Child Development Concentration
Concentration Child Development
Where Will Your Degree Take You?
Child Care Worker
Preschool Teacher
Public School Teaching Assistant
Child Psychotherapist
Primary School Teacher
Secondary School Teacher
Program Of Study (42 Credits)
Curriculum - Concentration in Child Development (42 credits)
This program provides structured preparation for work with typically developing or exceptional children. Students generally pursue employment or graduate studies in education or in clinical fields that emphasize work with children.
Required Courses (36 credits)
PY 111 Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to the major areas, theories, concepts, and methods of contemporary psychology. Topics may include ways of perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world; emotions; motivation; the relationship between brain events and inner experience; child development and adult personality; self-concept; attitudes toward others and behavior in social situations; stress, coping, and the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Special attention will be paid to the application of scientific methods to the study of human cognition and behavior. General Education Choice for Part B. Offered every semester. 3 credits
PY 210 Behavior Modification
Application of learning principles to human behavior and its modification in clinical settings, business environments, the classroom, and everyday life. Examines methods of determining the triggers for problem behaviors and the role of rewards. A number of approaches to changing old behaviors and establishing new behaviors will be discussed, such as token economies, self-monitoring, contracts, cognitive-behavioral techniques, shaping, differential reinforcement, and extinction. P: PY111. Offered annually. 3 credits
PY 218 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (same as SO 218)
Addresses basic concepts and methods of statistical data analysis as applied in psychology and other social/behavioral sciences, including organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data. The course will provide students with a foundation in descriptive and inferential statistics, touching on frequency distributions, probability sampling, and hypothesis testing. Analyses conducted by hand and using SPSS. P: Fulfillment of the Level A math requirement. Generally offered every semester. 3 credits
PY 229 Psychology of the Exceptional Child
Not all children develop along "˜typical' lines. For some, cognitive and/or social-emotional development differs sharply from what is considered normative. This course concerns the psychology of such children, especially insofar as their differences may produce problems in living (e.g., academic failure or social stigmatization). Assessment and diagnostic procedures (e.g., psychological tests) as well as intervention strategies (e.g., behavior modification) will be covered. Specific language and academic skills disorders, autisticspectrum disorders, mental retardation, selected medical conditions, disruptive behavior disorders, "˜internalizing' disorders (e.g., separation anxiety), and the consequences of neglect and abuse will be considered. Some attention will also be paid to the issues raised by giftedness and special talents. In addition to describing the various disorders clinically and phenomenologically, we will try to understand their origins, nature, and developmental implications, and how they can be recognized and effectively addressed in specialized settings (e.g., clinics), in regular classrooms, and in the home. A field experience in a classroom serving "˜special needs' students is available as part of this course. This experiential component is required for students pursuing teacher certification. P: PY 111 and PY 330 or PY 211. Offered annually. 3 credits
PY 242 Educational Psychology
This course is a study of the assumptions about learning and development that underlie various educational practices by acquainting students with different theories in both of these areas. It will provide students with opportunities to develop their problem solving skills in the context of education and psychology. Some of the topics the course will cover are development and individual differences, learning theories, problem solving, instructional objectives and methods, motivation, behavior management, and assessment. This is a required class for students seeking teacher certification. P: PY 111. 3 credits
PY 280 Practicum*
A three-credit field-based experiential practicum involving approximately 8-10 hours per week on site. Sites may include schools, clinics, community agencies, corporations, or laboratories depending on the student's interest and area of concentration. Offered every semester. P: Senior status or second semester Junior status and permission of Department Chair. 3 credits
PY 325 Experimental Methods and Research Design
An introduction to experimental methods and research design in psychological research. Includes hands-on experience with design, implementation of data collection, data coding and analysis, and the interpretation and communication of results. Students will learn and use APA style format in a research paper describing their research findings. P: PY 111, PY 218, and junior or senior status. Fulfills major Writing requirement. Offered annually. 3 credits
