Child Development

Program Description

Are you passionate about helping young children grow and learn? Our Child Development Education program offers everything you need to start a rewarding career in early childhood education.

Our program covers all aspects of child development training, including classroom management, child psychology, and effective teaching strategies. Our hands-on approach ensures you gain practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge.

In just two years, you can earn a child development degree that opens doors to various career opportunities. Our programs are for those who want to become early childhood educators. We provide a strong foundation for their future studies.

Our program also prepares you for additional education and certifications, making you a competitive candidate in the job market. With certification, you can pursue roles in preschools, daycare centers, and other educational settings.

We offer a specialized early childhood education program to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this field. Our experienced instructors provide personalized guidance to help you excel.

Our child development courses are designed to fit your schedule, whether you're a full-time student or balancing work and study. We offer a range of early childhood development classes to ensure you receive a comprehensive education.

Explore a childhood education degree and understand the complexities of early childhood development. Our curriculum covers everything from developmental milestones to creating effective learning environments.

With our program, you're not just earning a degree; you're preparing for a fulfilling child development career. Our graduates are in high demand, thanks to our rigorous training and strong industry connections.

Join us and take the first step towards a rewarding career in child development. Explore our program today and see how we can help you achieve your educational and career goals.

Program Information

• Overview
• Accreditation & Affiliations
• Awards & Certifications

Overview

Workforce services for eligible adults are available through this program authorized by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Click for more info!

Class Time: Online only
Semester: Fall, Spring, or Summer (Partial)
Campus: Online Only

Course Search

Skills Required

Students must have a high school diploma or GED. In addition, those who work with children should be patient, have a willingness to learn and grow, and must be able to take initiative. You must be reliable, responsible and be able to problem solve. You should have good writing skills and be able to communicate well with others as a member of a team.

Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with children, patients, and residents at a health or child care facility licensed by the State of Minnesota have a background study conducted by the state. Students who have criminal backgrounds are ineligible to participate in practicums and are ineligible for graduation.

All graduates are required to have documentation of their growth in the program. Talk to one of the teachers to learn if you may use the portfolio you already had started, or the e-folio.

Wages/Outlook/Advancement

Wage and Job Outlook information for this program are available at Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED). Job opportunities are available in child care centers, special needs programs, in home care (nanny), family child care, school-age care, recreational, and parent/child programs.

Upon completion of an articulated bachelor's degree, there are expanded opportunities in early childhood programs, as well as the ability to teach through third grade in public school systems when a license is granted.

Hennepin Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the HLC Academic Quality Improvement Program.

All faculty belong to National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and are affiliate members of:

• MN Association for the Education of Young Children (MNAEYC)
• Faculty are also members of Minnesota ACCESS (faculty of Child Development programs in Associate Degree programs) and participate in Project E-LECT, a child development consortium for online courses in Minnesota.
• Our program also partners with T.E.A.C.H., which provides scholarships for students earning Associate degrees.

Articulations

An articulation agreement between Hennepin Tech and the following institutions will facilitate credit transfer of Hennepin Tech's Child Development A.S. degrees toward a bachelor's degree:

• Southwest Minnesota State University: B.S. in Early Childhood Education.
  This bachelor's degree is the first step to become licensed and teach through the third grade. To learn more about this partnership, please contact Mary Risacher to schedule a time to visit at either the Brooklyn Park or Eden Prairie campus.

USDE Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Hennepin Technical College Child Development curriculum is designed to help prepare students for employment in Minnesota. At this time, Hennepin Technical College is unable to make a determination if the Child Development programs meet the licensing requirements for any state or US protectorate. You will want to contact the licensing board in which state you intend to pursue licensure for their requirements, below we provide a link to a list of each state's licensing board.

For more information on state licensing boards and their contact information for Child Development, please visit US Department of Education website.

Last reviewed 05/01/2023

Award Name	Award Type	Location	Planning Guide	WIOA
Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway	AS	Online	PDF Part-Time PDF Full-Time	Yes
Child Development	AAS	Online	PDF Part-Time PDF Full-Time	Yes
Child Development	Diploma	Online	PDF Part-Time PDF Full-Time	Yes
Child Development	Certificate	Online

Some of the General Education requirements have changed and are not reflected in the current catalog. Please schedule an appointment with your program advisor to see how this might affect you.