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Child Development

Associate in Applied Arts

Program Overview

Child Development

The Child Development associate's degree focuses on leadership skills that are needed in a director position. Graduates of the Child Development degree program will be qualified to apply for positions as lead teachers and center directors as well as apply for a license for their own childcare business.

Earning Potential

Interested in a career in child development? Learn more about our region’s employment outlook and career opportunities you can pursue in this field of study.

Instruct preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, day care center or other child development facility. May be required to have a State certification.

median annual salary
annual job openings

are currently employed within the State of Michigan Prosperity Regions 5 and 6.

This number is expected to over the next four years.

of current workers will reach retirement age within the next ten years.

Visit Career Coach for more details.

Map of Michigan with Delta College's region highlighted.

Plan, direct or coordinate the academic and nonacademic activities of preschool and childcare centers or programs.

median annual salary
annual job openings

are currently employed within the State of Michigan Prosperity Regions 5 and 6.

This number is expected to over the next four years.

of current workers will reach retirement age within the next ten years.

Visit Career Coach for more details.

Map of Michigan with Delta College's region highlighted.

Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing and overseeing play.

median annual salary
annual job openings

are currently employed within the State of Michigan Prosperity Regions 5 and 6.

This number is expected to over the next four years.

of current workers will reach retirement age within the next ten years.

Visit Career Coach for more details.

Map of Michigan with Delta College's region highlighted.

About Delta's Program

  • Child Development professor working with students in class.
    Amazing faculty

    At Delta, you get small classes, professors who see your potential and resources to help you succeed. Delta professors are here to teach. And, they're really good at it.

    Learn More about faculty

Child development teachers provide cognitive, physical, social and emotional growth and development for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. They focus on whole child development and helping children for later academic and social success.

Our child development program foundation courses include infant and toddler development, psychology, teaching practicum, childcare program management and first aid.

Accreditation

Early Childhood Higher Education Program NAEYC accredidation sealThe Child Development Program at Delta College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The current accreditation term runs from September 2019 through September 2026.

 

Program requirements

All CD 110W, CD 113W, CD 115W and CD 117W students must complete the following and submit the appropriate documentation to the program coordinator:

  1. TB Skin Test. You must submit evidence of freedom from communicable tuberculosis
  2. Criminal background check
  3. DHS Child Abuse/Neglect clearance check
  4. Employment and volunteer contract (practicum agreement)

In addition, a Child Development information session is held in December, April and August. Students must attend one of these sessions. Be sure you notify Academic Advising Office to state your major as CD.

CD 110W and CD 113W each require 30 hours of volunteer work at a licensed childcare program. CD 115W requires 90 hours and CD 117W requires 150 hours of teaching in a licensed program other than your current employment site. CD 115W and CD 117W must be unpaid and outside of your work schedule. More information will be given at the information sessions.

Student outcomes
Outcome measure 1: The number of program completers
Academic year Number of program completers Percentage of program completers who were attending full-time (at the time of completion) Percentage of program completers who were attending part-time (at the time of completion)
2022-23
19
37% (7 of 19)
63% (12 of 19)
2021-22
23
28% (5 of 18)
78% (18 of 23)
2020-21 13 38% (5 of 13) 62% (8 of 13)
Outcome measure 2:  The program completion rate

Program name: AAA. Child Development

Academic year in which a fall cohort of full-time students enrolled at the institution (select three sequential years)

Percentage of those students who completed the program within 150% of the published timeframe

Published timeframe for full-time students: 2 years

Percentage of those students who completed the program in 100%, 200% or 300% the published timeframe
2014-15 14.2% (3 of 21)

100-4.7% (1 of 21)
200-19% (4 of 21)

2015-16 5% (1 of 20)  
2016-17
17% (4 of 23)
200 17% (4 of 23)
2017-18
16% (4 of 25)

100 12% (3 of 25)

200 16% (4 of 25)

