Mission of the Department of
Child Development and Education Studies
The Department of Child Development and Education Studies is devoted to being a leader and partner in meeting diverse intellectual, sociocultural, and linguistic needs of educators and pre-professionals who aim to advocate and empower both children and families in the 21st century.
Mission Statement of Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College inspires, transforms, and empowers a diverse community of learners.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
The program student learning outcomes for the Child Development Department are based on the standards of the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs. Upon completion of an associate degree in Child Development, students will know and be able to:
1. Promoting Child Development and Learning
Upon completion of an Associate Degree in Child Development, students will have a well grounded knowledge based in child development and will be able use their understanding of young children's characteristics and needs, and of the multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
2. Building Family and Community Relationships
Upon completion of an Associate Degree in Child Development, students will know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of children's families and communities. They will be able to use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children's development.
3. Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families
Upon completion of an Associate Degree in Child Development students will know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They will know about and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way in partnership with families and other professionals to positively influence the development of every child.
4. Using Developmentally Effective Approaches
Upon completion of an Associate Degree in Child Development, students will understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children's ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching
and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. Additionally, students understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child's development and learning.
5. Using Content Knowledge to Build Meaningful Curriculum
Upon completion of an Associate Degree in Child Development, students will be able to use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every young child. Students will understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curriculum. They know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Students will use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child.
6. Becoming a Professional
Upon completion of an Associate Degree in Child Development, students will identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.
7. Early Childhood Field Experiences
Upon completion of an Associate Degree in Child Development students will, through planned and sequenced field experiences, develop the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood in multiple early childhood age groups and in the variety of settings that offer early care and education.
