MALCOLM X COLLEGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 

(From Left to Right) Professors Rigsby, O'Donnell, & Copeland

The Ongoing Need for Early Childhood Professionals

The need for early childhood teachers, assistants and administrators will continue to grow in the future.  Between the years 2000 and 2010 the field will likely need an additional 2,734 early childhood teachers in the City of Chicago alone.

In order to accomplish its mission, MXC Child Development Program empower students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to provide quality education and care to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.  In recognition of the diversity of our student population, our mission statement strives to provide them with an assortment of career opportunities in child development.  In order to accomplish its academic mission, the Child Development program has adopted the National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYCE) standards as a model to guide the educational direction of our students.  These standards are the foundation of our curriculum and the core of our accountability, which ensures that we meet national standards.  Our articulation agreements with state and private universities rely on our ability to maintain continuity of instruction.  The NAEYC standards are aligned with and meet national standards.

Presently, graduates of the child development program work with children and families in preschool centers, family child care homes, head start programs, as well as, recreation and religious institutions.  With such diverse student interest, our program is interactive, combining theory and practice.  We also require students to complete a professional portfolio, which provides clear evidence of their professional/intellectual growth and academic achievement.  The portfolio is reflective of student’s work and allows them to document and assess that which they can do and have learned.

Professionals in child development/early childhood education must be well prepared to work successfully with young children and their families.  Our program provides field experience or off-site experiential learning opportunities and an academic curriculum with optimize our ability to offer both structured and unstructured learning opportunities to students.  In conclusion, the Child Development program at Malcolm X College recognizes that extra effort made early in the lives of children can enhance their future development.

Careers in Child Development

An AAS degree in Child Development may help prepare you for any of the following positions.  Note that additional training and certification may be necessary in some cases.

CURRICULUM
 Required for Graduation:                                                
Child Development Courses – 32 credit hours                  
General Education Courses – 18 credit hours                  
General Electives – 12 credit hours