Outcome measure 3:  Institutional selected data

The fall-to-fall retention rate in the program for each of the three most recently completed academic years

Academic year Number of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled (% of Total Enrollment) Retention Rate among Part-Time Candidates Number of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled (% of Total Enrollment) Retention Rate among Full-Time Candidates
2019-20
81, 64.8%
46, 56.7%
44, 35.2%
30, 68.1%
2020-21 64 59.3% 36 56.3% 44 40.7% 19 43.2%
2021-22 42 67.7% 27 30.3% 44 35.2% 13 48.1%
Program Standards
Data Charts for Key Competency Standards for 4 Year Interim Report 2023

Date(s) of Application 1: Key Assessments 1, 2, 3, 4, & 6 Fall 2022
Date(s) of Application 2: Key Assessments 1, 2, 3, 4, & 6 Winter 2023

Key Elements of Standard 1 Exceeds Standard Meets Standard Does Not Meet Standard
1a
Application 1
N = 26
% = 87
N = 4
% = 13
N = 0
% = 0
1a
Application 2
N = 46
% =82
N =10
% =18
N = 0
% = 0
1b
Application 2
N = 32
% =86
N = 5
% =14
N = 0
% = 0
1b
Application 2
N = 58
% =82
N = 13
% =18
N = 0
% = 0
1c
Application 1 
N = 22
% = 81
N = 5
% = 19
N = 0
% = 0
1c
Application 2 
N = 47
% =80
N = 12
% =20
N = 0
% = 0
1d
Application 1 
N = 21
% = 70
N = 8
% = 27
N = 1
% = 3
1d
Application 2 
N = 40
% =75
N = 13
% =25
N = 0
% = 0

Date(s) of Application 1: Key Assessments 2 & 5, Fall 2022
Date(s) of Application 2: Key Assessments 2 & 5, Winter 2023

Key Elements of Standard 2 Exceeds Standard Meets Standard Does Not Meet Standard
2a
Application 1 
N = 11
% = 58
N = 8
% = 42
N = 0
% = 0
2a
Application 2 
N = 26
% =62
N =15
% =36
N = 1
% = 2
2b
Application 1 
N = 13
% =68
N = 6
% =32
N = 0
% = 0
2b
Application 2 
N = 31
% =74
N = 11
% =26
N = 0
% = 0
2c
Application 1 
N = 13
% = 68
N = 6
% = 32
N = 0
% = 0
2c
Application 2 
N = 26
% =62
N = 13
% =31
N = 3
% = 7

Date(s) of Application 1: Key Assessments 3, 4, & 6, Fall 2022
Date(s) of Application 2: Key Assessments 3, 4, & 6, Winter 2023

Key Elements of Standard 3 Exceeds Standard Meets Standard Does Not Meet Standard
3a
Application 1 
N = 32
% = 73
N = 8
% = 18
N = 4
% = 9
3a
Application 2 
N = 62
% =77
N =18
% =22
N = 1
% = 1
3b
Application 1 
N = 25
% =81
N = 6
% =19
N = 0
% = 0
3b
Application 2 
N = 37
% =74
N = 12
% =24
N = 1
% = 2
3c
Application 1 
N = 23
% = 74
N = 4
% = 13
N = 4
% = 13
3c
Application 2 
N = 34
% =68
N = 15
% =30
N = 1
% = 2
3d
Application 1 
N = 18
% = 58
N = 13
% = 42
N = 0
% = 0
3d
Application 2 
N = 35
% =70
N = 14
% =28
N = 1
% = 2

Date(s) of Application 1: Key Assessments 1, 4, & 6 Fall 2022
Date(s) of Application 2: Key Assessments 1, 4,  & 6 Winter 2023

