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  1. Home
  2. School of Humanities and Social Sciences
  3. Academic Programs
  4. Certificate Programs in the School of H&SS

Child Development Certificate

This 15-credit certificate will provide the core information and competencies for students interested in pursuing the field of child development. Students will be provided with a broad overview of the developmental processes underlying child and adolescent development. It will be useful for psychology majors as well as for adult and traditional students taking courses part-time for career tracks working with children and adolescents. This certificate may also serve as the gateway to a minor or major in psychology.

Requirements

Part A provides students with a broad overview of human development across the lifespan, including the consideration of change in one's physical, intellectual, personality, and social domains, and the influence of contexts of development (e.g., the family, school, peers, and culture) within each domain. Part B equips students with specific skills related to child and adolescent psychology. Two additional courses from the program list below will be used to meet students’ specific needs. Note that all psychology courses require the prerequisite of PSYCH 100, Introduction to Psychology.

Students must have a C or better in each certificate course.

You must take one of the following:

  • HD FS 129: Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 212: Introduction to Developmental Psychology (3 credits)

You must take two of the following:

  • PSYCH 410: Child Development (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 412: Adolescence (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 476: Child Psychopathology (3 credits)

You must take two additional courses from the following list:

  • EDPSY 014: Learning and Instruction (3 credits)
  • HD FS 229: Infant and Child Development (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 221: Introduction to Social Psychology (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 238: Introduction to Personality Psychology (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 256: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 413: Cognitive Development (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 414: Social and Personality Development (3 credits)
  • PSYCH 473: Behavior Modification (3 credits)

Contact

For questions or more information, please contact Dr. Charisse Nixon, professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 814-898-6041.

Psychology Certificate Programs

  • Behavioral Health and Counseling Psychology Certificate
  • Child Development Certificate
  • Crime, Psychology, and Public Policy Certificate
  • Human Factors Certificate
  • Trauma Studies Certificate

See Also

  • University Bulletin
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Penn State Behrend

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, offers the learning opportunities of a major research university in a welcoming, student-centered campus environment.
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