Certificate of Achievement in Child Development and Adolescent Development

The Child and Adolescent Development Certificate is a one-year program designed for students interested in careers working with children, adolescents, and families in community, educational support, and human services settings.

This program is not a teacher preparation program. Students gain foundational knowledge of child and adolescent development, social-emotional learning, family and community systems, and culturally responsive practices, with an emphasis on play-based learning and a whole-child approach to development. Coursework emphasizes real-world application, ethical and professional responsibilities, relationship-based practices, and observation of child and adolescent behavior. 

Students will also assess their interests, values, and strengths to explore career pathways and develop a career plan in child- and family-serving fields. Completion of the certificate prepares students for entry-level positions such as youth services worker, family support aide, behavioral support assistant, social services assistant, after-school program staff, and other roles in community-based organizations and educational support programs. This program serves as a foundation for further education and training in child development, social work, human services, speech pathology, occupational therapy, child life, child psychology, or related fields. Employment opportunities may vary and can be competitive, with some positions requiring additional education, training, certification, or experience for advancement.

Approximately 160-250 students will complete the Child and Adolescent Development Certificate of Achievement. 

The Child and Adolescent Development program provides an alternative career pathway for students who are interested in working with children, adolescents, and families outside of traditional classroom teaching roles. It prepares students for positions in community-based, educational support, and human services settings.

The program equips students with foundational knowledge of child and adolescent development and practical skills applicable to human services, education-adjacent, health, and community-based professions that support children and families.

Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to:

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Explain major theories and principles of child and adolescent development, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development from birth through adolescence.

2. Use observation and documentation skills to understand the behavior, development, and needs of children and adolescents in ethical and culturally responsive ways.

3. Demonstrate culturally responsive and family-centered practices, recognizing the role of family dynamics, culture, language, and community in development.

The Child and Adolescent Development Certificate of Achievement provides students with a clearly defined pathway into entry-level careers within community-based organizations, educational support programs, and human services settings. The program is intentionally designed to support students who are interested in working with children and adolescents but who may not be pursuing traditional teaching careers. By expanding career pathways within the field of child and adolescent development, the certificate increases access to employment opportunities and supports upward mobility for historically underserved and underrepresented populations.

At the regional level, there is a sustained and growing demand for trained professionals who can support children, youth, and families across a variety of service environments. Community agencies, after-school programs, behavioral support programs, and social service organizations continue to seek individuals with foundational knowledge of child and adolescent development and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations. This certificate directly responds to these workforce needs by preparing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enter these entry-level positions and contribute meaningfully to child- and youth-serving organizations.

Course Sequence

Los Angeles Harbor College currently offers a Child and Adolescent Development Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) degree, which is designed to prepare students to continue their education at a four-year institution. This degree pathway supports students pursuing careers that require advanced academic training, professional certification, and/or licensure, such as social work, counseling, speech pathology, child psychology, child life, pediatric occupational therapy, and related fields.

The proposed Child and Adolescent Development Certificate complements the existing AA-T by providing a shorter-term, workforce-oriented pathway. It serves as a stepping stone for students seeking immediate entry into the field, equipping them with foundational knowledge and skills applicable to entry-level positions in child-, youth-, and family-serving professions. At the same time, the certificate supports continued educational advancement by creating a clear pathway into the associate degree and beyond for those pursuing higher-level careers that require additional preparation.

At this time, Los Angeles Harbor College is the only institution within the district offering both a Child and Adolescent Development Associate of Arts for Transfer degree and a corresponding certificate pathway. This distinguishes the college as a leader in providing specialized academic and career pathways focused on child and adolescent development beyond traditional early childhood education.

Neighboring and regional community colleges, including Cerritos College, El Camino College, Long Beach City College, and Compton College, do not currently offer a degree or certificate specifically aligned with the Child and Adolescent Development pathway. While these institutions may offer related programs in Child Development/Early Childhood Education (ECE), none provide a focused pathway that addresses development across childhood and adolescence in community, educational support, and human services contexts.

As a result, Los Angeles Harbor College is uniquely positioned to meet an unmet educational and workforce need in the region by offering a dedicated pathway that supports both immediate employment opportunities and access to diverse career options working with children, youth, and families that go beyond teaching. 

Sample Table Format for Item 5. Enrollment Data

Not Applicable