Child Development
24 courses · MiraCosta College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
CDEV C1000 Child Growth and Development
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- C-ID
- CDEV-100
Students examine the progression of development in the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains and identify developmental milestones for children from conception through adolescence. Emphasis is on interactions between biological processes, environmental, and cultural factors. Students may engage in various methods of observing children's development to evaluate individual differences and analyze development characteristics at various stages according to developmental theories. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for CHLD 112, CHLD 113, CDEV 112, CDEV C1000, or PSYC 121. Formerly CHLD 113. C-ID CDEV-100.
CDEV 104 Family Child Care Business Essentials
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on developing and operating a high-quality family child care program. It emphasizes core theoretical principles of early childhood education, business management, relationship-based care, family engagement, culturally responsive practices, curriculum development, and implementation designed for mixed-age groups in a home-based setting. Other topics include licensing regulations, health and safety requirements, developmentally appropriate practices, observation and assessment, and strategies for creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment.
CDEV 105 Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
- C-ID
- ECE-120
This course introduces working with young children in early care and education programs. It examines the theories and principles of developmentally appropriate practice in early learning environments and emphasizes positive relationships; constructive adult-child interactions; program planning; and culturally responsive, effective teaching strategies that draw upon cultural funds of knowledge in children and families. Topics include the historical roots of early childhood programs; contemporary curriculum models; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and the evolution of professional practices promoting advocacy, ethics, professional identity, and an understanding of career pathways. Formerly CHLD 105. C-ID ECE-120.
CDEV 106 Introduction to Curriculum in Early Childhood
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
- C-ID
- ECE-130
This course introduces teachers of young children (birth to age eight) to designing early learning environments and planning curriculum in early care and education settings. It covers the relationship of theory and practice, the contributions of current research, the influence of different curriculum models and approaches, the role of observation, documentation and assessment in the curriculum planning process, and the incorporation of reflective teaching practices across the curriculum to meet the needs of all learners. Students examine the teacher's role in supporting development and engagement for all young children. Formerly CHLD 106. C-ID ECE-130.
CDEV 109 Child Behavior and Guidance
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course relates children's behavior to appropriate teaching and parenting strategies and interventions. It explores effective techniques for interacting with children, including children with special needs, and addresses issues such as separation from parents, new experiences, routines, peer interaction, fears, frustrations, and aggression. Students learn how to access community agencies and family services to provide specialized support. Formerly CHLD 109.
CDEV 111 Programs for Infants and Toddlers
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is specifically designed for caregivers of infants and toddlers. It focuses on the growth and development of the child, prenatal through three years of age, within various social contexts. Topics include fostering relationships, implementing health and safety practices, designing early learning environments and activities, accommodating individual differences, and creating partnerships with parents and families. This course meets state licensing requirements for child care providers. Formerly CHLD 111.
CDEV 112 The Developing Child: Conception through Early Childhood
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
This course examines the major physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional developmental milestones for children, both typical and atypical, from conception through age six. It emphasizes the interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors within cultural and family contexts. While studying developmental theory and research methodologies, students observe children, evaluate individual differences, and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. Formerly CHLD 112. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for CHLD 112, CHLD 113, CDEV 112, CDEV C1000, or PSYC 121.
CDEV 130 Science and Math for Young Children
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides teachers with knowledge and skills related to science and mathematics curriculum in early care and education settings. It focuses on understanding the ways in which children learn science and mathematics, the stages of children's cognitive development, the scientific process, content and standards of science and mathematics education, the teacher's role in the scientific process, and ways in which science and mathematics can be integrated across the early childhood curriculum. Formerly CHLD 130.
CDEV 140 Language and Literacy in Early Childhood
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course gives teachers of young children the skills and knowledge needed to effectively plan, document, and implement language and literacy activities in the early childhood classroom. It focuses on understanding how our image of the child reflects the methods and materials provided for language and literacy. Topics include the developmental stages of children's language and communication skills, the teacher's role in language and literacy, and ways in which language and literacy can be integrated across the early childhood curriculum. Formerly CHLD 140.
CDEV 150 Art for Young Children
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course prepares early childhood educators with the skills and knowledge to foster creativity, identity development, and aesthetic awareness through exploration of diverse art media and developmentally appropriate experiences. Emphasis is placed on how educators' image of the child shapes teaching strategies, the progression of children's art, and the design of inclusive, culturally sustaining, anti-bias environments. Topics include studio and art center design; planning, observing, documenting, and exhibiting children's artwork; the teacher's role in the creative process; and integrating art and aesthetics across all domains of the early childhood curriculum. Formerly CHLD 150.
CDEV 160 Music and Movement for Young Children
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course equips early childhood educators with the skills and knowledge to meaningfully incorporate music and movement into the early learning environment to support self-expression, belonging, and holistic development. Topics include how educators' image of the child influences the selection of methods and materials; developmental stages of musical and bodily expression; and the creation of music and movement experiences that are culturally sustaining, developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and inclusive of all learning needs. Students will explore the teacher's role in facilitating creative processes, strategies for planning, documenting, and adapting music and movement experiences, and methods for integrating music and movement across all domains of early childhood curriculum. Formerly CHLD 160.
