Bachelor of Science in Child Studies

LCS105

Elements of Organization - 3 Credits

Students need a basic understanding of how organizations work in order to manage their personal and professional lives. This course provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the foundations underlying all organizations (businesses, non-profit and governmental organizations) specifically as they relate to the nature of: management and leadership, economics both domestically and internationally, ethics, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, human resource management, marketing/advertising, e-commerce, information technology, accounting, investments, money and personal finances.

ENG110

College Writing - 3 Credits

This course is designed to develop and refine the analytical/critical reading skills and the substantive writing skills of freshmen.  This intensive writing class will focus on writing essays of varying length and expose students to the various rhetorical modes of writing that will contribute to their success in university courses and their chosen careers.

ENG120

College Writing II - 3 Credits

College Writing II looks to expand upon the writing skills attained in ENG110. As a student-centered course, students explore their own writing in peer, group, and self-review skill sessions. Students enhance self-editing skills and increase awareness of the revision skills needed in both college coursework and in careers. The course will further develop students' understanding of the writing process from pre-writing to final draft. This course encourages students to have their writing evaluated across the curriculum. The course culminates in a research essay and portfolio of original work.

Pre-requisite: ENG110.

COM107

Intro to Communications - 3 credits

This introductory course will focus on the knowledge and skills that students need to become competent communicators.  This information and these skills will include speaking, listening, media literacy, computer-mediated communication, cultural sensitivity, workplace communication, group dynamics, and critical thinking.  Students will prepare and present speeches and group projects that utilize media and technology.  Emphasis will be place on personal, social and workplace interaction both individually and in group settings.

CIS112

Introduction to Computing - 3 Credits

This course strives to meet the high level of computer literacy required of all students earning a degree from the university. Special emphasis is placed on the ethical use of computer technology for information analysis and communications. Computer units introduce the Internet, Windows, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software. Students who feel they have attained computer literacy and earn 70 percent on an exemption exam may substitute any other 3-credit course for this core requirement. 

Students may prove competency by passing a waiver examination.  No credit is granted if the requirement is waived.

CHS450

Observations , Assessment and Individualization - 3 Credits

This course provides students with a broad overview of assessments of and for young children ages birth through age 8.  Students are required to spend 15 hours per semester/module to observe children across all developmental domains. Students will demonstrate competency in observation skills as they relate to ongoing assessment and meeting the individual needs of the children and group lesson planning.  Utilization of the State of CT Benchmarks, Performance Standards and CT Preschool Assessment Framework will be incorporated into this course work.

Prerequisite: Permission Advisor/ECE Academic Program Manager.

SOC101

Principles of Sociology - 3 Credits

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts in Sociology and an analysis of culture, socialization, stratification, social organization, class, social interaction, social change, and conflict.

CHS111

Foundations of Early Childhood Education - 3 Credits

This course provides an overview of the theoretical models that have a significant influence on the development of various early childhood curricula.  A historical perspective of early childhood education is provided, leading up to an including present-day practices.  Students will learn to apply theory to practice within the classroom setting for children ages' birth through eight, including children with exceptionalities.  Ethical issues in the Early Childhood setting will be explored.

PSY101

Fundamentals of Psychology I - 3 Credits

This course examines the nature of psychology as a social and behavioral science. It surveys fundamental areas in behavior including research in psychology, the brain and behavior, learning, human development and socialization, intelligence, personality, health psychology, and social psychology.

CHS201

Creative Activities - 3 Credits

This course covers the development of young children's art. Developmentally appropriate means of facilitating creative abilities for diverse groups through painting, drawing, clay, collage, and construction are examined.

Prerequisite: CHS111 or ECE Academic Program Manager.

Studio fee required.

SOC312

Race and Ethnicity - 3 Credits

A study of racial and ethnic minorities and immigrant groups in America.  Classic and contemporary sociological theories are used to examine the social structures and cultural ideologies that promote oppression and domination and their impact on the social stratification and the life chances of minority group members.

