Child Care and Development

Welcome to the Child Development Early Childhood (CDEC) Program!

Mission and Goals

The Child Development Early Childhood (CDEC) program is designed to provide instruction and field experience necessary for the successful care and guidance of young children from birth to five years of age. Emphasis is on the importance of early childhood education and high-quality care of children.

Program Overview

The curriculum leading to the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and Certificate of Proficiency Level 1 in Child Care and Development prepares students for the successful care and guidance of young children. Students completing the CDEC program are prepared to work with children in childcare centers, preschools, family care settings, early intervention programs, and Head Start programs. Childcare professions rapidly expanding, and this program may be a good fit for students who enjoy working around children, have strong communication skills, and like new challenges.

NOTE: The Texas Southmost College Child Development Academic Program requires all child development students enrolling in a child development laboratory course to obtain a criminal background check, affidavit, and TB test at their own expense. Students must fill out and submit a Background Student Information Form and a Background Check Consent Form to the Raul J. Guerra Child Development Center or call (956) 295-3701 or (956) 295-3702 for more information.

 

Associate of Applied Science in Child Care and Development

Associate of Applied Science

Statement of Purpose

The Child Development Early Childhood (CDEC) program is designed to provide instruction and field experience necessary for the successful care and guidance of young children from birth to eight years of age. Emphasis is placed on the importance of early childhood education and high-quality care of children.

Upon successful completion of the program, students may earn:

  • Associate of Applied Science - Child Care and Development

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Graduates will apply knowledge of child growth and development from birth through age eight to design and implement developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and inclusive learning experiences that support cognitive, physical, language, social-emotional, and creative development.
  2. Family and Community Engagement Graduates will develop and maintain respectful, reciprocal partnerships with families from diverse backgrounds by communicating effectively, incorporating family input into practice, and connecting families with community resources that support children’s well-being and learning..
  3. Observation, Assessment, Curriculum, and Program Planning Graduates will use systematic observation, documentation, and assessment strategies to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate curriculum and early childhood programs that are responsive to individual children’s developmental needs and support effective program planning and continuous improvement.
  4. Professionalism, Administration, and Ethical Practice Graduates will demonstrate professional and ethical practices by applying health, safety, and nutrition guidelines; adhering to legal and regulatory requirements; engaging in reflective practice and program improvement; and demonstrating professional competence in supervised early childhood field experiences consistent with the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.

Program of Study

1st Semester
CourseTitleCredits
CDEC-1354Child Growth and Development3
CDEC-1318Wellness of the Young Child3
CDEC-1200Lab Exp Child Growth & Develop2
CDEC-2326Administration of Programs for Children I3
ENGL-1301Composition I3
2nd Semester
CourseTitleCredits
CDEC-1313Curriculum Resources for Early Childhood Programs3
CDEC-1321The Infant and Toddler3
CDEC-2380Cooperative Education: Childcare Provider/Assistant Provider/Assistant3
CDEC-2328Administration of Programs for Children II3
3rd Semester (Summer)
CourseTitleCredits
MATH-1314College Algebra3
or
MATH-1332Contemporary Math (Quantitative Reasoning)3
PSYC-2301General Psychology3
SPCH-1315Public Speaking3
or
SPCH-1318Interpersonal Communication3
XXXX-X3XXLanguage, Philosophy, and Culture Elective3
or
XXXX-X3XXCreative Arts Elective3
4th Semester
CourseTitleCredits
CDEC-1359Children With Special Needs3
CDEC-1356Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood3
CDEC-2307Math and Science for Early Childhood3
CDEC-2336Administration of Programs for Children III3
5th Semester
CourseTitleCredits
CDEC-2341The School Age Child3
CDEC-2315Diverse Cultural/Multilingual Education3
CDEC-2487Intern-Child Care Provider/Assistant4

Notes

ENGL-1301, CDEC-1200, CDEC-1354, CDEC-1318, CDEC-2326, CDEC-1313, CDEC-1321, CDEC-2380, CDEC-2328, MATH-1314, MATH-1332, CDEC-1356, CDEC-1359, CDEC-2307, CDEC-2336, CDEC-2315, and CDEC-2341: Grade of “C” or better is required for graduation.

XXXX-X3XX (Language, Philosophy & Culture Elective) and XXXX-X3XX (Creative Arts Elective): Students may take any course within this category of the TSC General Education Core Curriculum.

This information is provided as an example only. You will develop a personalized plan with your Success Coach and faculty advisor/mentor that reflects your goals and interests. You are required to meet with an advisor each semester to ensure you are on track for graduation. This document does not contain all the information you need to stay on track for graduation.

Credit Hours

  • 60 credit hours — total of the courses listed above (calculated, alternatives counted once)

Catalog year 2026-2027 Last checked against the catalog October 13, 2026 Official catalog page Printable degree plan