BA CDS Course Descriptions

1. Bachelor of Arts Degree Core (No less than 108 units required)

The Bachelor of Arts Degree Core is divided into three main areas: (1) B.A. Core Requirement; (2) B.A. Core Distribution; (3) General Ministry Skills. See “Bachelor of Arts Degree Core Curriculum” section for the comprehensive course list.

• I. B.A. Core Requirement (60 units)
• II. B.A. Core Distribution (48 units)
• III. General Ministry Skills (0 unit)

2. Major Courses (No less than 48 units required)

• I. Children's Development Studies Core Courses (24 units)

  Complete the following six (6) core courses:

  • CDVS150 Philosophy of Christian Education (4 units)
  • CDVS170 Introduction to Ideas and Methods of Charlotte Mason (4 units)
  • CDVS210 Exploring Inspirational Subjects (4 units)
  • CDVS240 Exploring Disciplinary Subjects (4 units)
  • CDVL340 Investigations into Habit Formation (4 units)
  • CDVS350 Fostering Early Childhood Growth (4 units)
• II. Children's Development Studies Elective Courses (24 units)

  Choose six (6) or more courses from list below:

  • CDVS100 Child Growth and Development (4 units)
  • CDVS110 Child, Parent, and Community Relations (4 units)
  • CDVS120 Curriculum Development and the Learning Atmosphere (4 units)
  • CDVS130 Health, Safety and Nutrition (4 units)
  • CDVS140 Children’s Literacy Development (4 units)
  • CDVS160 Philosophical Foundations of Educational Methods (4 units)
  • CDVS200 Infant and Toddler Development (4 units)
  • CDVS220 Children's Literature (4 units)
  • CDVS230 Exploring Mathematics with Children (4 units)
  • CDVS300 Exploring Art and Movement with Children (4 units)
  • CDVS310 Art and Handicrafts for Educators (4 units)
  • CDVS320 Music and Art Appreciation (4 units)
  • CDVS330 Behavior Management and Guidance of School Age Children (4 units)
  • CDVS400 Introduction to Administration of Early Childhood Education (4 units)
  • CDVS410 Administration and Supervision of Early Programs (4 units)
  • CDVS420 Supervised Field Work (4 units)
  • CDVS430 Special Topics (1-4 units)>/

3. Ministry Practice (No less than 9 units required)

B.A. in Children's Developmental Studies students are required to complete 9 units of internship credits either in Practicum or Field Experience. Students may take up to 1 additional credit toward graduation. For more information, please see the Ministry Practice Handbook.

CDVS-INTERN 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290 (1 each)

4. Open Elective (No less than 16 units required)

B.A. in Children's Developmental Studies students are required to take an additional 16 units of open electives. The electives can be chosen from any courses, including Children's Development Studies Elective Courses, from OU's Undergraduate Catalog.

Course Descriptions

Children’s Development Major Courses

CDVS100 Child Growth and Development (4)
Students will study human development from conception through adolescence, focusing on cognitive, moral, social, emotional and physical development during the formative years. In addition, the student will focus on spiritual development.

CDVS110 Child, Parent, and Community Relations (4)
Students will learn the practical methods to work and communicate effectively with parents and communities in order to foster growth in children. Emphasis is placed on the formation and maintenance of optimal teaching-learning atmosphere at school and home in partnership with constituents of the community. Topics such as on parent education and involvement, family communication plans, and shepherding principles are included.

CDVS120 Curriculum Development and the Learning Atmosphere (4)
Establishing a framework for understanding and developing curriculum based on principles of growth and development as well as philosophical approaches to education. Examination of and reflection upon questions emerging when creating physical, academic, and social learning atmosphere and creating one’s own classroom environment including school year routines and norms.

CDVS130 Health, Safety and Nutrition (4)
This course deals with health and safety issues, nutrition, and growth of the developing child, and will enable students to put the wide range of knowledge and skills gained into practical application.

CDVS140 Children’s Literacy Development (4)
This course explores educational philosophy and instructional method necessary to teach children of various levels of reading, listening, speaking and writing, not limiting the learning environment to a classroom, but the home and community.

CDVS150 Philosophy of Christian Education (4)
This course examines the foundations of teaching profession, including a study of the historical and philosophical argument for Christian Education. Emphasis is placed on developing a biblical philosophy of Christian Education based on Charlotte Mason’s educational approach.

CDVS160 Philosophical Foundations of Educational Methods (4)
Inquiry into the philosophical foundations of contemporary educational approaches to teaching and learning, including Olivet Academy’s pedagogy based on Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. The goal of the course is to make foundations of education “real” by enhancing one’s understanding of the way that public spaces in the school environment introduce, enhance, and sustain a particular philosophy of teaching and learning.

