Infant/Toddler Care Certificate (C55290)

Program Description

The curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from infancy to three years of age in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories, competency-based knowledge, and practice in actual settings with infants and toddlers.

Course work includes infant/toddler growth and development: physical/nutritional needs of infants and toddlers; safety issues in the care of infants and toddlers; care and guidance; communication skills with families and children; design an implementation of appropriate curriculum; and other related topics.

Graduates should be prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate infant/toddler programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Early Head Start Programs, and other infant/toddler programs.

Course	Class Hours	Credits
EDU 119 - Intro to Early Childhood Education EDU 119 - Intro to Early Childhood Education This course introduces the foundations of culturally responsive, equitable and inclusive early childhood education, planning intentional developmentally appropriate experiences, learning activities, and teaching strategies for indoor and outdoor environments for all young children, guidance techniques, and professionalism. Topics include theoretical foundations, national early learning standards, NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development, state regulations, program types, career options, professionalism, ethical conduct, quality inclusive environments, guidance techniques, and curriculum responsive to the needs of each child/family. Upon completion, students should be able to implement developmentally appropriate environments, guidance techniques, schedules, and teaching strategies across developmental domains to support culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse children and their families in inclusive settings, and design a personal career/professional development plan. Class: 4.00 Credits: 4.00	4.00	4.00
EDU 131 - Child, Family, and Community EDU 131 - Child, Family, and Community This course covers the development of partnerships among culturally, linguistically and ability diverse families, children, schools and communities through the use of evidence-based strategies. Emphasis is placed on developing skills and identifying benefits for establishing and supporting respectful relationships between diverse families, programs/schools, and community agencies/resources reflective of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and the Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators. Upon completion, students should be able to identify appropriate relationship building strategies between diverse families, children birth through adolescence, schools, and communities and demonstrate a variety of communication skills including appropriate use of technology to support every child. Class: 3.00 Credits: 3.00	3.00	3.00
EDU 144 - Child Development I EDU 144 - Child Development I This course includes the theories of child development, observation and assessment, milestones, and factors that influence development, from conception through approximately 36 months. Emphasis is placed on knowledge, observation and assessment of developmental sequences in approaches to play/learning, emotional/social, health/physical, language/communication and cognitive domains. Upon completion, students should be able to compare/contrast typical/atypical developmental characteristics, explain biological and environmental factors that impact development, and identify evidence-based strategies for enhancing development for children that are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse. Class: 3.00 Credits: 3.00	3.00	3.00
EDU 153 - Health, Safety and Nutrition EDU 153 - Health, Safety and Nutrition This course covers promoting and maintaining the health and well-being of every child. Topics include health and nutritional guidelines, common childhood illnesses, maintaining safe and healthy learning environments, health benefits of active play, recognition and reporting of abuse/neglect, and state regulations. Upon completion, students should be able to apply knowledge of NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development for health, safety, nutritional needs and safe learning environments. Class: 3.00 Credits: 3.00	3.00	3.00
EDU 234 - Infants, Toddlers, and Twos EDU 234 - Infants, Toddlers, and Twos This course covers the development of high-quality, individualized, responsive/engaging relationships and experiences for infants, toddlers, and twos. Emphasis is placed on typical and atypical child development, working with diverse families to provide positive, supportive, and engaging early learning activities and interactions through field experiences and the application of the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate responsive curriculum planning, respectful relationships and exposure to a variety of developmentally appropriate experiences/materials that support a foundation for healthy development and growth of culturally, linguistically and ability diverse children birth to 36 months. Class: 3.00 Credits: 3.00	3.00	3.00
		Total: 16

Upon completion of the EDU-119 course within the certificate shown above, students who have earned a C or better are eligible to apply for the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential (NCECC).

Applications are available through the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education. See your advisor for more details.

Upon completion of the certificate shown above, students are eligible to apply for the National Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) (Infant/Toddler CDA credential) provided through the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, DC.

Students must earn a C or better in all courses. These courses count for the 120 hours of professional education requirement. Additional requirements for the CDA must also be met prior to applying. See your advisor for more details or go to the Council for Professional Recognition and Child Development Associate (CDA).

Apply for Admission Today!