Careers in Child Development
An understanding of early childhood development is a prerequisite for many career options. Child development professionals work directly with children as teachers, teacher’s aides, or home care providers. In addition, child development coursework provides the foundation for such diverse career options as pediatric nursing, child psychology, children’s librarianship, playground design, early childhood program director, family court child advocate and parent educator. Opportunities exist to work with children from birth through eight years of age in a variety of settings. Salaries in the field are fair, with higher wages going to those with more college units, and to those with certificates or degrees.  The California Employment Development Department predicts for the period 2002-2012 a large employment growth of 20.4% in openings for preschool teachers, and a very large growth of 31.6% for special education teachers in preschool and kindergarten (Source: Labor Market Info www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov).

Necessary Education and Skills for Career Success
Individuals working in child development should have both an interest and an aptitude for working with children. They should be patient, enthusiastic and able to communicate effectively with a younger audience. They should write clearly to maintain notes of activities and events for reference. Many positions relating to child development require state-issued licenses or permits. Individuals who are interested in careers in child development should be aware of all relevant requirements before beginning this career path.

General Info About the Program
De Anza College offers several certificate and degree programs to help individuals prepare for careers in child development. These programs can also be used for in-service training for career advancement. Coursework is organized to meet all licensing requirements and to allow specializations in infancy, preschool, program administration, special education and other areas of interest.

Child Development Certificate and Degree Programs

The following links open in .pdf.

Certificates of Completion:

• Infant and Toddler Development
• The School-Age Child
• Home-Based Child Care
• Child Development Center Administration

Certificate of Achievement:

• Child Development

Certificates of Proficiency:

• Child Development
• Early Intervention/Special Education Assistant

Associate Degree (A.A.):

• Child Development

For more information contact the Child Development and Education Division
De Anza CDC 11
(408) 864-8822
www.deanza.edu/child/CDE