Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education AS-T

The Associate in Science in Child development for Transfer Degree is designed to provide students a seamless transfer to the California State University system. The degree is designed to prepare students for a baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education or similar major.

The West Hills College Child Development Program offers a comprehensive background in the field of child growth and development. Program emphasis includes information directed at working with culturally diverse families, addressing the needs of children at risk through early intervention, and creating and teaching developmentally appropriate curriculum to young children.

Students will be offered information and skills for potential employment in Federal, State, non-profit, or privately owned early childhood education/child care programs. Courses in this program may assist the student to qualify for Child Development Certificates issued by West Hills College and/or a Child Development Permit obtained from the State of California, Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing.

Program student learning outcomes:

  1. Students will integrate child development concepts into their personal teaching philosophy while working with young children.
  2. Students will apply a basic understanding of teaching developmentally appropriate concepts while working with children.  

Students must meet the following requirements to qualify for an Associates for Transfer Degree (ADT):

  • Complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University (CSU), including both of the following:
    • The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education (CSU GE) Breadth Requirements
    • A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
  • Obtain a minimum grade point average of 2.0
  • Minimum grade of “C” (or “P”) for each course in the major, and
  • Completion of the IGETC and/or CSU GE-Breadth

This program has 50 percent or more of the major courses available via distance education/online

Course # Title Units
Required Core Courses (24 Units)
CD 002 Teaching in a Diverse Society 3
CD 003 Observation and Assessment 3
CD 005 Child Development 3
CD 010 Child, Family and Society 3
CD 012A Principles & Practices of Early Childhood Education 3
CD 012B Principles and Practices of Early Childhood Education Field Work 3
CD 016 Introduction to Curriculum 3
CD 018 Health, Safety and Nutrition 3
Total Major Units 24
Units to be double-counted as General Education 3
CSU GE Breadth or IGETC units 39
Transferable Elective Units 3
Total 60