Advisement Resources

Need Academic Advising?

If you are looking for assistance with course planning, graduation requirements, or general academic tracking, please connect directly with our college's dedicated advisement hub:

College of Health and Human Development (HHD) Student Services Center

Before You Reaching Out...

To make the most of your advising session, remember to:

  1. Log into your CSUN Portal and pull up your latest Degree Progress Report (DPR).

  2. Watch our quick DPR Planning Tutorial Video so you can map out a draft schedule before speaking with an advisor.

 

CADV Advising Video Library

Need quick answers about your academic path? Check out our short, step-by-step advising videos designed to help you navigate your degree requirements.

Stay Updated: Make sure to subscribe to our CADV YouTube Channel for newly released guides and up-to-date informational videos.

Degree Planning & Graduation Essentials

  • How do I use my DPR to plan classes?

    • Essential Viewing: You must watch this video and map out your path - you do not need to meet with an advisor when planning your classes each semester. 

    • 📺 Watch Video

  • How do I apply for graduation?

    • Learn the timeline, application fees, and steps to officially submit your graduation evaluation.

    • 📺 Watch Video

Exams & University Requirements

  • What is the Upper Division Writing Exam (UDWE)?

    • Find out when you are eligible to take it, how to sign up, and what score you need to pass this university requirement.

    • 📺 Watch Video

Program Options & Opportunities

  • Thinking about changing your major to CADV?

    • Want to see if the classes you've already taken count toward our program? Watch this before you submit your declaration form.

    • 📺 Watch Video

  • Want to study abroad as a CADV major?

    • Discover how you can travel the world while completing your child development degree requirements.

    • 📺 Watch Video

Transfer Student Pathways to the CADV BA

Welcome to the Child and Adolescent Development department! Your transition to CSUN depends on your transfer program type. Review the two pathways below to see how your lower-division community college units will apply toward your Bachelor of Arts degree.

Pathway 1: The "Degree with a Guarantee" (STAR Act / SB 1440)

If you are an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) student accepted into CSUN under the STAR Act, your pathway is highly streamlined.

  • Automatic Credit: You will automatically receive credit for 8 lower-division classes (24 units).

  • Degree Option: These units apply directly toward the STAR Act Early Childhood Development Option of the CADV BA degree, ensuring you can graduate on time by completing exactly 60 remaining units at CSUN.

Pathway 2: Traditional Transfer (Non-STAR Act)

If you are transferring from a community college or another university without the specific SB 1440 "Degree with a Guarantee," your credits will be evaluated individually.

  • Applied Units: Typically, 15 to 16 lower-division units will transfer directly into the major.

  • Core Course Equivalencies: These units generally cover core foundational requirements, including:

    • CADV 150 – Foundations of Child and Adolescent Development

    • FCS 234 – The Consumer in the Community

    • HSCI 131 – Health Science

  • Next Steps: Be sure to review your personalized Degree Progress Report (DPR) / Degree Audit on the CSUN portal to verify how your specific transfer courses have cleared.

 

 

Ready to Join CADV?

Whether you are launching a new academic path or adding a specialization to your current degree, we make it easy to transition into our department.

🔹 Declare CADV as Your Major or Minor

Ready to officially join us? Follow our step-by-step guide to submit your paperwork. 👉 Click Here for Major/Minor Declaration Instructions 

🔹 Switch to CADV or Add a Double Major

If you are planning to change your major to CADV or balance a double major, you will need to map out your Degree Progress Report (DPR) to ensure an efficient graduation timeline. 👉 Learn How to Read and Use Your DPR 

 

 

Where Can a CADV Degree Take You?

The undergraduate degree in Child and Adolescent Development (CADV) at CSUN appeals to a wide range of students! Whether you are passionate about healthcare, mental wellness, or education, our major provides the foundational knowledge and real-world experience to launch your career.

Many of our graduates successfully pursue paths as:

  • Health Practitioners: Pediatrician, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Child Life Specialist, and more.

  • Mental Health Clinicians: Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, Counselor, or Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT).

  • Educators & Academics: Preschool Teacher, K-12 Credentialed Teacher, College Counselor, or University Professor.

The CADV Advantage: Hands-On Experience

To help you find your specific passion and stand out to employers or graduate schools, CSUN is proud to be one of the few undergraduate programs in the CSU system to offer a competitive, year-long internship program.

  • 30+ Community Partners: Choose a placement that matches your career goals, from local schools and non-profit organizations to clinical healthcare sites.

  • Professional Networks: Gain direct, hands-on experience while building relationships with mentors and working professionals in the field.

Connect with Alumni & Professionals

Our department advising program hosts regular career workshops led by successful CADV alumni and active professionals working in child- and adolescent-focused industries. This is your chance to ask questions, explore graduate program pathways, and get insider industry tips!

Stay Connected & Informed

Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, networking events, and unique field opportunities:

  • Follow Us on Instagram: @cadv_csun

  • Check Your Inbox: Make sure to regularly read all official emails sent by the CADV Department for real-time updates!

Earn Your Child Development Permit with CADV

Did you know that most Child and Adolescent Development (CADV) majors and minors will graduate having already completed the academic requirements for California's Child Development Permits?