CHS203

Children's Literature and Language Arts - 3 Credits

This course is designed to acquaint students with an integrated approach to children's literature.  Folk and multicultural literature and contemporary issues in children's literature will be examined. This course explores the use of technology in educational settings and plans for literature based units.

Prerequisite:  CHS111

CHS208

Teaching the Exceptional Child - 3 Credits

This course provides information about the exceptional learner. Topics include: history / philosophy/ laws of educating exceptional learners (including English Language Learners), characteristics of the exceptional child, assessment tools, instructional planning and teaching using individualized strategies with complementary techniques and technologies, home / school /community resources and inclusion.

Prerequisite:  CHS111

CHS250

Math, Science & Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom - 3 Credits

This course introduces students to curriculum strategies to be used with young children to promote their mathematical and scientific abilities.  Additionally, it will provide instruction on how to incorporate technology into the early childhood classroom.  Attention is given to the developmental needs of the children and the developmental appropriateness of the lessons.

Prerequisite: CHS111

CHS252

Social Studies in the Early Childhood Classroom - 3 Credits

This course introduces teachers of young children to a variety of themes and strategies that promote social awareness, pro-social behavior, and interpersonal skills for young children.  This course will encourage students to examine the ways in which the classroom environment and the world outside the classroom affect learning.  Concepts in ethnicity, family and community life, and diversity are explored.  Curriculum planning for young children with a wide variety of needs and abilities will be addressed. 

Prerequisite:  CHS111

CHS254

Health, Safety and Nutrition - 3 Credits

This course explores the issues of health, safety and nutrition in relation to the normal growth and development of young children.  Emphasis is placed on the recognition and measurement of normal growth patterns, principles of good nutrition, hygiene, health maintenance and illness prevention.  Understanding cultural issues and special needs of individual children are addressed as aspects of health and safety. 

Prerequisite:  CHS111

CHS299

Practicum - 3 Credits

This course provides students with practical experiences in early childhood education.  Students participate each week in seminars and assist in their professional area (in pre-K/K regular education or inclusive setting) for 100 hours.  Students must demonstrate competencies in planning and carrying out appropriate lessons to promote young children's cognitive, creative, language, and social development.  Students will be introduced to the Connecticut Preschool Benchmarks and the Creative Curriculum for use in planning lessons. 

Prerequisite: Permission of Advisor/ECE Academic Program Manager.

CHS320

Emergent Literacy - 3 Credits

This course details early language, literacy and development of the young child. Students will learn to plan and integrate appropriate cross-curricular language and literacy activities for all types of learners, including children with exceptionalities. Attention is given to understanding, encouraging and supporting local and global communities, diversity and families; and English Language Learners. Students will gain knowledge in the six areas of language and literacy development and how to utilize the classroom environment to foster literacy.  Adaptation of curricular materials for the exceptional learner and culturally diverse student is incorporated.  Students will construct and implement lesson plans based on language and literacy assessments.  

Prerequisite:  ENG/CHS203 or permission of the instructor.

CHS425

Curriculum Approaches in Early Childhood Education - 3 Credits

This course will explore developmentally appropriate approaches to early childhood curriculum development.  It will addresses cross-curricular methods of teaching in the early years of childhood based on developmental stages and levels of the children, incorporating observation and individualization while planning for a larger group.  Students will explore play based curriculum, the CT Preschool Curriculum Framework (1999), Creative Curriculum and other developmentally appropriate curriculum approaches to early childhood education.  Incorporated into the course work will be the NAEYC standards in regard to developmentally appropriate practices, curriculum and teaching. 

MAT120

College Algebra - 3 Credits

This course provides a review of the fundamentals of algebra: a study of function theory, specifically linear and quadratic functions; matrix operations; and linear programming. Emphasis is placed on problem-solving techniques with special attention given to business and other applications.

Prerequisite: MAT101 or placement examination.

CHS490

Capstone: Student Teaching - 6 Credits

This course consists of 15 hours of seminar and a minimum of 200 hours of supervised field work.  Seminar hours will address classroom management and design:  integrating teaching methods, principles of curriculum development and evaluations, designing the classroom setting and methods for handling students' behavior in a cohesive, well managed educational program, adapting to diverse populations and integrated learning; communicating with parents, working as a team, ethical conduct; as well as issues and topics that arise from the students experience.  Within the 200 hours of field work, students will demonstrate their ability to apply child development theory, to manage a classroom, plan, organize and implement daily routines and activities independently, as well as work as part of a team.  

