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San Diego Community College District
Health and Human Services
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Child Development
Child Development offers programs for Career and transfer students. Certificates of Completion, Certificates of Achievement and Associate Degree program is available to students interested in a range of child development opportunities and in meeting the requirements for the State of California Child Development permits and the California State Department of Social Services, Title 22, Community Care Licensing.

San Diego Mesa College
Child Development Program website
Child Development Career Pathway
San Diego Mesa College University Transfer Employment
Certificate Associate in Science
Certificates of Performance* Certificates of Achievement
Assistant Teacher
CoursesUnits
CHIL 101, Human Growth and Development3
CHIL 180, Nutrition, Health & Safety for Children3
Select one course from:
CHIL 111, Curriculum: Music/Motor Skills
CHIL 121, Curriculum: Art
CHIL 131, Curriculum: Language/Science
CHIL 141, The Child, Family and Community
3
Select one course from:
CHIL 160, Observing and Understanding Children
CHIL 161, Observations and Issues in Child Development
CHIL 270, Work Experience
CHIL 291, Child Development Lab Practicum
CHIL 291A, or 291B, or 291C, or 291D, Child Development Center Practicum
1-4
Total Units = 10-13

Home Day Care
CoursesUnits
CHIL 101, Human Growth and Development3
CHIL 175, Infant-Toddler Growth and Development3
CHIL 180, Nutrition, Health and Safety for Children3
CONF 110, Personal Financial Management3
Total Units = 12

For the Certificates of Completion listed above, one or more of the following courses is recommended to gain experience and credits required for higher level permits:
  • CHIL 160, Observing and Understanding Children
  • CHIL 161, Observations and Issues in Child Development
  • CHIL 270, Work Experience
  • CHIL 291, Child Development Lab Practicum
  • CHIL 291A, or 291B, or 291C, or 291D, Child Development Center Practicum
*These are department awards in recognition of information on the transcript and does not imply that a graduation requirement has been met.

San Diego Mesa College
Associate Teacher
CoursesUnits
CHIL 101, Human Growth and Development3
CHIL 141, The Child, Family and Community3
CHIL 180, Nutrition, Health & Safety for Children3
Select two courses from:
CHIL 111, Curriculum: Music/Motor Skills
CHIL 121, Curriculum: Art
CHIL 131, Curriculum: Language/Science
3,3
Select three or more units from:
CHIL 160, Observing and Understanding Children
CHIL 161, Observations and Issues in Child Development
CHIL 270, Work Experience
CHIL 291, Child Development Lab Practicum
CHIL 291A, or 291B, or 291C, or 291D, Child Development Center Practicum
3-4
Total Units = 18-19

Teacher
CoursesUnits
CHIL 101, Human Growth and Development3
CHIL 111, Curriculum: Music/Motor Skills3
CHIL 121, Curriculum: Art3
CHIL 131, Curriculum: Language/Science3
CHIL 141, The Child, Family and Community3
CHIL 180, Nutrition, Health & Safety for Children3
CHIL 151, Program Planning3
and concurrent enrollment in:
CHIL 270, Work Experience
OR CHIL 275, Supervised Field Study
2-4
Select one of the following three options:
CHIL 160, Observing and Understanding Children
and
CHIL 161, Observations and Issues in Child Development
OR CHIL 165, Children with Special Needs
OR CHIL 175, Infant-Toddler Growth and Development
3-4
Total Units = 26-29

Master Teacher
CoursesUnits
CHIL 101, Human Growth and Development3
CHIL 111, Curriculum: Music/Motor Skills3
CHIL 121, Curriculum: Art3
CHIL 131, Curriculum: Language/Science3
CHIL 141, The Child, Family and Community3
CHIL 151, Program Planning3
CHIL 180, Nutrition, Health & Safety for Children3
Select one of the following three options that is NOT part of your Specialization (see Specializations listed below) to complete the minimum 24 unit core requirement:
CHIL 160, Observing and Understanding Children
and
CHIL 161, Observations and Issues in Child Development
OR CHIL 165, Children with Special Needs
OR CHIL 175, Infant-Toddler Growth and Development
3-4
CHIL 215, Adult Supervision & Mentoring in Early Childhood Settings3
CHIL 270, Work Experience
OR CHIL 275, Supervised Field Study
2-4
Select one of the following Specializations for a total of 6 - 7 units:
Guiding Young Children
CHIL 160, Observing & Understanding Children
CHIL 161, Observation & Issues in Child Development
CHIL 162, Observing and Guiding Child Behavior
Family Life
CHIL 160, Observing & Understanding Children
CHIL 161, Observation & Issues in Child Development
CHIL 188, Child Abuse
Special Needs
CHIL 165, Children with Special Needs
CHIL 166, Special Needs Curriculum
Infant/Toddler
CHIL 175, Infant-Toddler Growth and Development
CHIL 176, Principles of Infant/Toddler Caregiving
School Age
CHIL 152, School-Age Program Planning
Select one course from:
CHIL 185, Computer Usage with Young Children (City)
OR MATH 210A, Concepts of Elementary School Mathematics
OR MUSI 110, Music for the Elementary School Teachers
OR PHYE 240, Physical Education in the Elementary Schools
6-7
Total Units = 35-39