Early Childhood, CSC

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G3 Eligible Program– Qualifying students may have ZERO costs for tuition, fees, and textbooks.
Learn more at brightpoint.edu/training-workforce/g3.

PURPOSE: This one-year program prepares students for jobs working with young children (birth to age eight) in preschools, elementary schools, child-care centers, and before- and after-school programs. This program is offered at the Chester Campus. This career-technical degree is guided by an advisory committee comprised of local education leaders.

CREDENTIALS: A Career Studies Certificate (CSC) is a program of study typically less than one year in length with a major in a career-technical area. Students receiving a CSC intend to pursue immediate employment. This CSC is at Level 4 of the Virginia Career Pathways for Early Childhood and Out-of-School Time Practitioners, where Level 3 is a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. Students completing this program will have earned 16 of the 31 credits needed for the Early Childhood Certificate (Pathways Level 5).

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Students must meet Brightpoint admission requirements. New students should work with their New Student Navigator to get ready for their first semester. They can also email getstarted@brightpoint.edu for assistance. Continuing students should work with their faculty advisor on academic planning and graduation requirements. To enroll in CHD 165, students must complete a TB screening, a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. Students are expected to cover all costs for these legal requirements.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: By the completion of this program, students will be expected to

Apply developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments for young children.
Use systematic observation and documentation to assess the development of all children.
Implement a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools appropriate for individual children

Required Courses

SDV 100 - College Success Skills 1 credit
CHD 120 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education 3 credits
CHD 145 - Teaching Art, Music and Movement to Children 3 credits
CHD 165 - Observation and Participation in Early Childhood/Primary Settings 3 credits
CHD 205 - Guiding the Behavior of Children 3 credits
EDU 235 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition Education 3 credits

Total Minimum Credits to Complete: 16

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements can be found in course details.

Students should regularly meet with their faculty advisor and check their degree progress by accessing advisement reports in the Student Information System (SIS) in the myBrightpoint portal or the Academic Planner in Navigate.

CHD 165 is a practicum class that requires students to observe young children and participate in an approved early childhood setting for 40 hrs throughout the semester.

To enroll in CHD 165 students must have a declared early childhood major and complete a TB screening, a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check, as a condition of placement in a practicum site. Students are expected to cover all costs for these procedures.