Child & Adolescent Development (MS)

Chairperson: Andrea Minkoff
Regular Faculty: Andrea Minkoff
Non-Tenure Track Faculty: Jennifer Killham
Adjunct Faculty: Jennifer Butterworth, Sheri Frost, Ricardo Rivera, Lilia Rodriguez, Jennifer Torres Siders, Gabriela Wilson

Program Length Part-Time: 2.5 years
Program Length Full-Time: 1.5 years

This program is intended for teachers, professionals, and supervisors in the fields of child development, early childhood education, and elementary or secondary education who wish to increase their understanding of the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development of young children or adolescents. Coursework within the program emphasizes the study of children and adolescents and the theories and issues concerned with their growth and development. This degree will enable a student to qualify to teach in a California Community College. Each course in the program is offered both on campus (in face-to-face format) and online. Courses in both delivery modes are identical in content and rigor and are offered on the semester schedule. Students enrolled in the program have the option of taking face-to-face courses, online courses, or a combination of the two.

Program Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from the program  under several circumstances, including but not limited to: academic dishonesty, academic disqualification, failure to maintain minimum academic standards, failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress, removal from a fieldwork placement, unethical or unprofessional conduct, failure of program activities measuring student competencies/or dispositions, circumstance interfering with training or well-being of others, and/or felony conviction.  Students dismissed from the program may not apply for readmission.

Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning that includes courses within or related to the Child and Adolescent Development discipline (e.g., Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Early Childhood Curriculum, and Human Development).

Admission Requirements

In addition to the requirements and application materials listed in the Graduate Admission section of this catalog, the following are required:

1. A completed application and application fee
2. Official Transcripts from all institutions attended. An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above.
3. Two letters of recommendation  addressing the candidate’s potential performance in a graduate program.
4. Resume
5. A statement of purpose that includes a description of any work experience with children, a clear statement of short term and long-term professional goals, a description of why this particular MS is desired, and a statement about what the student expects to do professionally after receiving the degree.

Total Program: 33 semester hours

Core Requirements

12 semester hours

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
ASCD 500	Academic Writing	3
ASCD 503	Educational Psychology	3
ASCD 504	Methods of Research	3
ASCD 550	Human Development	3
Total Semester Hours		12

Culminating Activity

3 semester hours

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
ASCD 596	Graduate Seminar	3
Total Semester Hours		3

Students who have completed 21 semester hours, applied for graduation, and completed specific assessments required by the College’s assessment system may apply for Advanced Standing. Once Advancement to Candidacy is processed, students can complete their remaining units, including the Culminating Activity.

Areas of Concentration

Students in this program will choose either an Early Childhood concentration or an Adolescence concentration.

Early Childhood Concentration

18 semester hours

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
ASCD 510	Infant and Toddler Development	3
ASCD 518	Language, Reading, and Concept Development	3
ASCD 551	Studies in Attachment	3
ASCD 557	Teaching Adults	3
ASCD 558	Cognition and Brain Development	3
Choose 1 of the following Electives:		3
ASCD 530	Motivation in Education
ASCD 570	Adolescent Development
ASCD 575	Adolescents and Risk
Other program chair approved elective
Total Semester Hours		18

Adolescence Concentration

18 semester hours

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
ASCD 530	Motivation in Education	3
ASCD 557	Teaching Adults	3
ASCD 558	Cognition and Brain Development	3
ASCD 570	Adolescent Development	3
ASCD 575	Adolescents and Risk	3
Choose 1 of the following Electives:		3
ASCD 510	Infant and Toddler Development
ASCD 518	Language, Reading, and Concept Development
ASCD 551	Studies in Attachment
Other program chair approved elective
Total Semester Hours		18