What You Will Learn
If you are looking to take the first steps into a profession focused on working in a childcare setting, pre-school, elementary classroom or any other academic environment in education, as well as professionally caring for children, consider studying at CCM to earn the Child Development Associate (CDA) Educational Endorsement Certificate.
With a focus in research and evidence-based practice, this three-course, nine-credit series is offered in-person on the CCM campus or you may complete it online through the college’s Virtual Campus.
It is approved by the Council for Professional Recognition. Content is aligned with the national competency standards for the CDA credential to help early educators meet current state and national professional requirements. It also serves as a pathway to learning best teaching practice and prepare you to:
- Establish and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.
- Advance physical and intellectual competence.
- Support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance.
- Establish positive and productive relationships with families.
- Ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs.
- Maintain a commitment to professionalism.
Curriculum
Our CDA program features a nine-credit core with courses in Early Childhood Development, Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Effective Preschool Practices.
Careers in the Field
This three-course series is the first step toward a career as a:
- Preschool teacher in a childcare center.
- paraprofessional or substitute teacher in an academic setting.
- Many other child-related careers. Overall, the CDA endorsement is beneficial to earn if you are seeking to enter the workforce or gain employment in a childcare setting.
If you are interested in pursuing further education, the CDA course series applies as course credit toward other certificates and associate degree options at CCM. The department can help you navigate your future path to success!
Why Study Child Development at CCM?
- Outstanding instruction and experiential learning to prepare you for advanced study and a child-related career in a diverse and changing world.
- Three-course curriculum that is aligned with state and national standards blending academic and professional preparation.
- Faculty to guide you on completing other requirements of the CDA credential, along with furthering your education and career goals.
- Faculty who are affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), New Jersey Association for Early Childhood Teacher Educators and the National Association for Teacher Educators at an Associate Level (ACCESS).
- Interactive courses in small class sizes and that are offered day and evening, on-campus as well as online.
- Earned credits that can be applied toward completion of a certificate of achievement or associate degree at CCM.
Paying for Your Child Development Education
Earning your educational endorsement certificate is an investment that will pay off over the course of your life, in both increased earnings and job satisfaction. But what is the upfront cost, and how do you afford it? Our Financial Aid staff can provide lots of information about the process of finding funds to help pay for your education.
Featured Courses
Early Childhood Development
This course studies the growth and development of the child from birth through age eight. It will cover a variety of factors that influence child development such as diversity, culture, health, economic and family environment. Also, it provides an overview of the major theorists in the field of human development. There will be discussion regarding these theorists’ contributions to understanding how children grow and learn.
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education
This course studies designing, implementing, and evaluating developmentally appropriate curriculum for children birth through age eight with a focus on language and literacy, social and emotional learning, creative arts, and social studies, math, science and technology. It will cover practical applications of theories and current research in early childhood education, methods of observing children’s behavior and progress, and strategies for developing and using curriculum in all aspects of the daily routine. Attention will be given to anti-bias curriculum and elements of diversity that can influence learning including cultural backgrounds, gender, sexual orientation, religion, English language learners, socio-economic status, family circumstances, and children with special needs. A field work component includes observation of curriculum and teaching and learning in an Early Childhood Education setting.
CDA Capstone: Effective Preschool Practices
This course studies effective, practical, research-based methods for developing preschool teachers. Course content is aligned with the national competency standards for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. It will cover the essentials of planning a safe environment, advancing children’s development, building family partnerships, program operations, professional development, authentic assessment, and principles of developmentally appropriate learning. Attention will also be given to current research on brain development in young children, designing the learning environment, professional ethics, and cultural competence.
Prerequisites: CDC-110 and CDC-210.
Your Child Development Faculty Advisor
Assistant Department Chairperson, Associate Professor, Special Projects, Early Childhood
