Completing a degree or certificate in Child Development at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a great choice for people interested in working with young children. We offer a range of program options, including short term certificates and complete degree programs. Whether you want to enter the workforce quickly or pursue advanced college degrees, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a great place to start.

The mission of the Child Development Department is to provide students excellent opportunities for learning experiences that encompass all aspects of child development, and to facilitate and encourage personal application of developmentally appropriate practice in the care and education of children from birth to age eight.

Students will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge through working directly with children. Hands on learning situations are an integral part of the college course work.

What makes us special
Diversity of learning is a strength of the Child Development program at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Students earning Child Development certificates have the opportunity to learn about children from different backgrounds, in many diverse settings.

All of our college students learn by working with children in a setting of their choice. Students may interact with children in a family or center child care facility, a Head Start classroom, a public school classroom, school age care settings, or in a nanny position. Students may choose to work with infants and toddlers, preschool, or primary school age children. The option to gain experience in a racially diverse setting is available, such as a Head Start classroom on an American Indian reservation. Multicultural experiences are an integral part of learning at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.

Child Development students at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College have the advantage of small class sizes, instructors who have experience working with children, and classes scheduled to meet the needs of working professionals. Students can also access some courses from home via the Internet or at selected sites outside the immediate area via interactive television. Instructors are available to students as advisors, mentors, and guides in the fascinating world of child development and learning.

The big advantages
The Child Development programs at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College promote the philosophy that one size does not fit all when it comes to teaching and working with young children. Our college students learn why they need to accept young children as unique individuals, each one coming to class with different abilities, levels of development, temperaments, and family situations. It's a concept that helps our students succeed in their careers, and we believe young children appreciate it, too.

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, and students completing our certificate and degree programs go on to work in a wide range of settings. A degree or certificate from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is well respected by employers.

The program is built with well defined phases, meaning students can exit at points along the continuum. Students can choose to earn one or more Child Development certificates and the national Child Development Associate credential. Students may then choose to earn an associate of arts degree, or complete a four year bachelors degree. It's a great combination of options, flexibility, and convenience.

Child Development Program Options
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College offers three different Child Development certificates as well as an Associate of Arts degree with emphasis in Child Development. The certificates allow students to acquire knowledge and experience with specific age groups of children. Students have the option of earning one, two, or all three certificates. Students may then choose to continue their education by using the credits earned in a certificate program as the foundation of an Associate of Arts degree, or for transfer to four year degree programs. A closely related bachelors degree program in Elementary Education is also available at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.

• Child Development Certificates
  • Infant and Toddler Child Development
  • Preschool Child Development
  • School Age Child Development
  • Paraprofessional Educator
• Associate of Arts Degree, emphasis in Child Development
• Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education

The certificate programs are designed to meet the educational requirements of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, a national certification of the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington D.C. Students who wish to pursue this certification will need to complete additional requirements.

The Paraprofessional Educator certificate is perfect for students desiring to work as a paraprofessional or classroom assistant in a variety of early childhood, elementary and secondary school settings.

Career opportunities with a background in Child Development
Typical careers requiring at least a certificate or associate level degree:

• Childcare teacher
• Childcare center director
• Head Start teacher
• Family childcare provider
• Paraprofessional educator
• Camp counselor
• School age care
• Classroom assistant
• Preschool teacher

Typical careers requiring at least a bachelors level degree:

• Elementary school teacher
• Special Education teacher
• Child Psychologist
• Counselor
• College teacher
• Recreation specialist
• Speech clinician
• Social worker
• Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) teacher
• Early Childhood Special Education teacher
• some health care professions

To receive more information about the Child Development program, contact: Kathleen Hedberg Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College 2101 14th Street Cloquet, MN 55720 218 879 0713 1 800 657 3712 e mail: khedberg@fdltcc.edu

To receive general FDLTCC information, contact: Admissions Office Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College 2101 14th Street Cloquet, MN 55720 (218) 879-0808 1-800-657-3712 TTY (218) 879-0805 e-mail: admissions@fdltcc.edu

