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Early Child Development_Icon

Child Development

CONNECTING HEARTS, GROWING MINDS

Merritt Child Development Illustration

Impact the Future by Shaping Young Minds

If you’re drawn to working with children and making a difference in their early years, our program is the perfect place to start. Study how young children grow and learn, gain hands-on experience in our Preschool Lab, and build the skills to support their development and well-being. With flexible options to earn certificates, complete your AA degree, or transfer to a university, you'll be ready to launch a meaningful career helping children thrive.

“I deeply appreciate the hands-on community support from the CHDEV department at Merritt. They provided a sense of guidance and growth throughout my educational career.” - Christian Hernandez, CHDEV Alumni

Early Care & Education is all about how children grow and learn—physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. These early years are some of the most important in a child’s life, and the experiences they have during this time shape who they become. In these programs, you’ll learn how to support children's development in real and meaningful ways. You’ll explore how kids think and learn, how they express emotions, how to encourage social skills, and how to create safe and fun learning environments.

Learn more at the CHDEV Resource Center!

Get support with: 

  • Course selection 
  • Degree planning 
  • Transcript evaluation 
  • Permit applications 
  • Career navigation

START HERE - Early Care & Education Pathways

  1. Start with any CHDEV courses totaling 6 units! Contact the Resource Center to select the right courses for you.
    1. Jump into the workforce right after earning your certificate(s) or degree. Start working as a preschool assistant.
  2. Certificate of Proficiency: Assistant Teacher (6 CHDEV units)

  3. Certificate of Proficiency: Associate Teacher (12 CHDEV units)

  4. Certificate of Achievement - Teacher (24 CHDEV units + 16 General Education units)

  5. *Associate in Arts: Child Development (60 units)

  6. *Associate in Science-Transfer: Early Childhood Education (60 units)

*Degrees are awarded upon the satisfactory completion of CHDEV courses and General Education requirements.

Transfer Opportunities

Pursue a bachelor's degree and beyond!

  • Elementary Education
  • Child Psychology
  • Social Work 
  • Human Development
  • Marriage and Family Therapy
Lab Practicum (55A)

“CHDEV 55A [is] an experience that every potential ECE provider should partake in on their academic journey. Michelle and Bonnie provided real life teaching experiences in conjunction with a phenomenal academic curriculum that required students to delve deep into their creative minds. I would highly recommend this course for anyone who has aspirations of being the type of teacher whose reputation will precede them.” — Phillip Hall

 

55A Lab Practicum:

The 55A preschool laboratory is our culminating teaching course required for all Child Development majors. In 55A, you will work directly with children, under supervision, in a working preschool. This class is a fast paced and exciting experience that will give you a feel for how to run your own classroom, in a safe and structured environment.
 
As a student teacher in the Lab Practicum, you will:
  • Develop and implement activity plans for various learning centers.
  • Practice tools and skills to facilitate children’s learning.
  • Collaborate with fellow student teachers to practice objective observation to document children’s behavior and learning
  • Develop the skills to modify your teaching strategies based on observation.
  • Gain proficiency in developmentally appropriate guidance and discipline methods.
  • Lead circle time sessions and plan nutritious snacks for children.
  • Become familiar with and demonstrate required health and safety procedures.

55C Advanced Lab Practicum:

The elective 55C Advanced preschool laboratory class is a student-led experience, designed to deepen your understanding of a topic of your choosing.
 
