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Department Mission
The diversified
liberal arts program in Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) provides
students with a broad and balanced background in the liberal arts,
including the arts and humanities, the sciences, and mathematics,
beyond that required for general education. Students are encouraged
to direct their own education as much as possible; with the agreement
of an advisor, they select from among courses to challenge their individual
strengths and weaknesses in order to acquire solid subject-matter
knowledge in preparation for teaching and working with/or on behalf
of children. In addition, the ChAD major provides students with an
especially thorough grounding in child and adolescent development,
an understanding that is essential to effective work with children.
Students are provided with practical experience with children in classroom
contexts as well as traditional textbook learning; they are also encouraged
to acquire and use critical thinking skills throughout their coursework.
The program provides
a well-rounded curriculum that incorporates theory, research, policy,
and practice. The course of study includes: a command of various theories
and milestones of human development; an appreciation of the influences
of parents, peers, teachers, social institutions, and other socializing
agents on all domains of development throughout childhood and adolescence;
an appreciation of the importance of issues of equity including the
special considerations relevant to cultural and ethnic diversity;
an awareness of effects of different child-rearing practices or conditions
on the fulfillment of development promise (e.g., parenting styles,
day care, divorce, child abuse); and understanding of individual differences
(e.g., learning styles, differing abilities) and how to accommodate
them; and a sensitivity to the commonalties and diversities in people
of all ages.
The goal of the
ChAD Department is to develop educated people who are intelligent,
well-informed, responsible lifelong learners, and who take an active
interest in the world around them. This goal has four elements:
- First, educated people recognize
the value of formal and informal education and the danger of ignorance;
they see learning as a lifelong process; they have both breadth and
depth of factual knowledge; they have an understanding of human
development; they have an understanding of the fundamentals of mathematics
and a broad view of what science is, what it has achieved, and what
it might continue to achieve; they have an historical perspective
on their own time and an understanding of other civilizations and
cultures from these and former times; they are politically literate.
- Second, they are problem
solvers and apply critical thinking skills. They can make sense
out of complexity, make decisions, and facilitate change.
- Third, they have technological
and informational competence; they can read with comprehension and
express themselves clearly both in speech and in writing.
- Fourth, they are compassionate,
responsible, inquisitive, flexible, patient, and self-confident.
They understand and respect the diversity of the human experience,
and are committed to equity and excellence.
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Child & Adolescent Development
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0075
Phone: 408.924.3718
Fax: 408.924.3758
Located in: SH 201
Hours: M-F 9am-5pm
(closed from 12pm-1pm)
contact us | campus map
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