Preschool Child Development Certificate Required Program Courses ECD 1001 Overview of Child Development ECD 1010 Child Care Issues and Program Practice ECD 1020 Guidance Issues for Child Care Staff ECD 1030 Preschool Development and Learning Experiences ECD 2010 Brain Development and Early Childhood ECD 2060 Integrating Children with Special Needs Total credits required: 17 Infant and Toddler Certificate Required Program Courses ECD 1001 Overview of Child Development ECD 1010 Child Care Issues and Program Practice ECD 1020 Guidance Issues for Child Care Staff ECD 1040 Infant and Toddler Development and Learning Experiences ECD 2010 Brain Development and Early Childhood ECD 2060 Integrating Children with Special Needs Total credits required: 17 School Age Child Development Certificate Required Program Courses ECD 1001 Overview of Child Development ECD 1020 Guidance Issues for Child Care Staff ECD 1050 School Age Development and Learning Experiences ECD 2010 Brain Development and Early Childhood ECD 2040 Literature and Language Development ECD 2060 Integrating Children with Special Needs Total credits required: 17 Associate of Arts Degree For students pursuing a two-year degree, either with or without the intent of transfer, the following courses are recommended to fulfill Associate of Arts degree requirements.   General Education AMIN 1050 Anishinaabeg of Lake Superior ART 1001 Introduction to Art BIOL 1060 Environmental Science ENGL 1001 College Writing I ENGL 1010 or College Writing IIA: Introduction to Literature ENGL 1040 College Writing IID: American Indian Literature GEOG 1020 Cultural Geography MATH 1050 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers MUSC 1030 or Music of the World’s People MUSC 1040 Fundamentals of Music Theory PHYS 1020 Introductory Astronomy SPCH 2010 Family Communication Two Physical Education courses (PE 1051 and 1052 suggested) Child Development electives Students must complete 18 to 22 credits from this list of program-specific courses. Depending on area of interest, students may want to choose courses based on the certificate programs requirements. ECD 1001 Overview of Child Development ECD 1010 Child Care Issues and Program Practice ECD 1020 Guidance Issues for Child Care Staff ECD 1030 Preschool Development and Learning Experiences ECD 1040 Infant and Toddler Development and Learning Experiences ECD 1050 School Age Development and Learning Experiences ECD 1080 Culturally Sensitive Caregiving ECD 2010 Brain Development and Early Childhood ECD 2020 Professional Observation ECD 2030 Play and Learning ECD 2040 Literature and Language Development ECD 2050 Conflict Management for Early Childhood Education ECD 2060 Integrating Children with Special Needs Total credits required: 60-64

Selected Course Descriptions
ECD 1001 Overview of Child Development
This course provides an overview of child development from birth through school age including physical, intellectual and social emotional development. It integrates knowledge of developmental stages with developmentally appropriate practice in center based settings.

ECD 1010 Child Care Issues and Program Practice
This course is for child care providers interested in learning more about child care as a profession, key elements of program management and issues in family communication. Curriculum includes job descriptions, licensing requirements, developmentally appropriate learning environments, program routines, accreditation process, anti bias program planning, reporting and planning for children with special needs.

ECD 1020 Guidance Issues for Child Care Staff
This course provides students with an overview of major theories, principles, and techniques of positive discipline. We will also examine the adult’s role and reflect on how our own unique experience with punishment, anger and control affect our discipline style.

ECD 1030 Preschool Development and Learning Experiences
This course provides exploration of active learning environments for preschool aged children. It includes the examination of physical, intellectual and social emotional learning needs of children. Students apply their knowledge of child development to creating and guiding active learning in the child care/education setting.

ECD 1040 Infant and Toddler Development and Learning Experiences
This course provides an overview of infant/toddler theory and development in home or center based settings. Students will integrate knowledge of developmental needs, developmentally appropriate environments, effective caregiving, teaching strategies and observation methods.

ECD 1050 School Age Development and Learning Experiences
This course provides an overview of school age theory and development in school, home or center based settings. Students will integrate knowledge of developmental needs, developmentally appropriate environments, effective caregiving, teaching strategies and observation methods.

ECD 1080 Culturally Sensitive Caregiving
This course is designed to provide an overview of Culturally Sensitive Caregiving by assisting students to identify the influence of culture on childcare practices. Identifying and negotiating conflicts based on cultural values can help caregivers form partnerships with families that lead to more culturally consistent care for children and help strengthen the child’s feelings of security and developing identity.

ECD 2010 Brain Development and Early Childhood
This course is to assist childcare providers and individuals who provide services to young children and their families in using information about the brain to facilitate the growth and development of the young child.

ECD 2020 Professional Observation
This course provides an overview of observation methods used in home or center based settings. Students will integrate knowledge of developmental needs, developmentally appropriate environments, effective caregiving, teaching strategies and observation methods.

ECD 2030 Play and Learning
This course provides an overview of creative/aesthetic learning experiences in either home or center based settings. Students integrate knowledge of child development, learning environments, and teaching methods to promote children’s artistic, musical, movement, and dramatic abilities.

ECD 2040 Literature and Language Development
This course provides an overview of language and literacy learning experiences in either home or center based settings. Students integrate knowledge of child development, learning environments, and teaching methods to promote conversation, literature, literacy, and bi lingualism.

ECD 2050 Conflict Management for Early Childhood
This course is designed to assist teachers and caregivers to teach and implement conflict management skills with children. Areas covered will include empathy training, impulse control/behavioral skills and anger management. The majority of the course will be implementation of conflict management skills in a children’s setting.

ECD 2060 Integrating Children with Special Needs
This course examines the development of children with special needs and prepares caregivers to integrate children with special needs into child development settings.

Degree requirements and course are subject to change. Students should consult with an advisor/counselor when registering for courses.