The Child Development major allows students flexibility in providing 12 units of free electives (any accredited college coursework) and 16 units of Advisor Approved Electives (must be approved by a faculty advisor on the CD Advisor Approval Form).

Students who have taken coursework for credit elsewhere may use these courses as free electives, if they are approved for Cal Poly credit by the Evaluations Office, and if they haven't been used to fulfill other graduation requirements. "Left-over" credits taken from coursework in semester units may also be used as free elective units. Students may transfer in a maximum of 70 semester units or 105 quarter units.

We recognize that students in our major have different career goals or educational needs, so we have put together lists of recommended courses for Advisor Approved Electives for students with different goals. These courses are also recommended as free electives. Students may present any combination of 300-400-500 level classes for our approval.

Teaching Credential Candidates
For up-to-date information on requirements for teaching credentials, check the University Center for Teacher Education website: www.ucte.calpoly.edu/ProgramsCourses/Credentials/MultipleSubjectInfo.html

The following courses may be useful for teaching credential candidates:
ENG 391 Topics in Applied Linguistics (4)
MATH 327&328 Introduction to Modern Mathematics (8)
EDUC 207 Introduction to the Learner's Culture, Language and Identity (4)
FORL Spanish* (9 units) or 3 years high school language with grade B or better
EDUC 310 Effective Teaching and Classroom Management in a Pluralistic Society.


Leadership in Early Childhood Education
CD 350 Developmental Issues in Education (3)
CD 404 Administration of ChildrenÌs Programs (4)
CD 405 Advanced Administration of Child Development Centers (3)
PSY 302 Behavior in Organizations (4)
ENGL 260 Children's Literature (3)
MU 360 Music for Classroom Teachers (4)
TH 380 Children's Drama (3)
KINE 404 Motor Development (3)
SPC 310 Storytelling: The Oral Tradition (4)
FSN 310 Maternal and Child Nutrition (3)
KINE 280 Responding to Emergencies: First Aid/CPR (3)

Lifespan Human Development
PSY 301 Psychology of Personal Development (4)
PSY 303 Family Interaction (4)
PSY 310 Death, Dying and Bereavement (4)
PSY 314,315 Psychology of Women, Men (4)
PSY 318 Psychology of Aging (4)
PSY 422 Lifespan Sexuality (4)
PSY 458 Learning (4)
PSY 465 Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology (4)

Additional Valuable Child Development Courses
PSY 413 Parent-Child Relationships (4)
PSY 419 Development of Self and Identity (4)
PSY 420 Social and Emotional Development (4)
PSY 421 Cognitive Development (4)
PSY 456 Behavioral Disorders in Children (4)
PSY 460 Child Abuse and Neglect (4)

*Any language fulfills this requirement, but many school systems require Spanish proficiency.