In 55C, you will implement a semester-long project based on your interests, guided by your instructor. Possible project topics include:
  • Observation, Documentation, and Assessment: You will observe 1-2 children in the classroom over a longer period of time and create a parent-ready Documentation and Assessment portfolio showcasing the children’s learning.
  • The Role of a Head Teacher; Supervision and Organization of a Classroom: You will experience a leadership role of head teacher. You will oversee an entire preschool program, supervising 55A student teachers and offering support and feedback, as well as overseeing and supporting the routines and schedule of the classroom.
  • Emergent Curriculum in a Chosen Activity Area: You will teach an emergent curriculum unit in an activity area chosen by you and the instructor. You will be taught the project cycle and how to expand children’s learning in that area.
  • Field Work in the Community: Working with the instructor, you will be sent out to one of our community partners, to experience best practices in the field. This pathway allows you to connect with a coach in a high-quality preschool in the area, to offer a broader perspective on what Early Childhood Education can look like when it is treated with respect and care.
From your 55C experiences, you will perceive how the separate pieces of a developmentally appropriate program fit and function together.
55A is a prerequisite for 55C. They may not be taken concurrently.

 

Resource Center
Have a question about the Early Childhood Education field or Merritt College and don’t know where to start? Contact the Merritt College Child Development Resource Center!
The Resource Center provides support to both Merritt students and surrounding community members within all of the following areas:
  • Course selection / Student Education Plan (SEP) development
  • Reviewing transcripts for degree and permit requirements
  • Certificate/Degree petition submission
  • Permit application process and permit renewal
  • ECE career navigation and support
Merritt College Child Development Resource Center Contact Information:

 

Contact Us:

 

Alice Chinn
會說普通話
Staff Assistant/
Professional Growth Advisor
 
To book a time with me, click Book Here!

 

Marlo Beall
CHDEV Counselor
 
To book a time with me, click Book Here!

Faculty & Staff

Full-Time Faculty
Michelle St. GermaineMichelle St. Germaine, Department Chair
mgermaine@peralta.edu
Office: 510-436-2588
Mobile: 510-936-0501

Lissette DominguezLissette Dominguez
ldominguez@peralta.edu
Office: 510-436-2596

Part-Time Faculty
Headshot PlaceholderTracey Black
tblack@peralta.edu

 

 Headshot PlaceholderAlisa Burton
aburton@peralta.edu
 Laura ChengLaura Cheng
lycheng@peralta.edu
 Shirley ChewShirley Chew
sjchew@peralta.edu

Headshot PlaceholderNanu Clark
nclark@peralta.edu

Headshot PlaceholderElizabeth Crocker
bcrocker@peralta.ed
Shirley Murillo Shirley Murillo
smurillo@peralta.edu
Bonnie RippbergerBonnie Rippberger
brippberger@peralta.edu
Office: 510-436-2588 
Headshot PlaceholderHaneefah Shuaibe
hshuaibe@peralta.edu
Headshot PlaceholderYufong Wang
ywang@peralta.edu
Headshot PlaceholderBernadette Zermeno
bzermeno@peralta.edu
 BernBirdie WinrowBernBirdie Winrow
bwinrow@peralta.edu

 

Faculty Emeritus
Jennifer BriffaJennifer Briffa

 

 Newt McDonaldNewt McDonald

 Christine OlsenChristine Olsen

Margaret BarteltMargaret Bartelt
mbartelt@peralta.edu

Headshot PlaceholderYufong Wang
ywang@peralta.edu
 

Contact Information

Department Chair
Michelle St. Germaine

Building A-106
mgermaine@peralta.edu
Office: (510) 436-2588
Google Voice:
(510) 936-0501

Staff Assistant
Alice Chinn
會講國語
merrittcollegechdev@gmail.com


(510) 545-2413‬

Chriss Warren Foster

Dean of Division
I-Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Dr. Chriss Warren Foster
cfoster@peralta.edu
(510) 434-3897

Denise Woodward

Assistant to the Dean
Denise Woodward
dwoodward@peralta.edu
(510) 436-2425

Counselors

Tanya Ilarde
CE Counseling Office
Building S | Room 438
(510) 434-3938
MCCareerEd@peralta.edu

Marlo Beall
CE Counseling Office
Building S | Room 438
(510) 434-3938
MCCareerEd@peralta.edu

Marisela Carvalho
CE Counseling Office
Building S | Room 438
(510) 434-3938
MCCareerEd@peralta.edu

Merritt-College-Campus-2

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