Child Development Birth to Four Years
About This Program
The Child Development non-certification program at Miles College prepares you to work with children from infancy through four years old and understand development and the factors that shape it. Through coursework in the classroom and in real world settings, including schools, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills you need to meet the needs of young children in today’s world.
Program Highlights
- Interdisciplinary focus that weaves together psychology, education, and policy.
- Specialized courses are tailored to the needs of a variety of young children.
- Courses in general education help prepare future early childhood teachers.
- Coursework includes plenty of supervised field experiences and a practicum.
Outside the Classroom
As a Child Development major at Miles College, you’ll be required to complete certain field experiences and have opportunities to gain various types of hands-on experience.These include internships and fieldwork in a variety of early childhood settings such as schools, early childhood centers, and community programs.
Gain field experience in the early-childhood classroom. Anchor observations and field experiences are required for three to four weeks of each semester in urban and suburban classrooms.
Visit sites where staff in the field of social services, education, and business work to support state initiatives that support children and families in the greater Birmingham area.
Observe and evaluate programs for young children in corporate, private, community and church-housed programs.
Course Highlight
Literacy and Social Development in Small Children
Learn unique approaches to supporting literacy development in programs for young children. You’ll research the developmental characteristics of children from Pre K through third grade and learn how these characteristics integrate with literacy development. You’ll also help support Miles College’s partnership with local schools through activities that integrate the social development and literacy of small children.
Careers in Child Development
Because of the program's interdisciplinary focus, Child Development majors can select from numerous professions after graduation that offer services to younger children and families. You can also continue your studies at the graduate level in a related field such as speech pathology, childlife, special education, early intervention, and counseling.
Miles College graduates have found careers in hospitals, residential programs, childcare centers, Head Start programs, children’s museums, and state agencies.
For More Information
Fredeisha Darrington, Ph.D., Program Coordinator
fdarrington@miles.edu
205-929-1762