Future Students

Academics

Early Childhood Development

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences


 

QUICK JUMP
  Early Childhood Development
  Requirements and Core Courses
  Careers in early Childhood Development
  Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation
  Scholarships and Financial Aid
  Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
  Contact Information

Early Childhood Development

The early childhood development specialty in the human development major prepares graduates for careers in institutions and settings that focus on young children. This program addresses the complex ways in which child development is influenced by biological, family, neighborhood, school, and community factors, and how this knowledge can be applied to designing innovative and effective programs for young children and their families.

• Offered at WSU: Bachelor of arts in human development with a specialty in early childhood development, master of arts
• Available at: Pullman

Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a specialty in Early Childhood Development
REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINING PROGRAM
Students can certify as a human development major after taking 24 credit hours and earning at least a 2.0 GPA. Students completing a bachelor of arts degree in human development are required to complete a certified minor or approved certificate of study in another department.

REQUIRED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COURSES
HD 201—Prenatal Through Age 8
HD 202—Middle Childhood Through Adolescence
HD 203—Adulthood Through Older Years
HD 204—Family Systems: Understanding Family Interaction
HD 310—Research Approaches to Human Development
HD 330—Professional Preparation
HD 320—Resource Management and Problem Solving
     or HD 420—Theories of Human Development
HD 410—Public Policy Issues Impacting Families and Individuals
HD 498—Field Placement

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALTY
HD 341—Learning and Guidance in Early Childhood
HD 342—Curriculum for Early Childhood Programs
HD 449—Seminar in Early Childhood Education
HD 482—Child Assessment and Evaluation
HD 446—Practicum in Early Childhood Programs

Note: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.

Careers in early Childhood Development

Human development graduates with an early childhood specialty are employed in child care centers, pre-school settings, Child Protective Services, crisis nurseries, Head Start family services, and other early childhood settings. Students are also prepared to pursue graduate education in human development.

Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation

• Desire to strengthen individuals, families, and communities
• Interest in current social issues and policies that impact families or individual family members
• Sensitivity to the valuable contributions and unique needs of all people
• Desire to learn about the development of individuals, families, and communities
• Desire to learn how a variety of educational approaches, social policies, and prevention/intervention strategies can influence the development of children, youth, and families

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Department of Human Development awarded more than $14,000 in scholarships for the 2001-02 academic year. Students in the program are also eligible to compete for the College of Agriculture and Home Economics’ Dean’s Merit Scholarship and for general University scholarships. Details regarding scholarship criteria are available on the CAHE and Human Development Web sites.

Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You

• Education
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Family studies
• Early childhood education
• Human development

Contact Information
Department of Human Development
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Washington State University
501 Johnson Tower
PO Box 644852
Pullman, WA 99164-6236
boydb@wsu.edu
509-335-8439
 

Strengths of the Program

  • Focus on physical, social, cognitive, and affective development with an emphasis on development within the family.
  • Experience working with young children through a one-semester practicum in WSU’s newly renovated Child Development Laboratory.
  • Gain a broad perspective on individual and family development through faculty from a range of disciplines and professional areas.
  • Develop skills for working in a variety of human service and educational settings.
Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us