Advanced Studies in Child Dev. (ASCD)

ASCD 500  Academic Writing  

This course will help students further develop their writing skills by focusing on word choice, organization, summarizing and synthesizing research findings, editing, and APA style. Letter grade only.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 503  Educational Psychology  

Theories of the learning process. Relationships of learning to teaching. Writings of modern critics of education reviewed in relationship to learning theory.

Grade Mode: Letter, Credit/No Credit, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 504  Methods of Research  

This course will examine multiple methods of research in counseling and human development. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research will be discussed. Specifically, students will be exposed to the many aspects of the research process: theoretical frameworks, research questions, research proposal, survey design and implementation, interviews, observations, interpretation of statistics, and presentation of findings. Students will learn how to use research and data to inform their professional practice.

Grade Mode: Letter, Credit/No Credit, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 510  Infant and Toddler Development  
Prerequisite: ASCD 500 and ASCD 504  

This course provides an overview of key concepts and theories underlying the study of infants and toddlers. Students will learn about the physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and psychological changes that occur from conception through age two. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 518  Language, Reading, and Concept Development  

Examines (L1) and second (L2) language acquisition and their relationships to concept formation.

Grade Mode: Letter, Credit/No Credit, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 530  Motivation in Education  
Prerequisite: ASCD 500 and ASCD 504  

This course focuses on the social-cognitive processes, fundamental principles, and key theories in the study of motivation. Research on the psychological and physiological aspects of motivation and emotion in human behavior, as well as how situational factors impact emotions, motivation, and behavior will be discussed. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 550  Human Development  

Reviews developmental physiology, social-psychological factors in personality development, behavior patterns, and interactional capacity through life cycle.

Grade Mode: Letter, Credit/No Credit, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 551  Studies in Attachment  

Reviews biological and ethological theories of psychological attachment and research related to it. May be taken for letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Grade Mode: Letter, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 555  Child Development Internship  

Student will intern with an agency or educational organization that provides educational services or child-care services that relate to the care and education of children prenatal through age five. May be taken for letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 556  Early Childhood Assessment  

Students will study assessment of young children ages birth through eight. Basic descriptive statistics, program evaluation, categories of tests and uses of tests toward curriculum development will be studied. Not challengeable. May be taken for letter grade only.

Grade Mode: Letter, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 557  Teaching Adults  

Students will study adult learning theory, active learning strategies, and planning instruction for adult learners, strategies for lesson planning, writing objectives, promoting student writing and assessment will be practiced. Not challengeable. May be taken for letter grade only.

Grade Mode: Letter, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 558  Cognition and Brain Development  

Describes brain development and learning in preschool, school age, and adolescent children. Addresses cognitive theory and pedagogy. May be taken for letter grade only.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 559  Developmental Curriculum  

Studies curriculum design, which meets California State Department of Education Guidelines for developmental curriculum. Emphasizes active involvement of children. Covers developmental theories as foundation for developmental curriculum.

Grade Mode: Letter, Credit/No Credit, Audit  
Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 570  Adolescent Development  
Prerequisite: ASCD 500 and ASCD 504  

This course provides an overview of the key concepts and theories underlying the study of adolescence. Students will learn about the physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and psychological changes that occur during the adolescent period of the lifespan. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 575  Adolescents and Risk  

This course focuses on adolescent risk taking and includes discussions of the physical, social-emotional, cognitive, cultural, and environmental factors that interact to promote or hinder development. Current theory and research which relates to typical and atypical development patterns and their effect on student learning will be studied. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 595  Special Topics in Child and Adolescent Development  

Special topics of current interest in child and adolescent development. Can be taken for letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Semester Hours: 1-3  
ASCD 596  Graduate Seminar  
Prerequisite: Completed application for Advanced Standing  

This seminar is the culminating activity for the Master of Science or Education degrees. Students focus on or tie together concepts, issues, or problems from their area of concentration that warrant further investigation and study. Students prepare a paper in their area of concentration. The students will end their experience in ASCD 596 by submitting their research to a professional journal in their field or for a conference presentation in their field of study. In addition, students will prepare a poster session to share their research with the larger university community. Not challengeable.

Semester Hours: 3  
ASCD 599  Independent Study  

Student-designed courses approved by a faculty member. Prior approval of goals, objectives, procedures, and assessment plan is required. May be taken multiple times with a different topic for credit. Not challengeable.

Grade Mode: Letter, Credit/No Credit  
Semester Hours: 1-4