Undergraduate Courses
Find us in Yale's course catalog
To see our current and upcoming offerings, visit Yale's online course catalog: https://registrar.yale.edu/yale-course-search.
Under Program/Subject, select 'Child Study Center' and submit the search.
A Sample of Frequent Offerings
Introduction to Child Development
CHLD 125a, PSYC 125a, EDST 125a
Instructors: Nancy Close, Carla Horwitz
Description: The first in a sequence including Theory and Practice of Early Childhood Education (CHLD127) and Language Literacy and Play (CHLD 128), this course provides students a theoretical base in child cognitive, social, and emotional development and tools to sensitively and carefully observe infants and young children. Based on the assumption that it is not possible to understand children without understanding families, culture, and parent-child relationships, the course includes an overview of major theories in the field. It focuses on the complex interaction between the developing self and the environment, exploring current research, theory, and practice. Students have the opportunity to see how programs for young children use psychodynamic and interactional theories to inform curriculum development. A central component of this course is a weekly practicum observation in an early childhood classroom.
Theory and Practice of Early Childhood Education
CHLD 127b, PSYC 127b, EDST 127b
Description: The course deals with development and delivery of curricula for young children ages 3-6 and the current context of educational reform and debate. Goals are to deepen insights through critical analysis of educational programs for young children in light of current research and developmental theory and to understand how political context contributes to the practice of education. Regularly scheduled seminar discussions and workshops engage students with learning materials and emphasize the ongoing dynamic process of developing emergent curriculum. The focus is on methods for creating a responsive, inclusive environment; planning and assessment; appreciating cultural and linguistic diversity; teachers’ roles; anti-bias education; working with families; conceptualizing the professional challenges of collaborating on a teaching team within the organization of the school; standards and accountability; and the role of policy and advocacy in educational change. The course uses newspaper and magazine articles and other recent media as primary sources, in addition to current research and other texts. A central component of this course is the weekly practicum observation in an early childhood classroom.
Language, Literacy, and Play
CHLD 128b, PSYC 128b, EDST 128b
Instructors: Nancy Close, Carla Horwitz
Description: The focus of this course is to demonstrate the complicated role that play has in the development of language and literacy skills. A major part of each topic presentation involves a discussion of the role that play has in the curriculum in enhancing these developmental areas. There is a widespread consensus that play is an essential component of a developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum. Research indicates that play enhances a child’s creativity, intellectual development, and social emotional development. Because learning to play, learning language, and learning literacy skills are all part of the process of thinking and communication, the course provides a view which attempts to demonstrate the integration of language, literacy, and play in an early childhood education curriculum. Theoretical aspects of each of these developmental areas are examined first, and it is that theoretical understanding that is the basis upon which ideas about curriculum arre explored, experienced, and discussed. A central component of this course is the weekly practicum observation in an early childhood classroom.
Autism and Related Disorders
CHLD 350b, PSYC 350b, EDST 350b
Instructors: James McPartland, Mariana Torres-Viso, Kelly Powell
Description: This is a weekly seminar focusing on autism and related conditions and including a series of lectures on topics in etiology, diagnosis and assessment, treatment and advocacy, and social neuroscience methods. Topics cover infancy through adulthood. The course also involves a supervised experience in the form of placement in a school, residence, or treatment setting for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
On-line Seminar on Autism and Related Disorders (summer session)
PSYC S350E
Instructor: Fred Volkmar
Description: This course for college students and beyond consists of on-line lectures and two mandatory live on-line discussion groups focused on autism and related disorders of socialization. The course includes a survey of current understandings and treatment of autism from infancy through adulthood. Topics include etiology, diagnosis and assessment, treatment and advocacy, and social neuroscience methods. The focus is on ways in which research findings are integrated into diagnosis and treatment practices. Enrollment is limited to 20 students.