Child development offers an undergraduate major and minor, leading toward a variety of careers in working with children, as well as coursework for a Child Development Permit, which can be used to work in child care centers and after-school programs throughout the State of California.
Child Development majors develop a deep understanding of child behavior and growth through the study of developmental psychology. We prepare students for graduate-level academic work, child advocacy, and/or entry-level careers serving children and families in a variety of fields.
The Department offers a variety of classes on child development by specific age ranges (infancy through early childhood, middle childhood), as well as on specific topics (language development and developmental psychopathology). Most classes are designed to connect research and theory on child growth and development to their practical applications.
Our majors also engage in valuable experiences outside of class, from helping faculty carry out research projects that study child behavior to working at The Broadoaks Children’s School, our laboratory school on campus, to completing practicum assignments in local organizations serving children and their families. Students work alongside faculty and members of the Whittier community while gaining experiences that build their resumes for graduate school and future careers.
Child Development graduates become teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, child care providers, or enter other careers working with children.
The department offers an elementary education & child development major as well as an education minor. For information regarding these academic programs, please see the Whittier Course Catalogue.
Undergraduates who are interested in completing coursework prior to formal acceptance into one of our credential programs may do so through one of our integrated pathways.
Finally, the department offers an innovative undergraduate pathway in which students can complete requirements to be recommended for a preliminary education specialist credential concurrently alongside a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and child development. More information on the Pathway Integrating Child Development and Education Specialist (PICES) can be found here.
Many students at Whittier College, regardless of undergraduate major, also decide to remain at Whittier College for our graduate program, which includes the Master of Arts in Teaching as well as several credential programs. For more information, please select from one of the following informational flyers or visit our Graduate Programs in Education website.
