Child Development Program
About Our Program
Our program is designed for professionals working with children - birth
to age five and in "Afterschool" Programs.
Mission Statement
The nationally-accredited JSCC Child Development program seeks to
provide students with a well-rounded, specialized, quality education in
order to excel professionally with the skills and knowledge needed to
work effectively with young children and families. Graduates may be
employed as educarers (teachers of young children) in private and
not-for-profit early care and education programs such as child care, as
teachers in state pre-kindergarten 4 (currently being piloted),
administrators in child care programs, professionals in before- and
afterschool programs, or as aides in public school systems. Additionally
the Child Development program offers a professional certificate designed
to provide an incremental step of skill recognition. NOTE: All courses
in the certificate are a part of the degree.
Each Child Development course more than meets the required training
hours of the
Alabama
Department of Human Resources (DHR) Minimum Standards and covers the six
topic areas identified by the Department: Child Growth and Development,
Professional Development, Learning Activities, Positive Guidance,
Working with Families, and a Health and Safety procedures, as well as
providing a college credit course.
Our program is designed for those professionals working with children -
birth to age five - and in "Afterschool" Programs.
F.Y.I.
- Students are encouraged to check with a Child Development advisor.
- Major courses are offered once a year at alternating campuses,
Jefferson and Shelby.
- Mixture of general and major courses is recommended for a balanced,
semester course load beginning with English and Math general studies.
- Full-time students can complete this associates degree in two years
Important To Note When Considering This Program:
Field Experience is important! Students put into practice what is being
learned. Students are required in all Child Development courses to
participate in field experience assignments involving visitations to and/or
work in child care/after school facilities. In order to participate in field
experience opportunities, students must meet state DHR licensing
requirements, such as criminal history background check, health check, etc.
Special Program Requirements
Individuals working in licensed programs are required by the Department
of Human Resources meet certain professional requirements. It is therefore,
required by this program for students entering this program and professional
field of study to have or be in the process of meeting DHR requirements.
To access a list of the requirements from Alabama DHR, go to Alabama Minimum
Standards for Licensing Child Care Centers -
Staff Qualifications and Records -Pages 38-53.
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