PY 330 Child Development
An examination of the major theories, issues, and research regarding the developing child from conception to puberty, with emphasis on emotional, cognitive, and social development. Current issues, such as the effects of drugs on the fetus, child abuse, and day care centers will be discussed. Offered annually. P: PY 111. 3 credits
PY 340 Psychological Assessment
Psychological assessment involves the systematic appraisal of cognitive abilities, personality traits, social attitudes, interests, values, and other characteristics. Methods include interviews, self-report measures, projective techniques, and performance appraisals. This course covers the basic principles of test construction and validation used by psychologists and educational measurement specialists. It also covers the administration, scoring, and interpretation of selected psychological tests along with a critical evaluation of their qualities. P: PY 218 and open only to psychology majors with Senior status. Offered annually. 3 credits
PY 380 Internship (9 credits)*
A field-based experiential internship in the Child Development and Counseling, and Mental Health concentrations requiring a commitment of 16-24 hours per week to the placement site. P: PY 280 and departmental permission. May, with special permission of the Department Chair, be taken over the course of two semesters. Upon registering for PY 380, students should immediately meet with the Director of Experiential Learning and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. This should be done by the middle of the semester prior to actually beginning the placement. Offered every semester. 6 - 9 credits
Six Credits Selected from the Following:
PY 131-136 Topics in Child Development (1.5 credits each)
PY 248 Cultural Psychology
This course examines the importance of cultural factors in explaining and understanding human behavior, providing students with a cross-cultural framework to evaluate the relevance of traditionally held beliefs and theories to different cultural groups. Students will explore the role of culture in development, cognition, gender, emotion, language and communication, personality, abnormal psychology, development of self and identity, and interpersonal and intergroup relations. To develop a better understanding of self in relation to the world, students will research their own cultural background and norms in comparison to mainstream society in the United States. Finally, students will develop a deeper, more complex understanding of the nature of culture, its relationship to the psychological processes, and the differences and similarities between cultures in our increasingly globalized world. General Education Choice for Part C. P: PY111. Offered every other year. 3 credits
PY 331 Child Life: Concepts and Methods
Child Life professionals work with medically ill children, helping them to cope with their illness and its consequences. This course introduces the field of Child Life and its implementation in a health care setting. Topics include the effects of illness and hospitalization on children and families, the development of play and coping skills in childhood, the roles of play therapy and other therapeutic techniques in medical settings, and the challenges of working with chronically or terminally ill children and families under stress. For students interested in Child Life careers, this course provides necessary background. For those interested in counseling/clinical work with children in other settings, it provides greater breadth and depth of relevant knowledge and expertise. Offered every other year. 3 credits
ED 212 History and Philosophy of Education
Overview of why and how we educate children. Topics include implicit and explicit goals of education, social reproduction theory, an analysis of selected educational systems in recorded human history, the history of education in the United States, and contemporary educational philosophies. Offered annually in fall. 3 credits
Recommended Correlatives:
ED/PY 341 Adolescent Psychology
This course examines the development of the individual during the period of transition from childhood to adulthood, including physical changes, personality development, and the influence of family, school, and culture on adolescents. Offered annually. P: PY 111. General Education Choice for Part C. 3 credits
SO 122 The Family
Sociological analysis of family relationships, including examination of factors contributing to family structures in different social classes, ethnic groups, and societies. The focus is on relating family life to the economy and other social institutions. Topics include gender, race/ethnic and class inequality; child-rearing; historical change; and social policy issues. P: SO 111 or permission of Department Chair. Generally offered every other spring semester. 3 credits
S0 232 Juvenile Delinquency
Investigation of delinquency as a separate phenomenon, including its theories of causation and particular patterns of delinquency, as well as consideration of the variables which affect the rates of delinquency. P: SO 111, CJ 111 or permission of Department Chair. Generally offered every other fall semester. 3 credits
SO 242 Minorities and Multicultural Diversity
This course examines the positions of "minorities"