Becoming a teacher changes your life and can transform many others

Do you feel a calling to a meaningful career? Teaching children and youth provides opportunities to change the lives of children and families for the better, and to evolve as a human being.

CCSF's Child Development and Family Studies Department supports students pursuing careers in caring for infants and toddlers, teaching in preschool, engaging in afterschool and youth work, teaching in TK-12 classrooms, and more! Our purpose is to foster passionate, reflective and skilled early childhood educators who create transformative, engaging and creative environments and relationships with young children. Our curriculum centers around social justice, sensory-motor development, brain development, the importance of reflective relationships and real-life engagement. 

We offer:

  • Child Development Permit Advising (email [email protected] to make a Permit Advising appointment)
  • Credit courses for Early Childhood Educators, Paraeducators, Youth Workers, and other Child Development professionals;
  • Non-credit courses for parents and caregivers (including their children);
  • CDEV Centers/Preschool programs for young children and their families;
  • A Family Resource Center at Mission campus
  • Support for the CDEV community in San Francisco

Our Programs

Degrees & Transfer

The AS Degree with a Major in Child Development allows students to earn a degree at CCSF that includes specialized courses in child development. The AS-T degree in Early Childhood Education and an AA-T degree in Child and Adolescent Development  are specifically designed for students interested in transfer to a college or university to pursue a Bachelor's Degree and more, such as ECE, PK-3, Special Education, K-12 education, and related fields such as social work or counseling. You may also continue to pursue an elementary, secondary or CTE teaching credential (required to teach in public K through 12 schools in California) or receive a BA or BS degree in a related field. Additional courses may be needed for future K-12 teachers.

Two Pathways in Child Development

Pathway 1 in ECE (Early Childhood Education) 

This pathway is best for pursuing careers in Early Childhood Education, Early Intervention, PK-3, Special Education/Inclusion, & K-5.

Pathway 2 in CAD (Child and Adolescent Development): 

This pathway is best for pursuing careers in K-5, Middle & High School teaching, Youthwork, K-12 Special Education/Inclusion, Counseling/Psychology, and Violence Intervention/ Community-Based Work. 

Meet with an academic counselor to make your EdPlan and determine the best pathway for you! 

Browse All Our Programs

News & Announcements

Fall 2026

Graduation

Check out the new stackable certificates in the Child Development Department! 

Pathway 1 in ECE is aligned with career competencies, Early Childhood permit academic requirements, licensing requirements and GE requirements to earn a transfer degree. Pathway 2 in CAD is aligned with career competencies and GE requirements to earn a transfer degree.

Congratulations certificate earners and graduates! You are "brain architects," building the foundational brain architecture for infants, toddlers and young children; youth workers engaging school age children; special educators including children with special needs and helping them to thrive. We are proud of you!

Fall 2025 - Fall 2026

  • Over 978 students completed CDEV certificates
  • 177 students completed AS, AS-T and AA-T degrees

Fall 2015 - Summer 2026: (10 years)

  • 7,503 students completed CDEV certificates
  • 1,031 students completed CDEV degrees

Visit the CCSF Course Schedule Online for more offerings: in-person, online, hybrid credit and non-credit classes. Try searching by location, course number or instructor name.

Child Care & Resources for Parenting Students and Community Members!

Child care teachers and children

Childcare for students* is available at Ocean Campus and Mission Center.

Ocean and Mission childcare centers are open to serve students!  If you are a student who is also a parent and need childcare our centers are ready to help.

For eligibility and enrollment, visit our office at Ocean Campus in BNGL 213 (behind the library and next to the Football field) or Mission RM 172 .

Priority is given to income-eligible families attending CCSF PT or FT as students. If there are still openings SF families who are eligible may enroll. Income eligibility is determined by the State Department of Education guidelines.

Please contact Stac'i Collins, Director of Early Childhood Programs at 415-239-3239 or 415-239-3465 & [email protected].

* Community Families are also welcome to inquire about childcare services for the both sites.

Ocean Family Resource Center

  • Part-Time Parent Co-Op on Campus
  • Resources for Parenting Students
  • Lactation Rooms and Reservations
  • STAR Tutoring Center Family Room

Mission Family Resource Center

Our goal is to build a community of student parents that become empowered through education and seek to improve their parenting skills through participation in the program.

The Family Resource Center Mission offers free drop-in childcare for children of City College students (6 months to 3 years old) while students attend their class.  We also care for children up to 12 years old when they have a day off from school and parents do not have alternative childcare. We do not accept children who have missed school because they are sick.

Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Contact
[email protected] or [email protected]
415.920.6087