Child and Adolescent Development
College of Health and Social Sciences
Dean: Dr. Alvin Alvarez
Department of Child and Adolescent Development
SCI 394
Phone: (415) 405-3564
Fax: (415) 405-0401
Email: cad@sfsu.edu
Website: cad.sfsu.edu
Acting Chair: Linda M. Platas
Program Scope
The Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development (CAD) is for students interested in studying and working with children, adolescents, and their families. The major provides students with knowledge and theories about children and adolescents from a developmental perspective. Students then learn to apply this knowledge to programs, services, and policies for children, youth, and families that are offered in community settings and classrooms. The core courses address professional roles and careers, theories of child and adolescent development, diverse families in a globalized context, action research methods, policy and advocacy, and applied advanced developmental science. In addition to taking core courses, CAD majors select one out of three specialized concentrations that reflects their specific interest.
Those concentrations are:
- Early Childhood;
- School Age Child and Family; and
- Youth Work and Out of School Time
The CAD major is designed to meet the educational and career needs of students with a variety of interests. Students who wish to complete a bachelor’s degree, as well as meet requirements for the Child Development Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, will choose the Early Childhood concentration. Students who wish to teach in elementary schools will choose the School Age Child and Family concentration. This concentration is excellent preparation for a post-baccalaureate Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program. Others who wish to work in out–of–school time programs such as after-school programs, probation, recreation, residential treatment facilities for school-age children and youth, or other community–based programs for children and youth will choose specialized study in the Youth Work and Out of School Time concentration. All concentrations prepare students for advanced study in various disciplines such as law, medicine, psychology, social work, recreation, counseling, or physical therapy.
Career Outlook
The outlook for careers working with children and adolescents is positive. Surveys of employers and community agencies that offer positions working with children, adolescents, and families indicate that there is a need for professionals in those areas who have a strong foundation of knowledge and skills about child and adolescent development. Graduates who want to work with young children and their families as an infant–toddler specialists, preschool teachers, or child care providers are in high demand. There are 3,000 children in San Francisco alone on waiting lists for childcare programs. There is a need for well-educated, experienced professionals to staff and administer quality child care and education programs, particularly as the existing center–based workforce with B.A. degrees or higher starts to retire. There is also a need to expand the ethnic and linguistic diversity of early child care providers. B.A. degree providers/teachers are particularly needed in centers serving both infants and preschoolers, working with dual language learners, and working with children with special needs.
Professor
SOYEON PARK (2007), Professor of Child and Adolescent Development; B.S. (1994), M.A. (1996), Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea; Ph.D. (2001), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Assistant Professor
ALISON E. BAROODY (2013), Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Development; B.S. (2005), University of Illinois; M.S. (2007), Purdue University; Ph.D. (2011), Purdue University.
LINDA PLATAS (2015), Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Development; B.A. (2003), San Francisco State University; M.A. (2004), Ph.D. (2008), University of California, Berkeley.
CAD 120 Child Development, Social Justice, and Academic Success (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to freshmen.
Course Attributes:
- Social Justice
- Global Perspectives
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- C2: Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
CAD 210 Introduction to Applied Child and Adolescent Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area A2 or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
CAD 215 Foundations in Early Childhood (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: ENG 114 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Priority enrollment for freshmen and sophomores.
CAD 230 Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Programs (Units: 3)
Historical context and theoretical perspectives in early care and education. Examination of the role of the early childhood educator, identification of best practices for environmental design, curriculum, and teaching strategies. Exploration of teacher-child relationships, professional ethics, career pathways, and professional standards. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [CSL may be available]
CAD 260 Children, Families, and Community: An Ecological Perspective (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area A2 or consent of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
- Social Justice
- Global Perspectives
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
CAD 300 Professional Roles and Careers in Child and Adolescent Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors.
CAD 330 Curriculum and Development in Early Childhood (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
CAD 400 Community Youth Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; upper-division standing; CAD 210 and CAD 260 or equivalents.
CAD 410 Applied Child and Youth Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; CAD 210 and CAD 260 or equivalents.
CAD 450 Understanding and Working with Diverse Families (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; CAD 210 and CAD 260 or equivalents.
CAD 460 Globalization and Family Relations (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; CAD 210, and CAD 260, or equivalents.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
CAD 510 Adult Supervision and Leadership in Early Childhood Programs (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; CAD 210, CAD 215, and CAD 260 or equivalents.
CAD 525 Honors Seminar in Child and Adolescent Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division Child and Adolescent Development majors.
CAD 540 Ethics and Principles in Serving Youth (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; CAD 210 and CAD 260 or equivalents.
CAD 600 Child and Adolescent Development Internship Seminar (Unit: 1)
Prerequisites: Restricted to senior Child and Adolescent Development majors; completion of 30 units in major with grades of C or better; approval of internship application; concurrent enrollment in CAD 601.
CAD 601 Child and Adolescent Development Internship (Units: 2)
Prerequisites: Restricted to senior Child and Adolescent Development majors; 36 units of major coursework with grades of C or better; approval of internship application; must be taken concurrently with CAD 600.
CAD 610 Early Childhood Internship Seminar (Unit: 1)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division students; CAD 210 and CAD 260; CAD 215 or CAD 230 or equivalents; concurrent enrollment in CAD 611.
CAD 611 Early Childhood Internship (Units: 2)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division students; CAD 210 and CAD 260; CAD 215 or CAD 230 or equivalents; concurrent enrollment in CAD 610.
CAD 625 Children, Youth, and Public Policy (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; CAD 210 and CAD 260 or equivalents.
CAD 650 Child Advocacy (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Child and Adolescent Development majors; CAD 210 and CAD 260 or equivalents.
CAD 660 Applied Advanced Developmental Science in Child and Adolescent Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to senior CAD Majors; CAD 210, CAD 260, CAD 300, and CAD 410.
CAD 680 International Field Study in Child and Adolescent Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Child and Adolescent Development majors with a GPA of 3.0 or better or consent of instructor.
CAD 685 Projects in the Teaching of CAD (Units: 1-4)
Prerequisites: A grade of B+ or better in the course that the student will be assisting in; consent of the instructor.
CAD 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-4)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; consent of the instructor and major adviser.