For related HMS programs, see Related Programs Listing .

Purpose: The Career Studies Certificate in Child Development prepares students for entry-level employment working with young children in safe and healthy environments that are supportive of children’s individual physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Graduates develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to implement practices informed by Virginia’s Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals and the National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional Preparation Standards. This 16-credit curriculum provides a foundation in early childhood development and all course work overlaps with and is also a requirement for the certificate and associate degree programs of study.

Admission Requirements: In addition to the requirements for general admission to the college, a personal interview with the program head is recommended. Placement tests in some areas may be required.

Program Requirements: Students in the Child Development program at NRCC should work closely with their faculty advisor in planning their curriculum including the internship experience. NRCC also offers a 16 credit Career Studies Certificate in Child Development: Infant and Toddler; a 34 credit Certificate in Child Development; and a 67 credit Associate of Applied Science degree in Human Services with a Specialization in Early Childhood Development. For students who decide to continue their education, courses in the Career Studies Certificate program will lead into the Certificate and A.A.S. degree programs. Students who plan to continue into these programs after completing the Career Studies Certificate should inform their academic advisor at the beginning of studies to ensure a smooth transition into programs.

Students must successfully complete a supervised internship that includes on-the-job teaching experiences in an early childhood setting, approved by the program head. Application for internship should be made the semester prior to placement. Students should note that early childhood programs require a criminal background report, a child abuse central registry search, and a TB test as a prerequisite to beginning the internship experience. A program may deny participation for findings on the reports. Affiliation agreements prevent the placement of a student who is denied internship participation at one program into an internship agreement at another program. Inability to meet the internship requirements prevents the student from satisfactorily achieving the course objectives resulting in failure of the course.

For more information about the program, visit the department webpage.