Fort Valley State University

Linda Johnson
Interim Head
478-825-6234
johnsonl@fvsu.edu

Infant and Child Development includes with the study of young children from conception to adulthood. Emphasis, however, lies primarily on the early childhood years, a very special age span in human development.

Job opportunities are many and varied for those trained in this area. In 1980, there were roughly 30 million children in the United States under the age of six. All of these children were not enrolled in preschool educational programs, but if they had been, there would not have been enough early education programs to meet the needs, nor enough qualified, trained teachers.

The bachelor’s degree graduate in Infant and Child Development can expect to find employment in supervisory and professional positions. Teachers in public and private nursery schools, college laboratories, kindergartens, child welfare agencies, special programs for gifted, disadvantaged, and handicapped children, youth camp directors, and hospitals are among the many existing employment opportunities. Additional opportunities, with advanced training, exist in consulting, research and college/university teaching.

One hundred and ninety-eight credit hours are required to complete the program of which, sixty-six are in infant and child development. These courses are planned to equip teachers of young children with fundamental views and skills so that they may function effectively with the children in their care. These courses will also aid students in developing a personal philosophy on how children learn and why they behave as they do. Support courses in English, history, foods and nutrition, home economics, and psychology are also required. A beginning salary range of $19,000-$28,000 per year is common for B.S. degree graduates.