (CDS, GCF)
GEN S 340: Confronting AIDS (All areas)(Also in GE program)
GEN S 420: Disability and Society (All areas) (Also in GE program)
GERO 101: Introduction to Human Aging (LSD, ADS)
GERO 250: Intergenerational Issues and the Elderly (LSD, ADS)
GERO 350: Social Policy and Aging (LSD, ADS)
GERO 360: Minority and Ethnic Aging (LSD, ADS)
GERO 370: Images of Aging in Contemporary Society (LSD, ADS)
GERO 402: The Aging Network (ADS)
GERO 520: Analysis of Progams for the Elderly (ADS)
GERO 522: International Issues on Aging (ADS)
HIST 557: History of Latin American Popular Culture and Social Thought (ALL)
LING 452: Language Acquisition (CDS, GCF)
MA S 480: The Mexican American and the Schools (CDS, GCF)
MATH 210***: Structure and Concepts of Elementary Mathematics (CDS, GCF)
NUTR 208: Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle (GCF)
PA 341: Administrative Management (All areas)
PSY 321: Organizational Psychology (All areas)
PSY 332: Psychology of Adolescent & Adult Development (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
PSY 343: Intimate Relationships (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
PSY 350: Abnormal Psychology (All areas)
PSY 355: Psychology of Human Sexual Behavior (All areas)
PSY 365: Drugs and Behavior (All areas)
PSY 418: Experimental Psychology: Child Development (CDS, LSD, FDS, GCF)
PSY 454: Mental Retardation (All areas)
PSY 456: Psychology of Death and Bereavement (All areas)
REC 107: Recreation Planning and Leadership (CDS, FDS)
REC 351: Recreation for Special Populations (All areas)
REC 580: Leisure and the Aging Process (ADS)
SOC 310: Love, Jealousy and Envy: The Sociology of Emotions (CDS, FDS, GCF)
SOC 320: Sex/Gender Roles in American Society (All areas) (Also in GE program)
SOC 420: Sexuality in Modern Society (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
SOC 444: Juvenile Delinquency (CDS, LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
SOC 455: Asian American Communities (All areas)
SOC 517: Life Crises and Coping: Sociological Perspectives (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
SOC 522: The Family in Comparative and Historical Perspectives (All areas)
SOC 527: Aging and Society (ADS)
SOC 528: Death and Dying (All areas)
SPED 500: Human Exceptionality (CDS)
SPED 501: Special Education Procedures (CDS)
SPED 524: Characteristics & Education of Students with Learning Disabilities (CDS)
SPED 525: Characteristics & Education of Students with Severe Disabilities (CDS)
SPED 526: Characteristics & Education of Students with Physical Disabilities (CDS)
SPED 528: Early Intervention for Infants & Young Children with Disabilities & Their Families (CDS)
SWORK 130: Marriage and Contemporary Human Relations (FDS, LSD)
SWORK 350: Cultural Pluralism (CDS, FDS, LSD) (Also in GE program)
SWORK 351: Perspectives on Life in Urban Communities (CDS, FDS)
SWORK 410: Social Work Practice: Family Issues (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
WMNST 521: Life Cycles of Women (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
WMNST 535: Lesbian Lives and Culture (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)
WMNST 536: Women, Race and Class (LSD, FDS, GCF, ADS)

*Course meets multicultural requirements for entry into basic credential teaching program.
**Course meets computer literacy requirement for teaching credential.
***Course required for multiple subjects teaching credential.

Child Development Minor: (2002-3 Requirements)
The minor in child development consists of a minimum of 16 units to include:
CFD 270: Principles of Child Development (Prerequisites: Psychology 101, Sociology 101), and
CFD 270L: Principles of Child Development Laboratory,

and 12 units selected from:
CFD 370: Research, Assessment, and Evaluation of Children and Families
CFD 371: Human Development: Middle Childhood and Adolescence
CFD 375: Child Development Programs
CFD 376A, B, or C: Laboratory Experience in the Child Study Center (1-3 units)
CFD 377: Adult Supervision in Child and Family Development Programs
CFD 477: Administration of Child Development Programs
CFD 537: Child Abuse
CFD 570: Infant/Toddler Development (Prerequisite: CFD 270 or Psych 230)
CFD 575: Public Policy and Professional Ethics
CFD 577: Advanced Administration of Child Development Programs
CFD 590: Developmental Dysfunctions
CFD 597: Child and Family Development Field Experiences
CFD 597L: Child and Family Development Field Experiences Laboratory
PSY 432: Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology (Prerequisitie: Psych 230)

~Please note: No more than 6 of the 16 units may be in experiential courses.
Courses in the minor cannot count towards your major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major (lower division) and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of 6 upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.

Family Life Education Certificate: The purpose of this certificate program is to prepare students for careers in family life education. The program is designed for individuals working on degrees in child development and health science. It also provides a self-imprevment opportunity for people seeking employment, promotion, or upward mobility on the job who are not enrolled in degree programs. Awarding of the certificate requires completion of an approved pattern of five courses (15 units) with a grade of "C" or better in each of the courses to include CFD 135, 270 or 371 or Psych 230; Biology 307, Community Health Education 475; and Psych 355. The course offerings under this program meet the criteria for training and standards of the American Association of Sex Educatiors and Counselors. CFD 135, 270, or 371 (six units) are applicable to the child development major. Community Health Education 475 and Psych 355 (six units) are applicaable to the health science major. Courses in the certificate may not be counted toward the minor. For further information contact the department.

Career Information: Click here for a comprehensive list of types of positions you could get with a degree in Child and Family Development. Credential and Job permit qualification listings are here as well.

 

Disclaimer: The statements found on the Child and Family Development Department home page are for informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure that this information is up to date and accurate, official information can be found in the University publications.

This site designed by Victoria Pak.

© 2002 Department of Child and Family Development