These permits are the credential standard required to teach or supervise in early childhood education and care programs. Depending on your specific coursework and experience, you may qualify for multiple tiers:

  • Associate Teacher Level

  • Teacher Level

  • Master Teacher Level

Fast-Track to the Master Teacher Level

By completing your CADV degree and participating in a qualifying early childhood education internship (check out our CADV Internship Program), you will satisfy the rigorous requirements necessary to secure the Master Teacher Level Permit—positioning you for leadership and coordinator roles right after graduation!

Resources & Next Steps

1. Explore Funding and Requirements

The Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC) provides invaluable resources, including permit application fee stipends and detailed checklists for each permit tier. 👉 Visit the Child Development Training Consortium

2. Ready to Apply?

When you are ready to submit your documentation, you will apply directly through the state licensing portal. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) handles all official permit issuances. 👉 Access the CTC Child Development Permits Portal

💡 Pro-Tip for Graduation: Keep a digital copy of your unofficial CSUN transcripts handy when reviewing the permit matrices with your CADV advisor to see exactly how your internship hours map to the Master Teacher requirements!

The Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development (CADV) is one of the most versatile majors you can choose. By focusing on human growth from infancy through emerging adulthood, our program provides the foundational training required for a remarkably diverse range of industries and professional paths.

Our majors go on to launch successful careers in fields such as:

  • Education: Early Childhood Education, K-12 Teaching, and School Administration.

  • Human Services & Advocacy: Social Work, Community Counseling, and Family Law.

  • Healthcare & Medicine: Pediatrics, Occupational Therapy, Physical/Recreational Therapy, and Nursing.

  • Mental Health & Research: Clinical Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT), and Developmental Research.

Explore Your Career Pathways

Ready to see how your specific interests translate into a future career? Take advantage of these valuable department and university resources:

Presentation: Career Ideas for CADV Students

Dive into a comprehensive breakdown of roles, job outlooks, and entry-level options traditionally sought after by our graduates.

👉 Download the CADV Career PowerPoint Presentation (Link to file)

The CSUN Career Center

We highly encourage all majors to regularly connect with the university Career Center. They offer specialized guidance to help you align your undergraduate coursework with your long-term post-bachelor degree goals.

👉 Visit the CSUN Career Center Portal (Link to portal)

💡 Advising Tip: Many advanced careers in healthcare, law, and mental health require post-graduate degrees. Talk to your CADV faculty mentor early in your junior year to ensure you are meeting the prerequisite course requirements for graduate school applications! Our courses CADV 495A and CADVV 495B help you choose a graduate program and work with you to complete your graduate school application materials! 

🎓 Get Application Support in Class: Did you know we offer courses specifically designed to help you get into graduate school? When planning your upper-division schedule, look into:

  • CADV 495A & CADV 495B

These courses guide you step-by-step through exploring different graduate programs, selecting the right fit, and actively building and polishing your official application materials (like personal statements and resumes) before you graduate!

Streamline Your Path to Teaching with CADV

Are you an aspiring K-8 teacher? The Child and Adolescent Development (CADV) major is one of the most efficient pathways to the classroom. By planning your courses strategically, you can save both time and money on your journey to earning a teaching credential at CSUN.

The CADV Advantage: Three Major Benefits

1. Waive the CBEST (Basic Skills Requirement)

Instead of taking the CBEST exam, you can fulfill California’s Basic Skills Requirement entirely through your undergraduate coursework. As of June 29, 2024, a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution automatically meets the California Basic Skills Requirement (BSR), effectively acting as a permanent waiver for the CBEST exam for credentialing purposes. 

When applying for a credential, your official transcripts showing the conferred BA degree are sufficient to meet the requirement.

2. Waive the CSET (Subject Matter Competence)

You can petition to waive the CSET exam by demonstrating Subject Matter Competence through your coursework. To qualify for the waiver, you must earn a grade of C or better in courses across these nine key areas:

  • Literature: ENGL 428, ENGL 429, or any approved literature course.

  • Art: ART 380/L, ART 383/L, ART 385/L, an approved children's music course, or any qualifying Art/Music/Theater course.

  • Physical Education: KIN 470/L, KIN 595, or any approved physical education course.

  • Core Subjects: Approved coursework in Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Child Development, and U.S. History.

3. Fast-Track Your Credential (Double-Count Courses)

Why wait? You can take courses during your undergraduate degree that fulfill both your Bachelor of Arts (BA) requirements and your CSUN Teacher Preparation Program requirements.

Credential Courses You Can Take Now

The following undergraduate courses currently count directly toward the CSUN Credential Program:

  • EPC 315 – Psychological Foundations of Learning and Development

  • SPED 420 – Improving the Value of Children and Youth with Special Needs

  • HSCI 365LS – Health Science for K-8 Teachers

  • Culture & Equity Requirement (Choose one):

    • AAS 417 / AFRS 417 / ARMN 417 / CHS 417 / ELPS 417 (Equity and Diversity in Schools)

🔍 Advising Tip: Course equivalencies and credential requirements can change. Always verify your course selections with the CSUN Credential Program and your academic advisor before enrolling.