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Child Development and Family Studies

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Child Development and Family Studies

Child Development and Family Studies (CDFS) strives to improve the lives of children and families. As an integrative and interdisciplinary specialization, CDFS incorporates information from a variety of disciplines to provide a comprehensive academic and professional background for working with children and families. We use primary prevention to empower individuals and families in home and community settings.

Option in Child Development and Family Studies (120 units)

Take all of the following courses:

  • PSY 100 General Psychology (3)
    Prerequisites/Corequisites: GE A1 requirement.
  • CAFF 321 Family and Consumer Resource Management (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses, and upper division standing.
  • CDFS 111 Preschool Child (3)
    Prerequisites: None.
  • CDFS 211 Guiding Young Children (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in PSY 100 or SOC 100 or CDFS 111.
  • CDFS 312 Family and Personal Development (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements; PSY 100 or SOC 100 or ANTH 120; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 411 Individual Child Study and Guidance (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 311 or CDFS 314 or HDEV 307 or PSY 361; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 413 Child and Family in the Community (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" of better in CDFS 312; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.
  • FCS 299 Intro to Family and Consumer Sciences (1)
    Prerequisites: None.
    Not open for credit to students with credit in FCSE 299.
  • FCS 499 Professionalism and Leadership in FCS (1)
    Prerequisites: FCS 299, CAFF 321, 12 units of upper division course work in Family and Consumer Sciences. Must be taken in one of the last two semesters prior to graduation.
    Not open for credit to students with credit in FCSE 499.
  • NUTR 132 Introductory Nutrition (3)
    Prerequisites: Any GE Foundation course.

Take one of the following courses:

  • ANTH 120 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)
    Prerequisites: Any GE Foundation course.
  • Another approved Global Issues course (3)

Take one of the following pairs:

  • CDFS 214 Environments for Preschool Children (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 414 Field Work with Preschool Children (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111, CDFS 211, CDFS 214; or consent of instructor.

or

  • CDFS 215 Environments for Infants and Toddlers (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 415 Field Work with Infants/Toddlers (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111, CDFS 211, CDFS 215; or consent of instructor.

Take one of the following courses:

  • CDFS 311 Prenatal Development and Infancy (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111; upper division standing.
  • CDFS 314 The Older Child (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.

Take one of the following courses:

  • FCS 392A Field Experience in Child Development and Family Studies (3)
    Prerequisite: Upper division standing; major in Family and Consumer Sciences with an Option in Child Development and Family Studies; Consent of Instructor. Not open for credit to students with 6 units of FCSE 392. May not be taken concurrently with CDFS 492 A or CDFS 492B.
  • CDFS 492A Internship in Child Development and Family Studies (3)
    Prerequisites: Student must be a Family and Consumer Sciences: Child Development and Family Studies major; have senior standing; have a 2.5 overall GPA or a 3.0 major GPA; approval of a faculty advisor in Child Development and Family Studies; and CDFS 411, CDFS 413, and CDFS 414 or CDFS 415. Each prerequisite course must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. A course in which a grade lower than "C" is received must be retaken and successfully completed prior to enrolling in any course for which it is a prerequisite. Students receiving a grade lower than a "C" may proceed with other courses with approval of the Area Coordinator. CDFS 492A may not be taken concurrently with CDFS 492B or FCS 392A.
  • CDFS 414 (2nd semester) Fieldwork with Preschool Children (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111, CDFS 211, CDFS 214; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 415 (2nd semester) Fieldwork with Infants/Toddlers (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111, CDFS 211, CDFS 215; or consent of instructor.
  • FCS 497 Directed Studies (3)
    Prerequisites: Junior standing; consent of instructor.
    Not open for credit to students with credit in FCSE 497.

Take 9 units of advisor-approved electives. Three of the 9 units must be upper division.

Take 15 units from the following with advisor's approval:

  • CDFS 319, CDFS 402, CDFS 407, CDFS 408, CDFS 409, CDFS 410, CDFS 412, CDFS 416A, CDFS 416B, CDFS 418, CDFS 419, or CDFS courses not taken above.

Each course on the student's program planner must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher. In addition, a course in which a grade lower than "C" is received must be retaken and successfully completed prior to enrolling in a course for which it is a prerequisite. A student receiving a grade lower than a "C" may proceed with other courses with the approval of the Child Development and Family Studies Area Coordinator.

This degree option has been deemed "similar" to the Transfer Model Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and for Childhood and Adolescent Development under the Student Transfer Agreement Reform Act (SB 1440-Padilla). Students who complete an approved A.A.-T or A.S.-T degree in Early Childhood Education or in Child and Adolescent Development at a California Community College can meet B.A. in FCS: Option in CDFS requirements with no more than 60 additional units. Contact a CDFS faculty advisor for assistance in program planning.


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