Child Development

Category: Service and Education

Program Description

The Child Development program prepares individuals for employment in a variety of early child care and educational settings as teachers, family child care providers or nannies. You'll learn how to plan age-appropriate activities that recognize the diversity of children and families while providing a healthy, safe environment. This degree expands the student's knowledge of child development in areas of communication, writing and developmental skills. Many employers recognize the benefits of this extensive training and require the degree for employment at the teacher level.

Program Information

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Overview

Workforce services for eligible adults are available through this program authorized by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Click for more info!

Class Time: Online only
Semester: Fall Semester, Spring Semester, or Summer (Partial)
Campus: Online Only

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Skills Required

Students must have a high school diploma or GED. In addition, those who work with children should be patient, have a willingness to learn and grow, and must be able to take initiative. You must be reliable, responsible and be able to problem solve. You should have good writing skills and be able to communicate well with others as a member of a team.

Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with children, patients, and residents at a health or child care facility licensed by the State of Minnesota have a background study conducted by the state. Students who have criminal backgrounds are ineligible to participate in practicums and are ineligible for graduation.

All graduates are required to have documentation of their growth in the program. Talk to one of the teachers to learn if you may use the portfolio you already had started, or the e-folio.

Wages/Outlook/Advancement

Wage and Job Outlook information for this program are available at CAREERwise. Job opportunities are available in child care centers, special needs programs, in home care (nanny), family child care, school-age care, recreational, and parent/child programs.

Upon completion of an articulated bachelor's degree, there are expanded opportunities in early childhood programs, as well as the ability to teach through third grade in public school systems when a license is granted.

Hennepin Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the HLC Academic Quality Improvement Program.

All faculty belong to National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and are affiliate members of:

MN Association for the Education of Young Children (MNAEYC)
Faculty are also members of Minnesota ACCESS (faculty of Child Development programs in Associate Degree programs) and participate in Project E-LECT, a child development consortium for online courses in Minnesota.
Our program also partners with T.E.A.C.H., which provides scholarships for students earning Associate degrees.

Articulations

An articulation agreement between Hennepin Tech and the following institutions will facilitate credit transfer of Hennepin Tech's Child Development A.S. degrees toward a bachelor's degree:

Southwest Minnesota State University: B.S. in Early Childhood Education.
This bachelor's degree is the first step to become licensed and teach through the third grade. To learn more about this partnership, please contact Mary Risacher to schedule a time to visit at either the Brooklyn Park or Eden Prairie campus.

USDE Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Hennepin Technical College Child Development curriculum is designed to help prepare students for employment in Minnesota. At this time, Hennepin Technical College is unable to make a determination if the Child Development programs meet the licensing requirements for any state or US protectorate. You will want to contact the licensing board in which state you intend to pursue licensure for their requirements, below we provide a link to a list of each state's licensing board.

For more information on state licensing boards and their contact information for Child Development, please visit US Department of Education website.

Last reviewed 05/01/2023

Award Name	Award Type	Location	Planning Guide	WIOA
Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway	AS	Online	PDF Part-Time PDF Full-Time	Yes
Child Development	AAS	Online	PDF Part-Time PDF Full-Time	Yes
Child Development	Diploma	Online	PDF Part-Time PDF Full-Time	Yes

Some of the General Education requirements have changed and are not reflected in the current catalog. Please schedule an appointment with your program advisor to see how this might affect you.