Child Development Major with Education Specialist Credential

PICES is a pathway for undergraduate students to obtain a bachelor's degree in Child Development and a teaching credential in K-12 Special Education at the same time, within four years.

Students who enroll in the Pathway Integrating Child Development and Education Specialist (PICES) program become highly trained special education teachers prepared to teach immediately after earning a bachelor of arts degree. Students can enroll in PICES as incoming first-years or as a community college transfers.

Whittier also has a graduate program in education which offers credential and Master of Arts in Education degree programs.

• Request more information about the PICES Pathway
• See a sample course plan for first-year students
• See a sample course plan for community college transfer students

PICES Pathway Required Courses

The courses listed below are for illustrative purposes only. Official degree requirements can be found in the Whittier College Catalog.

Courses offered in fall

INTD 100 Freshmen Writing Seminar
Linked Course
MATH 80/PSYC 214 Statistics/Lab
EDUC 402 Literacy Development in Elementary School
EDUC 406 Learning and Learners
EDUC 429 Introduction to Exceptional Learners
EDUC 430 Foundations of Special Education
EDUC 431 Assessment of Exceptional Students
EDUC 434 Instructional Methods—Mild/Moderate
CHDV 497 Senior Seminar

Courses offered in spring

EDUC 300 Introduction to Social and Anthropological Perspectives
EDUC 401 Teaching Diverse Learners
EDUC 404 Second Language Acquisition
PAIR 6 (CON 1/Lib Ed requirement)
EDUC 420 Student Teaching Seminar
EDUC 421 Student Teaching Seminar: Education Specialist
EDUC 432 Case Management and Assistive Technology
EDUC 433 Creating Positive Classroom Management
EDUC 436 Instructional Methods-Moderate/Severe

Courses offered in fall and spring

CHDV 105 Introductions to Child Development
PLSC 110 American Government & Politics
CHDV 225 Research Methods in Child Development
PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology
EDUC 67 Experiences in Education
CHDV 305 Literature Review
CHDV 200/300 elective
CHDV 488 Child Development Practicum
KNS 409 Promoting Student Health