Child Development, Associate of Applied Science

Child Development, 

Associate of Applied Science

Overview

The faculty and staff of the Child Development Program and the Workforce Education Division at Laredo College would like to welcome you! As you work towards realizing the aspirations that you have set for yourself, remember that we are here to assist you. Our desire is for you to be successful in all your endeavors. As you embark on a journey that will lead to a career as a Child Care Provider, you will discover that it is a vocation that is equally challenging and gratifying. You will learn that the Child Development Educator must adhere to high standards and ethics while providing high quality child care. It is through your education and training as a Child Development Program (CD) student that these attributes will be formed. Consequently, these principles will develop into the code by which every individual in the child care profession abides in delivering high quality child care. 
The mission of Child Development Department is committed to being learner-centered and transforming students’ lives through a commitment to academic excellence, research, and practical experiences that meet the dynamic needs of our communities in order to prepare well qualified child care provider of young children to be advocates for children’s well-being, education, and holistic development.
The Child Development program is designed for persons who want a challenging and rewarding career in educating and caring for young children. Through the development of practical skills, knowledge of theory, and a nurturing attitude, students learn to be quality child care providers for children. In response to community demand for qualified child care providers, the Child Development program at Laredo College addresses student competencies and standards for early childhood programs developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), State Board for Educator's Certification Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilty Standards, and The Child Development National Credential Program. 

Information

The Child Development Program provides teacher training through a variety of courses. It requires students to spend a major part of their credit-hour time working with young children in various early childhood programs. In addition, the program has expanded in Laredo and the surrounding communities by offering online courses.
Laredo College offers two levels of study: a two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) degree in Child Development and a one-year Child Development Assistant Certificate. Both are based on the principal that quality care makes a positive difference in the lives of children and their families. Instruction is centered on lecture, lab, internship, and field experience courses, which offer direct experience in a variety of settings.
For more information, view the Child Development Handbook. 

*Due to the nature of the curricula and the criteria for child-care center and public school volunteers, determined by the state licensing agency, there are special entrance and continuation requirements for the completion of CDEC and TECA Child Development courses. As required by The Texas Health and Human Services Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers, December 2024 (P20330-0000), the student must comply with the following:

A student must be able to supervise children at all times as defined by Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §746.1205.

The student must complete a Criminal History Background check as defined in TAC §745.607.

If the criminal history check identifies any criminal convictions, as defined in TAC §745.661, the student will not be permitted to continue in any CDEC Internship course or EDUC course.

Additionally, students

  • Must have a negative T.B. test or negative chest x-ray from the USA during the first two weeks of the semester. If an outbreak were to occur, an additional T.B. test may be required.
  • Must submit two letters of reference (not from relatives).
  • Must sign a code of ethics statement at the beginning of the semester.
NOTE: Entrance and continuation requirements listed above also apply for CDEC 2187, CDEC 2188 and CDEC 2486. Internships are on or off-campus at either LC Camilo Prada Child Development Center or at a Contracted Webb County Head Start Center.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the curricula and the criteria, for public school volunteers, there are special entrance and continuation requirements for the completion of EDUC courses. All students enrolling in EDUC classes requiring field experience assignments must turn in a clear criminal history background check from the Webb County Sheriff's Department or The Laredo Police Department indicating that the student does not have a criminal history.

NOTE: To receive credit for CDEC, EDUC, & TECA courses, the student must complete all CDEC, EDUC, & TECA, courses with a grade of "C" or better.

NOTE: Successful completion of all undergraduate, lower level courses, taken at Laredo College does not guarantee acceptance to a transfer institution.

Contact Information

Child Development Program

Academic & Advanced Technology Building Room C109

5500 South Zapata HWY

Laredo, Texas 78046

(956)794-4389

ChildDevelopment@laredo.edu

Plan of Study

Recommended Course Sequence Semesters Offered Credit Hours
FIRST SEMESTER
TECA 1311 - Educating Young Children Fall 3
CDEC 1313 - Curriculum Resources for Early Childhood Programs Fall 3
CDEC 1358 - Creative Arts for Early Childhood Fall 3
CDEC 1359 - Children with Special Needs Fall 3
TECA 1354 - Child Growth and Development Fall 3
15 Hours
SECOND SEMESTER
TECA 1318 – Wellness of the Young Child Spring 3
CDEC 1356 – Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood Spring 3
CDEC 1319 – Child Guidance1 Spring 3
CDEC 2187 – Internship – Child Care Provider/Assistant1 Spring 1
CDEC 1321 – The Infant and Toddler Spring 3
TECA 1303 – Families, School & Community Spring 3
16 Hours
THIRD SEMESTER
ENGL 1301 – Composition I Fall, Spring 3
3 Hours
FOURTH SEMESTER
ENGL 1302 – Composition II Fall, Spring 3
CDEC 2326 – Administration of Programs for Children I Fall 3
CDEC 2307 – Math and Science for Early Childhood2 Fall 3
CDEC 2188– Child Care Provider/Assistant 2 Fall 1
XXXX X3XX Social/Behavioral Science Elective (CORE)  Fall, Spring 3
13 Hours
FIFTH SEMESTER
CDEC 2328 – Administration of Programs for Children II Spring 3
XXXX X3XX Mathematics Elective (CORE) or Life Physical Science Elective (CORE)  Fall, Spring 3
CDEC 2486– Internship-Child Care Provider/Assistant CAPSTONE 3 Spring 4
XXXX X3XX Language/Philosophy/Culture Elective (CORE) 4 Fall, Spring 3
13 Hours
AAS DEGREE MINIMUM: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS/PATHWAY TOTAL: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS

1Corequisites: CDEC 1319 & CDEC 2187.

2Corequisites: CDEC 2307 & CDEC 2188.

3Capstone Experience: CDEC 2486 Internship – Child Care Provider/Assistant CAPSTONE is a course taught in the last semester. The learning experiences in this course result in a consolidation of a student’s educational programmatic experience.

4Preferably: ENGL 2322, 2323, 2326, 2327,2328, 2332,2333, or 2351.

Note: All Child Development courses require a grade of "C" or better.

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