Certificate of Achievement: Infant and Toddler Studies

Catalog Description

The infant and toddler pathway prepares students to care for infants/toddlers (0-36 months) in various settings. With a focus on infant-toddler development across domains, developmentally appropriate environments, and theoretical perspectives, the program focuses on equipping you with the core competencies necessary to create respectful, reciprocal, culturally inclusive and responsive relationships with diverse infants and toddlers and their families. In collaboration with the LASC Child Development Lab School, you will have opportunities to gain practical experience observing infant/toddler development in action. The infant-toddler certificate of achievement is also one option for fulfilling the requirements of the Master Teacher permit.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Integrate understanding of characteristics, special needs, and multiple influences on the development of children from birth to 36 months as it relates to early childhood theories and milestones for optimal growth and development.

2. Demonstrate understanding of infant/toddler social emotional development, mental health, adverse childhood experiences, brain growth and development, and the importance of attachment and relationships on the lives of children.

3. Implement strategies for supporting the inclusive development of children from birth to 36 months in response to observation and consideration of children’s individual needs.

Program Requirements

Certificate of Achievement: Infants and Toddlers Studies 

Required Core Total: 17 units

TOTAL UNITS: 17 units

Enrollment and Completer Projections

The program projects 20 annual completers once fully established, consistent with current enrollment trends in existing Child Development courses. The Net Annual Labor Demand of 1,719 (SOC: 25-2011) demonstrates that completer projections are well-supported by regional workforce demand.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

Integrate understanding of characteristics, special needs, and multiple influences on the development of children from birth to 36 months as it relates to early childhood theories and milestones for optimal growth and development.

Demonstrate understanding of infant/toddler social emotional development, mental health, adverse childhood experiences, brain growth and development, and the importance of attachment and relationships on the lives of children.

Implement strategies for supporting the inclusive development of children from birth to 36 months in response to observation and consideration of children’s individual needs.

The Certificate of Achievement : Infants and Toddlers Studies  requires completion of 17 units designed to prepare students for employment working with infants, toddlers, and families in early childhood education settings. The curriculum provides students with foundational and specialized knowledge in child development, family engagement, infant and toddler care, observation and assessment, and early brain development.

The required core courses include Child Growth and Development (CH DEV 001), Child, Family and Community (CH DEV 011), Infant & Toddler Studies I (CH DEV 030), Infant & Toddler Studies II (CH DEV 031), and Observing and Recording Children’s Behavior (CH DEV 034). In addition, students complete one of the following specialized courses: The Growing Brain I: From Birth to Five Years Old (CH DEV 016) or The Growing Brain II: From Birth to Five Years Old (CH DEV 017). The Growing Brain courses provide students with an understanding of how relationships, environments, stress, trauma, and responsive caregiving influence healthy brain development and learning during early childhood.

The proposed sequence is designed to support student success and progressive skill development. During Year 1, students complete 9 units consisting of CH DEV 001, CH DEV 011, and CH DEV 030 to build a strong foundation in child development and infant and toddler care. During Year 2, students complete CH DEV 031, CH DEV 034, and either CH DEV 016 or CH DEV 017 to strengthen their knowledge of observation, assessment, responsive caregiving, and early brain development. The total requirement for the certificate is 17 units.

The Certificate of Achievement : Infants and Toddlers Studies replaces the existing Infants and Toddlers Skills Certificate on the college’s inventory (Catalog 2025-2026, page 134). The existing Skills Certificate record should be made inactive upon approval of this Certificate of Achievement. This change corrects an incomplete prior change request in which the certificate type and title were not changed from Skills Certificate to Certificate of Achievement.

Similar Programs at Other Colleges in Service Area

A review of similar programs within commuting distance of Los Angeles Southwest College shows that several nearby colleges offer certificates related to Infants and Toddlers Studies .These include West Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, and East Los Angeles College.

West Los Angeles College – Infant and Toddler Studies Certificate of Achievement (16 units)
Infant and Toddlers Studies Certificate of Achievement is designed for students interested in careers as preschool teachers, teaching assistants, and childcare workers. This certificate requires completion of all courses with a minimum grade of "C." Courses in this certificate program may be applied to several Certificates of Achievements, such as Title 22 Preschool Associate Teacher Certificate, Administration & Supervision of Early Childhood Certificate, Special Needs Children Certificate, and Health, Nutrition & Food Sanitation in ECE Programs.

Los Angeles City College offers The Infant & Toddler Certificate of Achievement (21 units) The Infant & Toddler Studies certificate of achievement qualifies the student for the most entry-level teacher position within private infant/toddler programs. Infant/Toddler teachers are responsible for supervising the care and development of children from birth through 2½ years old. Responsibilities include developing and sustaining caring, loving, respectful relationships; designing developmentally age-appropriate curriculum; organizing parent conferences; and establishing clear daily communications with parents and other caregivers.

East Los Angeles College offers a Infant/Toddler Certificate of Achievement (17 units)

This program is designed for students working with very young children, from birth to 35 months. Students will learn about individual development assessments and issues, planning of developmentally appropriate activities, and program quality environmental reviews. In addition, infant and toddler program types, accreditation standards, and career pathways are explored.

El Camino College offers  The Early Intervention Assistant Certificate of Achievement (30-units)

 This program is designed to prepare students to work with young children with special needs and their families in early childhood and intervention settings. The program provides students with foundational knowledge in child growth and development, infant and toddler care, family and community relationships, health and safety, curriculum planning, observation and assessment, and inclusive educational practices for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

The required core curriculum includes Child Growth and Development, Home, The School, The Community, Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition, Introduction to Children with Special Needs, Curriculum and Strategies for Children with Special Needs, and Special Education Practicum. Students also complete coursework in infant and toddler development and may select elective courses in curriculum, creative arts, music and movement, science and math, language arts, observation and assessment, and disabilities such as autism and ADHD. The practicum component provides students with supervised field experience working directly with children with special needs in early childhood settings.

The program projects 20 annual completers once fully established, consistent with current enrollment trends in existing Child Development courses. The Net Annual Labor Demand of 1,719 (SOC: 25-2011) demonstrates that completer projections are well-supported by regional workforce demand.

The  Certificate of Achievement: Infants and Toddlers Studies replaces the existing Infants and Toddlers Skills Certificate on the college’s inventory (Catalog 2025-2026, page 134). The existing Skills Certificate record should be made inactive upon approval of this Certificate of Achievement. This change corrects an incomplete prior change request in which the certificate type and title were not changed from Skills Certificate to Certificate of Achievement.

• The proposed Infants and Toddlers Studies Certificate of Achievement increases the total required units from 15 units to 17 units.
• The proposed Certificate of Achievement includes the addition of a specialized early brain development course:
  • CH DEV 016 – The Growing Brain I: From Birth to Five Years Old, or
  • CH DEV 017 – The Growing Brain II: From Birth to Five Years Old.
    These courses are not included in the current Skill Certificate.
• The proposed Certificate of Achievement provides students with expanded knowledge related to neuroscience, early brain development, the effects of stress and trauma, and responsive caregiving practices during the first five years of life.