Theological Research Institute, Ltd. (TRI) | Evaluated Learning Experience
Early Childhood Development Birth to 8 (EDU 323)
60 hours (6 weeks).
May 2025 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: apply foundational theories of child development to analyze the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth of children from birth to age 8; identify and evaluate key developmental milestones and individual variations using observation and assessment tools commonly used in early childhood settings; design developmentally appropriate educational strategies that promote holistic learning and address diverse developmental needs in children from birth to age 8; discuss cultural and family influences on child development, including the importance of multicultural perspectives and partnerships with families; and communicate developmental knowledge through professional formats such as academic papers and educational presentations, using appropriate APA style and scholarly sources.
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 8. Major topics include foundational child development theories, developmental milestones and individual variations, observation and assessment techniques, developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) principles, and cultural and family influences on development. Content covers physical growth patterns, cognitive development stages, social-emotional learning, language acquisition, and multicultural perspectives in child development. The course emphasizes the use of standardized assessment tools, observation protocols, and family partnership strategies. Delivered through online instruction with multimedia resources, the course includes video observations of children at various developmental stages. Assessments consist of developmental milestone analysis projects, observation and assessment assignments, research papers using APA format, educational strategy design tasks, and professional presentation requirements.
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Child Development, or Educational Psychology (5/25).