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Child Development – Teacher Aide Certificate

Certificate Code 5069

Program Contacts:
QC Campus
Chris Bachelder, 309-796-5986, bachelderc@bhc.edu
East Campus
Wendy Smith, 309-854-1713, smithw@bhc.edu

The Child Development curriculum is offered by the Department of Social, Behavioral and Educational Studies at the Quad-Cities Campus, Moline, and through distance learning and online courses at the East Campus. The Child Development career program is especially designed to prepare persons to work with groups of pre-school children in facilities which foster healthy social, physical, emotional and intellectual growth. The Black Hawk College Child Development Program has been approved as an entitled program leading to the Illinois Director Credential, Level I. To earn this credential, students must follow a prescribed course of study. The Gateways Level 2, 3, and 4 and Infant-Toddler Level 2, 3 and 4 credentials are now available also. The AAS Degree is now fully accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Black Hawk College is one of only seven associate degree programs in Illinois and a part of the 10 percent of eligible programs to have this accreditation. The accreditation system establishes professional preparation standards to raise the quality of early childhood teacher education, and in turn raise the quality of early education programs serving young children.

Students will take classes designed to give particular understanding and skills in such areas as human growth and development, nutrition, and behavior. Observation and practical experience will take place in off-campus preschool and child care facilities. Observation and practicum students must have documentation of a current physical exam and of having a P.P.D. 2-step test for T.B.; if positive, include the date and results of a chest x-ray. Additionally, fingerprinting and background check may be required for observation and practicum students.

Employment possibilities for graduates are in the areas of center child care, home child care, preschool and public school programs. Positions include child care/preschool director, child care/preschool teacher, child care/preschool teacher aide or assistant, homecare giver, public school teacher aide, or recreational worker. Students who want an Early Childhood four-year degree leading to 04 certification should follow the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) in Early Childhood Education degree plan.

The Teacher Aide Certificate is designed to prepare individuals to be Teacher Aides in the public school systems; from preschool through high school, including special education. This certificate can lead directly into the 2-year Child Development Associate in Applied Science degree.

Required courses for this program include: »

CD 102 Role of Teacher Assistant
1-2 cr. hrs.; 1-2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Duties and responsibilities of the teacher aide in the total educational setting.

CD 200 Growth and Development of Young Child
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Covers social, emotional, physical and intellectual aspects of child growth and development from birth through adolescence. Emphasis is on the stages of development and understanding these factors in working with children.

CD 202 Observ/Guid/Assessmt Y.C.
3 cr. hrs.; 1 lecture hours; 4 lab hours per week.
Pre- or co-requisite: ENG 101 or Comm 100.
Studies observational techniques, to assess and guide behavior which facilitates the development of the young child. Students will understand ethics of assessment, as well as improving their observational and guidance skills. Students will develop and understand the relationship between careful observation, assessment, and effective interaction with children.

CD 205 Lang Develop & Activities for Young Child
1-3 cr. hrs.; 1-3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Techniques and methods of encouraging communication skills in young children. Overview of language development, children’s literature and developmentally appropriate language activities in the early childhood setting.

CD 212 Survey of Children with Special Needs
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Study of exceptional child’s individual needs and methods of instruction. Overall view of mentally retarded, deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, visually handicapped, emotionally disturbed, physically handicapped, or health impaired. Includes learning disabled and gifted. Studies Federal and State regulations.

COMM 100 Communication Skills
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
For career program students only. COMM 100 and ENG 132 fulfill requirements for an associate’s degree in several career programs. Concentration on developing skills in writing, speaking and reading.

ENG 101 Composition I
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Prerequisite: ACT English score of 22 or above; or appropriate COMPASS score; or English 091 “C” or better.
English 101 is designed for students who are competent in the fundamentals of composition. Students will write essays using a variety of expository strategies and will apply standard techniques of documentation when appropriate. IAI: C1 900

HEAL 102 Living in a Changing World
2 cr. hrs.; 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Focuses on wise health practices and consumer health service information.

HPE 200 First Aid
1-3 cr. hrs.; 1-3 lecture hours; 1-3 lab hours per week.
Methods and skills of emergency care for the ill or injured victim. May be repeated twice. Variable credit as follows:
1.0-Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Standard First Aid; 3.0-Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, Advanced First Aid and Emergency Care Red Cross certification upon successful completion of course.

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Prerequisites: College level reading scores on COMPASS or REA 093 and SBS 100 “C” or better, or REA 098 and SBS 100 “C” or better.
A survey of the field of general psychology without specific emphasis on any particular theory or model of human or animal behavior. Fundamental principles, methods, theories and issues in the field are discussed. Content areas may include learning, thinking, neuroscience, methodology, memory, perception, personality, intelligence, emotion, adjustment, and abnormality among others. IAI: S6 900

SOC 101 Principles of Sociology
3 cr. hrs.; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.
Prerequisites: College level reading scores on COMPASS required, or REA 093 and SBS 100 “C” or better, or REA 098 and SBS 100 “C” or better.
Scientific examination of human society and social behavior. Concentrates on human behavior and assumes that it is largely shaped by the groups to which people belong and by the social interaction taking place in these groups. Acquire a basic sociological understanding and sensitivity to the issues of race, class, gender, and ethnicity.
IAI: S7 900

Course of Study Outline – Suggested Courses (Credit Hours)
First Semester
CD 102 — Role of Teacher Assistant (2)
CD 205 — Language Development and Activities for the Young Child (3)
CD 200 — Growth and Development of Young Child (3)
COMM 100 — Communication Skills or (3)
ENG 101 — Composition I
HEAL 102 — Living in a Changing World (2)
SOC 101 — Principles of Sociology  or  (3)
PSYC 101 — Introductory Psychology

Second Semester
CD 202 — Observ/Guid/Assessmt Y.C. (3)
CD 212 — Survey of Children with Special Needs (3)
HPE 200 — First Aid (3)
Child Development Elective (3)
Humanities (3)

Minimum total of hours required for certificate (31)

Occupational Profiles

CIP Code:
SOC Code:

Cost of Attendance

Success Rates All Students Full-Time Part-Time
Completion rate at 100%
Completion rate at 150%

Job Placement Rate:

Loans

  • Median loan debt
  • Title IV loan debt
  • Private loan debt – $0
  • Institutional debt – $0