Key Elements of Standard 4 Exceeds Standard Meets Standard Does Not Meet Standard
4a
Application 1 
N = 36
% = 88
N = 5
% = 12
N = 0
% = 0
4a
Application 2 
N = 45
% =75
N =15
% =25
N = 0
% = 0
4b
Application 1 
N = 20
% =83
N = 4
% =17
N = 0
% = 0
4b
Application 2 
N = 31
% =82
N = 7
% =18
N = 0
% = 0
4c
Application 1 
N = 21
% = 88
N = 3
% = 13
N = 0
% = 0
4c
Application 2 
N = 31
% = 82
N = 7
% =18
N = 0
% = 0

Date(s) of Application 1: Key Assessments 1 & 4, Fall 2022
Date(s) of Application 2: Key Assessments 1 & 4,  Winter 2023

Key Elements of Standard 5 Exceeds Standard Meets Standard Does Not Meet Standard
5a
Application 1 
N = 22
% = 92
N = 2
% = 8
N = 0
% = 0
5a
Application 2 
N = 29
% =76
N =9
% =24
N = 0
% = 0
5b
Application 1 
N = 20
% =83
N = 4
% =17
N = 0
% = 0
5b
Application 2 
N = 29
% =76
N = 9
% =24
N = 0
% = 0
5c
Application 1 
N = 22
% = 81
N = 5
% = 19
N = 0
% = 0
5c
Application 2 
N = 28
% =74
N = 10
% =26
N = 0
% = 0

Date(s) of Application 1: Key Assessments 2, 3 ,4 ,5 & 6 Fall 2022
Date(s) of Application 2: Key Assessments 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 Winter 2023

Key Elements of Standard 6 Exceeds Standard Meets Standard Does Not Meet Standard
6a
Application 1 
N = 6
% = 46
N = 7
% = 54
N = 0
% = 0
6a
Application 2 
N = 14
% =54
N =9
% =35
N = 3
% = 12
6b
Application 2
N = 9
% =69
N = 2
% =15
N = 2
% = 15
6b
Application 2 
N = 12
% =46
N = 10
% =38
N = 4
% = 15
6c
Application 1 
N = 11
% = 58
N = 8
% = 42
N = 0
% = 0
6c
Application 2 
N = 27
% =64
N = 12
% =29
N = 3
% = 7
6d
Application 1 
N = 13
% = 68
N = 6
% = 32
N = 0
% = 0
6d
Application 2 
N = 27
% =64
N = 15
% =36
N = 0
% = 0

6e
Application 1

N = 21
% = 88
N = 3
% = 13
N = 0
% = 0
6e
Application 2
N = 29
% = 83
N = 6
% = 17
N = 0
% = 0

Why you should choose Delta

The Delta College child development program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). As a result, the curriculum for the Associate's Degree is aligned with the standards issued by the NAEYC and involves rigorous assessment with program and peer evaluations.

Convenience

Life is busy. But that shouldn't get in the way of your education. Delta offers classes at night, on weekends and online to make taking classes and getting that degree easier. Plus, Delta has three centers so you can take classes even closer to home.  

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

Co-op opportunities

You can get hands-on experience in your field while you're working toward that degree. I know. It's awesome! Plus, you'll even get paid. That's co-op! Check it out.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CO-OP

Free tutoring

At the Teaching Learning Center, located in the Library, we offer tutoring on a wide variety of subjects, and help with developing study and learning skills. Most tutoring is on a walk-in basis but we do have some online tutoring options.

Best of all, it's free for currently enrolled Delta students. Just another way we demonstrate our commitment to helping students succeed.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TUTORING

 Transfer opportunities

 One of the very best things about Delta College is your ability to start here and go anywhere. And, in the process, save thousands (and thousands) of dollars. It's a smart choice!

In fact, if you're interested in earning a bachelor's in Child Development you have several options by coming to Delta first, and then transferring.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Child Development TRANSFER OPTIONS

Facts & Figures

Student to professor ratio

With a student to professor ratio of 16 to 1, our students get personal attention.

Michigan

80% of grads from the last five years live in the tri-counties. 97% live in Michigan.


Related Programs

Delta College offers over 140 degree, certificate and training options. Continue exploring and advancing your education with these related programs: