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Postgraduate Diploma in Child Development

M.A in Child Development Curriculum Break-down:

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1. BIL 615:   BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE         2 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to give students a Biblical foundation in their lives and work, enabling them to be transformational agents in society. They will do this by spiritually empowering them to adequately become Christian Professionals in Ministry with Children. The course explores the challenges of empowering the poor in a world marked by marginalization, disempowerment, abuse, and injustice. Poverty is explored from a number of perspectives, concluding with a biblical framework. Responses to poverty are explored, including the goals of transformational development and the process and principles by which is pursued.

2. CHD 610: THEORIES OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT  2 CREDIT HOURS

This course examines the main models and theories of religious/spiritual development which apply to children, including James Fowler, Oser, Gillespie, Elkind, Aden, and Fuller. It also examines selected models and theories of Child Development which are potentially applicable to nurturing children including Piaget, Vygotsky, Kohlberg and Erikson.  Students also explore the Holy Scriptures with a view to developing a theology of children. The aim is to develop an integrated approach to the transmission of religious values and nurturing the spiritual and character growth of children primarily through the home, and secondarily through the church, the school and the wider community.

3. CHD 611:  CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT    3 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to prepare students to identify the physical, intellectual, spiritual and social/ emotional development of children from conception through adolescence. The students will apply knowledge of how children develop and learn to support diversity needs of children and their families.

4. GRW 611:  GRADUATE WRITING    2 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to expose the student to the highest level academic skills required for graduate studies and to develop those skills, especially as applied to the development of acceptable academic papers. It seeks to prepare the student to do effective research in his/her major field of study by introducing him/her to different research paradigms, procedures and processes. Types of research studies and methodologies, philosophical bases for perspectives, research design, statistical data analysis techniques, data presentation, qualitative methods - observational techniques, validity and reliability, interpretation of research findings are explored.

5. CHD 632:  HEALTH EDUCATION AND HABIT FORMATION IN CHILDREN      2 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to help students gain knowledge on the basic principles and practices of safety, health and nutrition as they relate to the children settings, homes, and communities. It will also include a study of the principles of creating appropriate environments for children to grow and live, a study of nutrition, health, safety, and related activities, including skill development in management of issues, guidelines, and practices in nutrition, as well as community health, hygiene, safety, and legal implications. Integration of these principles applied to a variety of settings is emphasized.

6. CHD 600:   EVANGELISM & DISCIPLESHIP FOR CHILDREN     2 CREDIT  HOURS

This course is designed to help the student to develop professionals skilled in the theory and practice of missions for committed service with children and families in a dynamic world. Students will be equipped with basic and effective methods to evangelize children. Emphasis is placed on organizing and conducting meaningful classroom activities which can enrich children spiritually.

 7. CHD 601:   THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT  2 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to help students gain an awareness of the wide variety of churches and church-related contexts in both urban and rural areas as they specifically relate to children.  An examination of the spiritual needs of children in light of their physical, social, emotional and mental development is explored with the role of religious education in the church, the school, and the home being highlighted. Download Full Desciption

8. CHD 631:  DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN CHILDREN  3 CREDIT HOURS

This course provides an overview of children psychopathology. An interactive developmental perspective for conceptualizing psychopathology as well as resilience is employed. In particular, the influence of development, neurobiological mechanisms, and contextual features in a child’s life on the emergence, exacerbation, and alleviation of psychopathology is explored. Contemporary diagnostic and treatment issues are critically reviewed.

9. PGM 612:  MANAGEMENT OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES   3 CREDIT HOURS

The purpose of this course is to provide students with guidance, key principles and framework for development and effective management of Child Development programs. Students examine the issues surrounding the development and administration of Child Development programs/projects and develop knowledge of and skills in the directorship, the development of budgets, funding acquisition, the writing of program policies, the management of a facility and the formation of professional relationships with staff, parents and the community.

10. CHD 621:  FACILITATION FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT   2 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to introduce or reinforce student’s facilitation as an empowering/enabling process for working with partner projects, and to introduce and review facilitation methodologies and techniques that are consistent with this philosophy in relation to child and adolescent development.

11. CHD 641:  CHILDREN RIGHTS & ADVOCACY SKILLS   3 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the concepts of advocacy and children’s rights through lectures, small group activities, written assignments and class presentations. The course helps students to identify children’s rights as stipulated in the different local and international child protection instruments.. The students will be able to understand why and how all children are covered by the law and their duty to work towards advocating for children rights and facilitate children to participate in issues affecting their lives.

11. CHD 633:  ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION SKILLS   2 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to equip students with skills and assessment tools on the levels of the problems of deprivation affecting children. It will help students to develop strategies to intervene in diverse situations facing children. 

12. CHD 603:  CHILD BEHAVIOUR, GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING  3 CREDIT HOURS

This course is designed to help students develop a variety of guidance management strategies and skills for guiding and counseling children based upon Child Development principles. The emphasis of the course is on preparing, organizing and maintaining physically and psychologically safe environments for children to live and thrive. The establishment of positive, collaborative family relations and supportive, professional, ethical behavior is emphasized. Consequences of stress and trauma on child development and behavior are explored. Observing and assessing child behavior is emphasized. Special attention is given to introducing ethical issues and how gender, class, and culture affect the counseling process.

13. CHD 607:  PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR    6 CREDIT HOURS

This course aims to assist students in integrating their learning as preparation for beginning professional practice in Child Development. The course integrates practical experience and theoretical knowledge as the student works directly with children living in childcare settings, families and institutions. Students examine and develop environments, materials, interactions, and planning which foster meaningful growth and development of children. Students meet weekly for a seminar to discuss theory, strategies, curriculum, and observations related to the practicum.

14. CHD 698:  THESIS   6 CREDIT HOURS

The Masters' Thesis for the M.A. in Child Development is a research project designed and carried out by the student, under the direction of a Supervisor-Reader team. While all students in the M.A. programme are expected to be good consumers of research, the thesis project is designed to prepare students to contribute to the research in the field and to gain important research experience necessary for entrance into a doctoral program.

The following are areas to be assessed upon completion of the thesis:

Overall structure

1. The thesis should be of adequate length to cover the research and also concise enough to reflect adequate refining.

2. In terms of organization, the thesis should flow from beginning to the end. It should also have appropriate divisions into chapters and sections. Discussions should be made at the appropriate place of particular issues.
3. Cohesion: It should cover: focus on the topic, avoid unnecessary diversions, effective organization of arguments, and should culminate in a definitive conclusion.
4. Proportions: The thesis should consider the relative space devoted to each chapter, such as introduction, literature review, data analysis, conclusions, appendices, etc.

General Content

1. Overview /introduction to research: Attention should be given to areas such as research framework and background, presentation of the problem, clarity of purpose statement, clarity of objectives, and theoretical framework.
2. Literature review: This should consider appropriate coverage of relevant topics, articulation of presentation in light of research topic, and reflection of current scholarship in the field.
3. Research methodology should cover the appropriateness of method(s) and tool(s) to research intent, clarity of presentation, and effectiveness of data collection.
4. Findings and analysis needs to demonstrate clarity and accuracy in presentation of findings, critical interpretation of findings, and integration of research findings with literature review.
5. Conclusions and recommendations should include a thoughtful summary of research, correlation of findings and summary with research objectives and theoretical framework, and substance of recommendations. They should also include how the student’s thesis contributes to existing knowledge and new questions that warrant further investigations.

Overall Writing Style and Formatting
The student will be required to produce ones own original work. Plagiarism is a criminal offence and will be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Attention should be given to composition and grammar, formatting, and the production of a clean copy free of typographical errors, as well proper referencing with care given to the place of quotations, citations, and bibliography. The bibliography should be adequate in length and breath of reading, with most works included being referred to in the text.

Scholarly contributions
These will cover scope, depth, and knowledge of study.

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