Whittier College 2024-2025
Department of Education and Child Development
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 Return to: Division of Social Sciences
Deborah Algario
Cean Colcord, Co-Chair
Nora Obregon, Co-Chair
Kay Sanders
Lauren H. Swanson
Christine Ybarra
The Department offers studies in two distinct fields: education and child development. Education programs lead toward Preliminary Teaching Credentials. An undergraduate minor in education and a program leading to a Master’s Degree are also offered in education. Child Development offers an undergraduate major and minor, leading toward a variety of careers in working with children. The Pathway Integrating Child Development and Education Specialist (PICES) Program allows students who major in Child Development to also obtain a preliminary Education Specialist teaching credential.
Education
Whittier College’s Teacher Education Program’s mission is to create a social justice-oriented community of teachers and learners that embodies these qualities: intellectually-rich, caring, student-centered, equitable, just, collaborative, creative, culturally responsive, moral, ethical, and inspiring. We are guided by the following core values: (1) Culture. We believe in developing compassionate educators who deeply understand, utilize, and respect students’ cultural and linguistic diversities as assets that should be built upon. As such, our graduates are able to create culturally and linguistically responsive classrooms that validate students’ backgrounds, talents, and strengths. (2) Community. We believe in developing sensitive and thoughtful educators who value and support collegial collaboration and cooperation with a purpose. This purpose is mindful of the needs of students, families, communities, and colleagues towards a combined effort of excellence. (3) Communication. We value the personal approach to communicate the goals of our educational program to our students and local school districts. Our education classes build a personal relationship between the student and the teacher. (4) Connections. We embrace interdisciplinarity in thinking and teaching. In order to do this, we begin by listening and valuing others’ points of views and recognizing communities are stronger together.
Whittier College is fully accredited by the California Board of Education and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to offer programs leading toward the Multiple Subject (elementary) Preliminary Teaching Credential, the Single Subject (secondary) Preliminary Teaching Credential, and the Education Specialist: Mild/Moderate and Extensive Support Needs Preliminary Teaching Credentials. Since Subject Preliminary Teaching Credentials are offered in the areas of English, Social Science, Science, Mathematics, Physical Education, and Spanish).
Undergraduate students in the PICES Program take credential coursework alongside coursework required for the liberal arts curriculum as well as the child development major. Hybrid pathways are available to undergraduate students for Multiple Subject, Single Subject and Education Specialist Preliminary Teaching Credentials as well; within these pathways students can make substantial progress toward their Preliminary Teaching Credentials as undergraduates, taking prerequisites during the freshman and sophomore years and required teacher preparation courses during their junior and senior years. Students can then apply to the college’s graduate program to complete their remaining credential requirements as graduate students.
Undergraduate students interested in pursuing a Preliminary Teaching Credential must also complete departmental or interdisciplinary majors as described in this catalog. Examples of the appropriate majors include, but are not limited to biology, child development, English, history, mathematics, and psychology.
The information and requirements listed above are not exhaustive. Additionally, important information on all education programs and certification requirements is available in the Department of Education and Child Development. Essential information on admission to and advancement in teaching-credential programs is also available there. Undergraduate students should obtain this information - and begin meeting with an department faculty member - as soon as they become interested in elementary, secondary, or special education teaching. Early advisement is critical to successfully planning a teacher education program.
Post-baccalaureate (graduate) students who meet all prerequisite and entrance requirements can complete all credential and Master’s program requirements through evening and summer courses. Procedures and requirements for post-baccalaureate students differ from those for undergraduates. These procedures and requirements are described in separate documents available from the Whittier College Education Department. Post-baccalaureate students should obtain program information and advisement from the Department as early as possible for admission to summer, fall, or spring cohorts.
To successfully matriculate through any credential program as well as the master’s program, candidates must earn an overall G.P.A of 3.0 (B) for all coursework. Any required course in which the candidate earns lower than a B- must be repeated, regardless of whether the course was taken at the graduate or undergraduate level. Further, any course taken for “Credit” as opposed to a letter grade cannot be counted towards the graduate or undergraduate coursework requirement for any credential program.
Petition the department for permission to retake the course in which a grade below B- was earned, and if permission is granted
Retake the course and earn a grade of B- or above.
Petitions take the form of a letter to the Department Chair. The petition may also request permission to proceed with the teacher preparation course sequence before retaking a required course. Such requests are granted only in exceptional cases. More information on petition letters and the petition process is available in the Department of Education and Child Development.
Child Development
Child Development offers an undergraduate major, minor, and coursework for a Child Development Permit. The mission of the Child Development major is to develop a deep understanding of child behavior and growth through the study of developmental psychology. We prepare students for graduate-level academic work, child advocacy, and/or entry-level careers serving children and families in a variety of fields. Our graduates become teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, childcare providers, or enter other careers working with children. Many remain at Whittier for our graduate credential and Master of Arts in Education programs.
We offer a variety of classes on child development by specific age ranges (infancy through early childhood, middle childhood), as well as on specific topics (language development and developmental psychopathology). Most classes are designed to connect research and theory on child growth and development to their practical applications. We also offer classes that qualify students for the Child Development Permit, which can be used to work in childcare centers and after school programs throughout the State of California. Some CHDV courses also count toward a minor in education and an Elementary Preliminary Teaching Credential.
Child Development majors engage in valuable experiences outside of class, providing further opportunities to integrate into campus and community life and to build their resumes for graduate school and future careers. Undergraduates help faculty with research projects studying child behavior. They work at The Broadoaks Children’s School, our laboratory school on campus, helping teach children from 2.5 years old through middle school as well as other local schools, recreation centers, and youth organizations for practicum. In all of these activities, students work alongside faculty members and members of the local community while gaining valuable academic and work experiences.
ProgramsMajorMinorTeaching CredentialOther ProgramsCourses
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