Associate in Applied Science

Child Development and Child Care

Program

The Child Development and Child Care degree is designed to provide students with a foundation in research-based approaches to early childhood education, child development theory, fieldwork and the use of best practices in teaching and caring for children from birth to the age of five years old. The program prepares students for employment in early childhood group care and related environments.

For additional information, contact faculty advisor, Lisa Stein, at (609) 343-4960 or lstein@atlanticcape.edu or department chair, Dr. Beth Sanders-Rabinowitz, at (609) 343-4982 or bsanders@atlanticcape.edu.

Upon completion of this program students will be able to:

Analyze major theories of child development with emphasis on similarities and differences and the interaction of the five learning domains and models from infancy through age five. This includes: cognitive language and communication, social and emotional approaches to learning and physical motor development;
Evaluate family and community characteristics in relation to their role in the economic, political and cultural institutions of society to stimulate growth and learning;
Apply the goals, benefits and uses of assessment using observation, documentation and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches.
Recognize and apply effective approaches, strategies and tools to positively influence young children's development and learning;
Articulate and uphold ethical standards and other professional guidelines and engage in informed advocacy for children and the profession;
Document young children's development and apply the documentation to curriculum development.

(CDCH – Fall 2023)