Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Development
Certificate Code - CU09
The Early Childhood Development Certificate is a specialized curriculum designed for those who work in Pre-K classrooms in the public school, Head Start and child care centers who must obtain a specific body of knowledge and need specific written recognition for their ability to work with preschool children.
There are 15 credit hours in the Early Childhood Development certificate program. The certificate program is not attached to a degree in Child Development and Family Studies. Credit hours earned in the Early Childhood Development certificate can be applied to degree requirements for those students who want to pursue a degree. This CDFS certificate will incorporate the West Virginia Core Knowledge and Core Competencies and the West Virginia Early Standards Framework: Early Learning Standards in order to include the most recent requirements set forth by WV agencies responsible for preschool children.
After completing the certificate in Early Childhood Education, students will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of social, emotional, cognitive, language, motor, and physical development of young children in the family and preschool contexts through course assignments and field placements.
- Reflect on their knowledge and skills of teaching and interacting with young children through course assignments, self-evaluations, and communication with faculty.
- Apply their knowledge of how young children learn in the creation and preparation of educational activities in inclusive environments.
- Differentiate between the different domains of development, explain how the domains of development are interconnected, and apply that knowledge when working with young children to capitalize children’s growth and development across domains.
- Engage in field experiences with preschoolers and young school age children where their knowledge of early childhood development will be applied in the classroom setting.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CDFS 110 | Families Across the Life Span | 3 |
| CDFS 212 | Development in Early and Middle Childhood | 3 |
| CDFS 316 | Child Development Practicum | 3 |
| CDFS 430 | Best Practices in Pre-K Movement | 3 |
| CDFS 491A | Professional Field Experience | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Certificate Learning Outcomes
Early Childhood Development
Upon completion of the certificate students should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of social, emotional, cognitive, language, motor, and physical development of young children in the family and preschool contexts through course assignments and field placements.
- Reflect on their knowledge and skills of teaching and interacting with young children through course assignments, self-evaluations, and communication with faculty.
- Apply their knowledge of how young children learn in the creation and preparation of educational activities in inclusive environments.
- Differentiate between the different domains of development, explain how the domains of development are interconnected, and apply that knowledge when working with young children to capitalize children’s growth and development across domains.
- Engage in field experiences with preschoolers and young school age children where their knowledge of early childhood development will be applied in the classroom setting.