Dr. Marcie Hill, Program Director
256.352.8383
marcie.hill@wallacestate.edu
Associate in Applied Science Degree (4 semesters)
Certificate (3 semesters)
Short-Term Certificate (1 semester)
At a Glance
Completion of the Child Development Program provides students with specialized education and the necessary knowledge and skills to become successful caregivers and administrators in early care and education programs such as family day cares, childcare centers, Head Start, Early Head Start or Pre-K.
Teachers of young children play a vital role in their development. Positive experiences during children’s early years are critical for brain development and can shape their views of themselves and the world. What children learn and experience in the first five years can affect their later success. Preschool teachers use a variety of teaching strategies and materials to teach basic skills and introduce concepts to children in all areas. Teacher assistants provide instructional support for classroom teachers. They may also tutor and assist children.
Program Expectations
Students enrolled in child development courses are required to participate in observations and field experiences to complete activities and assignments with young children for some coursework. Students are expected to be able to fulfill these assignments at the student’s expense and should plan accordingly. Students are expected to abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of behavior of the clinical agencies.
Child Development courses are offered online and utilize Canvas for communication, information and submission of assignments so students are expected to have access to an up-to-date computer with a webcam and Internet access and have the necessary skills to complete coursework utilizing word processing and accessing Internet files or websites. CHD 215 requires a background check. Contact the CHD program director for background check information.
Child Development program faculty may require all online quizzes or exams to be completed using a webcam and designated browser as described in course syllabi. Any request for transferred credit for CHD courses must be for courses completed within the last five years with a grade of at least a “C” or above. Not all CHD courses are eligible for transferred credit. Contact program director for details.
Child Development courses are offered in only an online format. Students may enroll in most of the child development (CHD) courses in any order except CHD 215, which should be taken during your last spring semester.
Prior to registering for CHD 215, the student must clear a completed background check through the college or provide a copy of a cleared background check from the State of Alabama or Department of Human Resources dated within one year. Students are also required to sign and submit copies of college policies from the Child Development program handbook.
Students can fulfill the 120 hours of professional early childhood education training for the Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) by successfully completing three courses which are CHD 100, CHD 206, and CHD 204 or 209 (infant and toddler only). See below for details.
The Child Development Associate in Applied Science at Wallace State Community College is accredited by the Commission on Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, 1313 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005. (800) 424-2460 ext. 8001.
Career Path
The Child Development Associate in Applied Science Degree program is designed to prepare students for employment in preschool programs. Emphasis is upon development competency in guiding the experience of preschool children. Graduates may be employed as teacher assistants or aides in public school systems, Head Start or Alabama's First Class Pre-K and as teachers or directors in other private and preschool programs. Classes in this program are designed to meet the Alabama state minimum standard qualifications for a director, program director, and teacher in a licensed child care center. Some Child Development courses from WSCC will be accepted for transfer to other four year institutions to obtain a B.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education. Please consult the Alabama Transfers transfer guide for the latest information.
The Child Development Certificate is designed as a step between the short-term certificates and the Associate in Applied Science degree in Child Development. Students who earn a certificate in child development are qualified to work as assistants in many early care and education programs including the First Class Pre-K and Head Start classrooms and in many other early care and education programs. The program offers the student background knowledge of all stages of child growth and development; training and practical experience in conducing all types of learning activities with children; knowledge and application of techniques in positive guidance and discipline, health, safety, and first aid practices, and basic knowledge of the state minimum standards for day care centers and homes.
The Child Development Short-Term Certificate program offers the student background knowledge of all stages of child growth and development; training and practical experience in conducting all types of learning activities with children; knowledge and application of techniques in positive guidance and discipline, health, safety and first aid practices, and a basic knowledge of the state minimum standards for day care center and homes. It fulfills basic objectives to provide care to children in the following areas: Infant/Toddler, Preschool/Family Child Care I & II, Child Development, and Early Childhood Education I & II. Courses to earn at least one of the short-term certificates are offered each semester. Students who earn a minimum of nine hours in child development are qualified to obtain teaching positions as assistants in Head Start and First Class Pre-K classrooms or many other early care programs.
Employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 61,400 openings for preschool teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. The median annual wage for preschool teachers in the U.S. was $37,120 as of May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Preschool Teachers, visited Mar. 18, 2026).
** For apprenticeship information see General Studies with Concentration in Child Development Apprenticeship pathway. **