CDEV 200 Observation & Assessment in Early Childhood
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
- C-ID
- ECE-200
This course focuses on the appropriate use of observation and assessment strategies to document child growth and development, appraise child behavior, and plan for learning in quality early childhood programs. The course also explores recording strategies, rating systems, portfolios, documentation, and various assessment methods. Students are required to conduct and analyze in-person child observations. Formerly CHLD 200. C-ID ECE-200.
CDEV 205 Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
- C-ID
- ECE-220
This course provides those who care for children (birth through middle childhood) with an overview of health, safety, and nutrition issues. Students develop skills and techniques in ways to promote physical and mental health, identification and management of common childhood illnesses, menu planning and nutritional analysis, safety management and injury prevention, child abuse identification and prevention, and program planning. Topics also include the teacher's role in prevention strategies, culturally and developmentally appropriate practice, integration of health, safety and nutrition experiences into daily routines, collaboration with families and health professionals, policies and regulations, children with special needs, and current issues. Formerly CHLD 205. C-ID ECE-220.
CDEV 210 Child, Family, and Community
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- CDEV-110
This course examines the developing child in a societal context and focuses on the interrelationships of family, school, and community as agents of socialization from historical, socio-cultural, and contemporary perspectives. The course highlights the processes of socialization and identity development, demonstrating the importance of respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families in a culturally diverse society. Formerly CHLD 210. C-ID CDEV-110.
CDEV 212 Advanced Issues in Infant-Toddler Care
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Advisory
- CDEV 111
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course helps infant and toddler caregivers and directors interpret and apply the guidelines for quality care for children birth through three years of age. Topics include the role of the infant care teacher, new insights into early learning and development, the central role of families, guidelines for operating quality infant/toddler programs, facilitating learning and development with infants and toddlers, and program leadership and policies. This course meets state licensing requirements for child care providers and is aligned with the California Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Foundations and Curriculum Framework, and it can be combined with CDEV 111 as an area of specialization for the Master Teacher Permit/Certificate. Formerly CHLD 212.
CDEV 230 Family Engagement in Early Childhood Programs
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course examines the ways in which early care and education program staff can build ongoing, reciprocal, and respectful relationships with program families. The course focuses on identifying communication methods and interactional strategies that promote successful family engagement and parent/professional partnerships from a strength-based approach. Topics include family dynamics and well-being; parenting styles; families as life-long educators; cultural, linguistic, gender, and developmental diversity; community resources; and support systems. Formerly CHLD 230.
CDEV 235 Children in a Diverse Society
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ECE-230
This course examines the historical and current perspectives on diversity and inclusion and the impact of systemic societal influences on children's development, learning, and school experiences. It also explores anti-bias strategies that can be utilized in the classroom and/or in social settings to support children from diverse cultures, as well as approaches to promote inclusive, anti-racist classroom communities along with the promotion of language and identity development of multilingual children. The course includes self-reflection on the influence of teachers' own culture and life experiences on teaching and interactions with children and families. Formerly CHLD 235. C-ID ECE-230.
CDEV 240 Children with Special Learning Needs
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on learning to work with children with a wide range of abilities, challenging behaviors, and other special learning needs in inclusive early childhood settings. Topics include attention to relevant special education legislation and family-focused practices. The course emphasizes adapting programming, curriculum and classroom teaching strategies to meet the needs of all young children, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds. Formerly CHLD 240.
CDEV 245 Adult Supervision and Mentoring in Early Care and Education
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
Teachers of young children study the methods and principles of supervising and mentoring teachers, assistant teachers, student teachers, parents, and volunteers in early childhood classrooms. The course emphasizes the knowledge, skills, and competencies of classroom teachers who must function as new teacher mentors and address the needs of children, parents, and other adult learners. Topics include effective communication, problem solving, and negotiation in establishing positive interpersonal relations. Formerly CHLD 245.
CDEV 250 Administration I: Programs in Early Childhood Education
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed for directors and assistant directors of early childhood programs. Topics include program types, budget, management, licensing and state regulations, development and implementation of policies and procedures, working with diverse populations, and health and safety guidelines. Students examine administrative tools, philosophies, and techniques needed to organize, open, and operate an early care and education program. Formerly CHLD 250.
CDEV 251 Administration II: Personnel and Leadership in Early Childhood Education
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 3 hours
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed for directors and assistant directors of early childhood programs. Topics include effective strategies for personnel management, legal and ethical responsibilities, supervision techniques, professional development, and in-service training. Additional focus includes strategies for partnering with parents, motivating staff, and fostering effective community relations within diverse cultural contexts. Formerly CHLD 251.
CDEV 270 Practicum - The Student Teaching Experience
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 6 hours
- Prerequisite
- CDEV 105, CDEV 106, CDEV 210, CDEV C1000, or CDEV 112
- Transfers to
- CSU
- C-ID
- ECE-210
Teachers of young children apply developmentally appropriate early childhood teaching competencies under guided supervision in the campus Child Development Center or in a community early childhood program. Students use their practicum experience to connect theory and practice as they develop professional behaviors and build a comprehensive understanding of children and families. The course emphasizes child-centered, play-oriented approaches to teaching, learning, planning, and assessment. Formerly CHLD 270. C-ID ECE-210.
CDEV 292 Internship Studies
- Units
- 0.5-14
- Corequisite
- Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment.
CDEV 299 Occupational Work Experience Education
- Units
- 0.5-14
- Corequisite
- Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is intended for students who are employed in a job directly related to their major or career area of interest. It allows such students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills of their discipline to their position and to undertake new responsibilities and learn new skills at work. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment.