Advising Tips – Child Development Major

1. Your first point for help in planning your class schedule and for other general advising/scheduling information is the College of Education and Human Development Advising Center in Hinckley 309 (496-1566 or 496-3035).
2. When planning courses please note that you must complete Child 150, Child 210 and Family 160 before enrolling in other core major courses.These 3 courses provide a basic foundation for further study and are required prerequisites to upper division Child Development courses.
   
3. To ensure timely completion of degree requirements please follow the ‘Recommended Sequencing’ document.Any exceptions to the ‘Recommended Sequencing’ will need to be approved by your faculty advisor.
4. In order to ensure timely placement in the Early Childhood Practicum (Child 335) or the School Age Practicum (Child 345) it is important that you apply at least one semester prior to the semester for which you desire placement (ideally apply the first semester of your Junior year for placement the second semester of your Junior year). If we are not able to place you in the practicum in the semester you initially apply for you do not need to reapply.We will automatically consider you for placement in the next semester for which you are registered. However, if you are offered a practicum placement and decline the placement you will need to reapply.Note that while we will do our best to place you in your preferred practicum choice we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
   
5. The Child Development major requires that you complete a minor or two clusters.Contact the College of Education and Human Development Advising Center in Hinckley 309 to declare your minor and/or arrange clusters. You may want to meet with your faculty advisor for help in determining whether a minor or clusters will best meet your needs and goals.
6. The Child Development major requires that you complete an internship – Child 498R.You must complete a minimum of 2 credits of Child 498R. You are required to work at your internship placement site 80 hours for each credit.In addition you are required to document your experiences during the internship and complete a few other assignments. Often students complete the internship during their ‘off’ track although this is not required.Please meet with the Child Development Internship Coordinator, Bro. McCoy, two semesters before you plan to complete the internship to ensure that you will have met the prerequisites and to begin making the necessary arrangements for the internship.
7. Child Development majors who have a strong interest in teaching in or directing a preschool are encouraged to consider what we call the 2 + 2 option. In the 2 + 2 option, students complete the 2 year AAS degree in Professional Preschool Education (also offered in the Department of Home and Family) and then switch to the CD major and complete the remaining Foundations and Major requirements to receive the B.S. degree in Child Development. The PPE degree will count as the minor and we will also allow some of the PPE credit to ‘double count’ and fill major requirements. Talk to your faculty advisor if this option interests you. NOTE: To complete the 2 + 2 option you must choose this option early and begin with the PPE courses!
8. It is helpful to review your Grad Report each semester in order to successfully plan and monitor your progress toward completion of the degree. To view your Grad Report log on to MYBYUI.EDU. From the menu on the right click on Grad Report. The Grad Report indicates who your faculty advisor is and provides contact information. It also shows courses you have completed and those you still need to complete. In the Grad Report you can plan the courses you will take each semester. We encourage you to plan your courses out in the Grad Report and update your plan regularly. This will ensure that you are properly progressing toward degree completion and will also help the Department to know how many sections of a course are needed each semester.
9. Although advisors in the College of Education and Human Development Advising Center will be able to help you with class scheduling, declaring a minor or clusters, applying for Fast Grad and other tasks, you are encouraged to meet regularly with your faculty advisor to discuss career and grad school options and to deepen your knowledge of our discipline. As you graduate and move on to employment or graduate school your advisor can provide valuable assistance in the form of letters of recommendation if you have formed a positive relationship with him or her.
   
10. As a Child Development major you are strongly encouraged to participate actively in the Child and Family Advocacy Society. In the society students plan and carry out activities that complement learning in the classroom and that provide opportunities to gain leadership experience.

Course Changes and Additions

(Printable version of Course Changes and Additions )