Prerequisite: Completion of all Child Studies major course work and permission of ECE Academic Program Manager.

MAT105

Quantitative Methods - 3 Credits

This course is a survey of elementary algebra, personal finance, probability, and statistics.  Topics include: solving algebraic equations and graphing, recognizing and solving ratio and inequality problems, applications involving percentage and interest, applying the definition of probability, and elementary data analysis of graphs, including finding mean, median and mode.  Topics will focus on real-life situations, decision making skills and problem solving. This course is intended to prepare the student with the skills necessary for a subsequent course in statistics.

MAT220

Statistics I - 3 Credits

This course acquaints students with the fundamentals of modern statistics. It includes basic concepts of descriptive statistics and inferences about the mean, proportion, and variance of one population. The course also includes an introduction to probability and to linear correlation and regression.

Prerequisite: MAT120 or placement examination.

PSY260

Educational Psychology - 3 Credits

This survey course introduces students to the ways in which psychological aspects of the learning process are investigated and applied. Among the topics addressed are: research in educational psychology; student characteristics; applications of psychological theories to the development of instructional techniques; evaluating student performance; and special education.

Prerequisite: PSY101

PSY310

Learning Theory - 3 Credits

This course surveys the historical antecedents of modern learning theory. Emphasis is placed on the influence of major theorists such as Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, Thorndike, and Hull. The course concludes with a survey of recent trends and developments in the field, including the applications of respondent and operant conditioning principles in therapy and behavior management programs.

Prerequisite: PSY101

PSY320

Language Development in Young Children - 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the field of developmental psycholinguistics. It focuses on the processes and mechanisms by which young children (from birth to age eight) acquire competence in language. The major milestones of language development, including maturational readiness, speech perception and production, precursors to language, one- and two-word utterances, overextension of meaning, modulation of meaning, and complex construction are surveyed. Attention is also given to the major theories of language acquisition: biological, behaviorist, and social-cognitive.

Prerequisite: PSY101

SOC211

Sociology of Marriage and the Family - 3 Credits

This course studies the family as an institution: its structures, problems, functions, and changing patterns in an historical and cross-cultural perspective.

Prerequisite: SOC101.

CSA101

Exploring Self: Inside Out - 3 credits

This course will focus on self-discovery and interaction with others to provide learners with the foundation for examining and further developing their own personal effectiveness. An environment of trust will be built within the class to enable individual and collective openness, discovery and engagement in personal learning. The course will use experiential learning, personal reflection and group interaction as primary approaches. This is a hybrid course, with classroom interaction time blended with online learning and interaction through the Blackboard learning management system.

CSA260

Professional Success Seminar - 3 credits

The course will enable students to develop their own individualized plans for personal, academic and career success. Students will engage in self-evaluation exercises and highly interactive classroom activities to evaluate their own “fit” for certain careers. Students also will participate in resume and cover letter writing activities to prepare for the experiential learning of the next course. This course will allow students to establish short-term career goals and begin a career portfolio to be refined during successive semesters.

CSA400

Career Capstone - 2 credits

This course is a culmination of the career and self-awareness series, a comprehensive program for career and life planning. The course prepares students for a transition from university life to independent work life. Students will learn valuable financial and money management planning and skills. Students will explore life balance issues, life roles, and self-concept as it relates to their future plans. Students will explore employment issues, such as the changing nature of work, diversity, trends, and job outlook. The course will require students to engage in networking and a job search with the goal of employment upon graduation. In addition, students who are seeking graduate school will engage in the application process, interviewing, and essay writing.

PSY201

Child Development - 3 Credits

This course emphasizes the psychological development of the child from birth to adolescence. Consideration is given to data, theories, and methods of studying child behavior. Emphasis is placed upon the general characteristics of various stages of development and upon general determinants of the developmental process.

Prerequisite: PSY101