Child Development Certificate Program
The objective of the Child Development Associate (CDA) track is to provide students with the necessary qualifications in order to apply for their national credential. The CDA National Credentialing Program began in 1971 as a way to improve the quality of care for young children across the United States and Puerto Rico. The candidate that receives her/his CDA credential can demonstrate competence in areas such as children’s social, emotional, and intellectual growth.
S/he should also be able to demonstrate the ability to work well with parents and co-workers in an effort to deliver high-quality childcare to young children. The credential can be achieved in three different settings: (1) infants and toddlers OR preschool, (2) family childcare, and (3) home visitor.
The CDA program at Goodwin College is an intense 18-credit two-semester program consisting of hours spent in the college classroom as well as hours spent in an early learning setting. Students are on campus in class five hours per week and are also responsible for 16 hours per week of classroom experience. This is a total of 240 hours per semester. The early learning setting the student decides to work in should reflect the type of CDA setting s/he is applying for. Students’ current places of employment can be used as fieldwork experience for the CDA if approved by the program director. Fieldwork placements are available through the college for those not currently in the workforce.
Upon successful completion of the 18 credits in this program, students will meet the national requirements for CDA candidates. An application will be submitted to the CDA Council in Washington, DC, for review. The student’s official CDA credential is awarded only after the student has passed the formal evaluation process. Goodwin College’s CDA program is designed to prepare students for this formal evaluation.
Students who successfully complete this program can transfer 12 credits to the 30-credit certificate program OR to the associate degree program. More information can be found on the Course Outline page.
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