CDVS170 Introduction to Ideas and Methods of Charlotte Mason (4)
This course will investigate Charlotte Mason’s educational ideas and methods by introducing essential works and writings of Mason and other writers who align with her philosophy. The purpose of the course is to prepare the students to be capable of applying her ideas and pedagogy in a classroom setting.

CDVS200 Infant and Toddler Development (4)
This course presents an overview of the developing child from conception through age three. The course specifically examines how the child develops through the various stages and the influential factors which enhance or inhibit development. Students will be exposed to a variety of techniques for working with infants and toddlers beginning at birth. They will be trained in the development of curriculum and activities for individual children, as well as for group programs.

CDVS210 Exploring Inspirational Subjects (4)
Integration of the five-part method of a lesson used at Olivet Academy as a renewing vision and philosophy of education must lead to an applied method. Emphasis is on exploring instructional method and strategies of inspirational subjects that support all children’s development in the content areas consistent with Charlotte Mason’s educational approach adopted by Olivet Academy.

CDVS220 Children's Literature (4)
This course explores criteria for selecting appropriate literature, including poetry, from the Pre-K level through high school, focusing on the values of the living books, narration, authors and illustrators.

CDVS230 Exploring Mathematics with Children (4)
This course is designed to provide materials, methods and strategies for teaching mathematics to children and build mathematic literacy.

CDVS240 Exploring Disciplinary Subjects (4)
Integration of the five-part method of a lesson used at Olivet Academy as a renewing vision and philosophy of education must lead to an applied method. Emphasis is on exploring instructional method and strategies of disciplinary subjects that support all children’s development in the content areas consistent with Charlotte Mason’s educational approach adopted by Olivet Academy.

CDVS300 Exploring Music and Movement with Children (4)
This course teaches the basic knowledge of music theory and music and movement practice such as in Swedish drill, folk dances, folksongs, hymns, psalm songs to enable the student to instruct music and movement education.

CDVS310 Art and Handicrafts for Educators (4)
This course explores basic principles and techniques in historical and contemporary art and handicrafts, including nature illustration and crafts, to engage children with art and life skills.

CDVS320 Music and Art Appreciation (4)
This course will explore effective methods to conduct music and art appreciation according to Charlotte Mason inspired educational philosophy.

CDVS330 Behavior Management and Guidance of School Age Children (4)
This course will promote children’s growth in mental, emotional, social, physical and spiritual areas and focus on how to provide behavior management and guidance of school aged children, covering adolescent psychology.

CDVL340 Investigations into Habit Formation (4)
Investigations into habit formation and assessment of children’s growth and learning in Early Childhood and Childhood educational settings. Strategies to implement the fourfold process of habit formation and formative assessment adopted by Olivet Academy will be explored. The goal of the course is to help the students to foster good habit formation by integrating one’s understanding of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy with principles and practices of assessment.

CDVS350 Fostering Early Childhood Growth (4)
Investigations into fostering early childhood growth in school setting according to Charlotte Mason’s pedagogy. Special emphasis is placed on considerations of the Kindergarten. Examples of subjects covered include Reading, Recitation, Narration, Writing, Transcription, Spelling and Dictation, Composition, Bible Lessons, Arithmetic, Natural Philosophy, Geography, History, Grammar, Foreign Languages, and Pictorial Art.

CDVS400 Introduction to Administration of Early Childhood Education (4)
This course provides introductory skills required to direct programs that serve young children, including budgeting, creating curriculum design, and administrative, supervisory, and communication skills

CDVS410 Administration and Supervision of Early Programs (4)
This course teaches the basic administrative and supervisory skills that a center director is required to know, including budgeting, developing staff policies and training programs, building parent or caretaker relationships, and accreditation. Topics include the development of a program philosophy, designing a curriculum related to a given philosophy, working with staff, parents, and the community, as well as designing a budget and other day-to-day management needs in a child care program, in line with California Title 22 regulations. Prerequisite: CDVS400

CDVS420 Supervised Field Work (4)
The student will apply what he/she has learned through field work, working alongside young children. The student will be required to be on the field for a minimum of eight hours per week to pass the course. Students are responsible to find an accredited or government approved childcare in which he or she can work, fill out a time sheet, and write a report at the end of the course. The supervised field work director communicates with the childcare for student evaluation.

CDVS-ITERN 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290 (1 each)
The student will apply what he/she has learned through field work, working alongside children. The student will be required to be on the field for a minimum of eight hours per week to pass the course. Students are responsible to find an accredited or government approved childcare or a K-12 school in which he or she can work, fill out a timesheet, and write a report at the end of the course. The supervised field work director communicates with the educational facility for student evaluation.