Build Your Future in Child Development & Educational Studies

The Child Development and Educational Studies Department at Fullerton College has a rich tradition of providing quality instruction and active professional participation in the fields of child development and education. Research-driven pedagogy, the ever-changing demands of the profession, and the needs of our students direct the department’s curriculum and certificates. The programs are designed to provide both transfer and career preparation opportunities for students pursuing careers in Child Development, Teacher Education, and Human Services. Many of the programs use the CDES Child Development Laboratory Instructional Classrooms for observation and study of young children and their programs. The Child Development and Educational Studies Department founded in 1959, serves as a model for best practices in early childhood education for children, families, students, faculty, and the community.

The Child Development & Educational Studies Department has served the North Orange County community and beyond for almost 60 years. We have a unique position to not only provide research-based and thoughtfully applied education to current and future early childhood educators, we also provide high-quality early care and education to young children in our Laboratory School.

Educators from all over the world, including Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China have visited us and we have invited some of the greatest minds in our profession to speak to our faculty and students over the years.  In the fall of 2017, we hosted The Association for Constructivist Teaching Conference http://acteducators.com/. We are the only community college in the country to be given this honor.

Our full-time faculty have many years of experience, are on local, state and national boards, are frequent presenters at early childhood conferences and have been invited speakers around the globe.  Our adjunct faculty are professionals from the child development field and bring their daily experiences to our students.

The Child Development & Educational Studies department is also home to The Center for Early Childhood Collaboration. This early childhood outreach program provides professional development to the early childhood community through workshops, in-service trainings, tours of the Child Development & Educational Studies Laboratory School, and keynote addresses.

For additional information, visit the Child Development and Educational Studies Department website. 

Explore Programs in Child Development & Educational Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

 

The cost is $46 per unit. Non-resident tuition: $258 per unit PLUS enrollment fees (Non-Resident Tuition includes $19.00 Capital Outlay fee per Ed Code 76141).

Costs may vary; please visit website for more information: http://admissions.fullcoll.edu/fees-refunds/.

Associate degree or certificate completion depends on program unit requirements and whether student is enrolled full-time or part-time.

For information on jobs in this industry sector and their median annual salaries visit: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Career opportunities include:

  • Administrator
  • Childcare Director
  • Early Head Start Director
  • Education Coordinator
  • Education Director
  • Education Site Manager
  • Preschool Director
  • Preschool Program Director
  • Site Coordinator

In the private sector, our students work as teachers, directors, and proprietors. Those who choose careers in the public-sector work as teachers, master teachers, site supervisors, and program directors. Many of our students transfer to colleges and universities to earn bachelor’s degrees and become elementary school teachers and social workers. Program graduates also are working as behavior specialists in the private sector, as well as instructional/teacher assistants in special education classroom settings in the public sector.

Some have gone on to earn advanced degrees and are now teaching Child Development and Early Childhood Education in higher education. One of our certificates focuses on special education.

 

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I graduated from Fullerton College

“I graduated from Fullerton College in 2018 with an Associate degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS) and a Web Design Skills certificate. My experience was one that I will never forget. All of the CIS faculty are knowledgeable and caring, particularly Laura Melella, who helped coach me to get my first IT job and now making $58,000 a year. Upon receiving my CIS degree, I am knowledgeable in Web Design, Programming languages, Microsoft Office, Windows history, operating systems and much more. I am particularly grateful for the opportunities that all the instructors at Fullerton College provided to help me pursue my degree and provide a wonderful experience along the way.”

– Joshua Thomas
Computer Information Systems (CIS)
Having previously attended Fullerton

“Having previously attended Fullerton College for my general education studies, it was an easy choice to come back for the Construction Technology classes I was planning on taking for personal enrichment. However, the Construction Tech instructors were so engaging, knowledgeable, and encouraging and I enjoyed the classes so much that I stuck around, received another degree and eventually changed careers. Had it not been for the class offerings and the instructors teaching them, I would not be where I am at today.”

– Lee Williamson
Construction Technology