Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Infant and Toddler Development

The Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Infant and Toddler Development prepares students to work with infants and toddlers and their families in a variety of settings including childcare, family care settings, and Early Head Start programs.

Admission Requirements

Graduation Requirements

EDEC A105Introduction to the Field of Early Childhood Education3
EDEC A106Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood3
EDEC A107Child Development and Learning3
EDEC A108Health, Nutrition and Wellness for Children Birth-123
EDEC A241Infant and Toddler Development3
EDEC A242Culturally Responsive Family Engagement3
Total18

A minimum of 18 credits is required for the certificate.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with an Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Infant and Toddler Development will be able to: 

  • Create a healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environment based on knowledge of infant and toddler development.
  • Create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and involve all families in their children’s development and learning.
  • Use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence infant and toddler’s development and learning.
  • Use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice.
  • Demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on professional practice, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources.

Sample Plan

The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.

Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.

  • Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
  • GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
  • Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
  • Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
  • Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
  • Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
EDEC A105 Introduction to the Field of Early Childhood Education 3
EDEC A106 Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood 3
EDEC A107 Child Development and Learning 3
 Credits9
Spring
EDEC A108 Health, Nutrition and Wellness for Children Birth-12 3
EDEC A241 Infant and Toddler Development 3
EDEC A242 Culturally Responsive Family Engagement 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits18