Child Development

Degrees and Certificates

Classes

CHI 101: Child Growth and Development

This course will introduce students to the field of developmental psychology and the multiple dimensions of child development from conception to the adolescent years. Students will examine fundamental changes in children’s development and be introduced to the major theories of child development. In addition, students gain experience in reading research and these understandings are applied in real world settings. A minimum grade of C is required for the major.

CHI 105: Health, Safety and Nutrition for Children

This course provides information related to standards and practices that promote the physical and mental well-being of children and adolescents through sound nutritional practices and maintenance of safe environments. Information for developing sound health and safety management procedures for the prevention of childhood illness and communicable diseases is included.

CHI 201: Infant and Toddler Development

This course will explore infancy and toddlerhood as unique phases of development. Students will learn about cognitive, socio-emotional, motor, sensory-perceptual, physical and neurobiological milestones. Special attention will be devoted to applied practice and providing stimulating interactions and services to infants, toddlers and their families.

CHI 207: Developmentally Appropriate Practices

This course is a study of developmentally appropriate practice for young children, birth through age eight. It applies theory and research in child growth and development to the planning, implementation and evaluation of appropriate activities and projects for young children through age eight. Discussions around developmentally appropriate practice ensure that students understand the physical, social, emotional and cognitive needs of young learners. A practicum/lab at the Windy Hill School is required for a total of 30 supervised hours.

CHI 285: Child Development Internship

Students enroll in this internship to gain additional experience working with children. Students identify a site of interest in collaboration with a child development faculty member and develop learning goals and assignments. Various placement sites are possible and depend on student interest; these include, but are not limited to, child-care centers, hospitals, schools, social service agencies and special education programs. Graded Pass/Fail.

CHI 306: Family and Community Engagement

This course uses a family systems approach to introduce the research, applied and ethical aspects of working with children and families from diverse backgrounds. Students will apply several theoretical frameworks to explore the nested and multi-layered interactions between the child, family, community and society and policies and services available to them. Special attention will be devoted to applied skills in working with children and families.

CHI 309: Exceptional Students

This course addresses issues of exceptionality in children, including both developmental disabilities and giftedness. The focus is on those issues that affect children’s success in school, effective services and ways to adapt the environment to maximize learning. High incidence disabilities, such as learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders and communication disorders are emphasized. Student, teacher, parent and administrative involvement are examined.

CHI 314: Language & Creative Arts

This course introduces students to theories of language, literacy, and creative expression in children. Emphasis is placed on understanding how children develop in these areas and the relationship between development and appropriate evidence‐based practices.  Students learn how to observe and document growth and diversity in language and creative expression, as well as plan, implement, and assess learning activities that support the language and literacy development of the individual child.

CHI 318: Research Methods for Child Development

This course prepares students to understand and apply empirical research. Students will learn about a variety of methods used to study development, gain knowledge of research design and utilize basic statistical techniques to analyze data.

CHI 321: Advanced Early and Middle Childhood Development

This course increases the depth and breadth of student understandings about how children develop in various domains in the early and middle childhood years. Key theoretical perspectives and research findings will be addressed with an eye to application to the lives of children and families from a diversity of backgrounds.

CHI 322: Play, Leisure and Well Being

The course will examine the multifaceted role of play and leisure in child and family life. The origins, forms, effects, determinants of play and leisure will be explored which may include parent-child play, peer play, education or therapeutic play, sports, humor, games and drawing.

CHI 323: Early Intervention

This course will consider ways of assessing child and family well-being across multiple contexts. Assessment and services for infants, toddlers and young children with delays or disabilities and their families will be emphasized.

CHI 325: Literacy Instructional Strategies

This course introduces students to the theories and practices underlying children’s literacy development. Emphasis is placed on understanding how children, develop reading, writing and spelling skills. Through readings, discussions, assignments, hands-on experiences and instructional technology, students learn how to plan, implement and assess activities that support and guide children from diverse backgrounds in their literacy development.

CHI 330: Coaching for Human Services

This course will consider coaching as a process used to facilitate desirable and sustainable change for the benefit of the person being coached. This process contains specific elements that can be paired with different content areas in human services, such as early intervention, early childhood education, teaching, home visiting, counseling, and social work. Both theory and practice will be explored.

CHI 333: Math, Science and Technology for Children

This course applies mathematical concepts through national/local standards using problem solving and scientific inquiry to develop integrated, technology rich multi-disciplinary units for children. Students will be introduced to concepts in elementary school math as well a variety of science areas.

CHI 485: Child Development Internship

The internship is composed of a seminar and internship in a setting serving children and/or families. The seminar focuses on exploring evidence based practice, self-reflection, application of child development knowledge to applied settings and deepening knowledge of development in areas of focus associated with internship work. Professional development and preparation is also a focus of the class.

CHI 488: Capstone: Child Development

Students design, carry out and present the results of original research projects, including library research, data collection and statistical analyses. Ethical considerations and interpretation of results are emphasized. This Capstone experience must be completed at Colby-Sawyer College.