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School of Arts, Humanities & Education

Infant and Toddler Care

Online Undergraduate Certificate in Infant and Toddler Care

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$0 Transfer Credit Evaluation
$0 Textbooks & eBooks

About This Program

Explore infant and toddler development and disorders, parenting, and family dynamics with the undergraduate infant and toddler care certificate at American Public University (APU).

APU’s online program in infant and toddler care will take you through the planning and implementation of programs in group care settings – all aimed at children from birth to age 5. You’ll practice both formal and informal observation techniques and plan age-appropriate activities through courses on caring for infants and toddlers.

Some course content may count towards the 120 clock hours required as part of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, offered by the Council for Professional Recognition.

NOTE: This program does not award professional licensure and does not qualify you to apply for teaching licensure. This program may be helpful in preparing to earn certain professional certifications.

What You Will Do

  1. Identify cognitive, physical, social, and emotional changes that occur in early childhood
  2. Explore the relationship between a child’s development and interactions with parents, siblings, peers, and teachers
  3. Examine the fundamentals of infant and toddler development, including planning and implementation of daycare programs
  4. Apply interpersonal, group, and presentation communication skills in personal and professional cross-cultural environments

Program at a Glance

Number of Credits
18
Transfer up to 9 credits1
Cost Per Credit
$350 | $250*
$315**
*with Preferred Military Rate
**with Veteran Grant or APUS Opportunity Grant
Courses Start Monthly
Online
and vary from 8 to 16 weeks

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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 3575

|
This course examines a variety of developmentally appropriate instructional strategies central to the education of children. Integrating a micro-systemic perspective that takes into account internal and external family dynamics, this course will focus on identifying theoretical and applied solutions to the choice of age-appropriate learning exercises
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session
04/28/25 - 10/03/25 10/06/25 - 11/30/25 Fall 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3576

|
This course examines the fundamentals of infant and toddler development, including planning and implementing programs in group care. It emphasizes meeting physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs; scheduling, preparing age-appropriate activities, health and safety policies, record keeping, and reporting to parents.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3599

|
This course is an examination of physical, cognitive, emotional and social development in the first 3 years of life. Course topics include developmental milestones, abnormal development and disease, parenting, family dynamics and appropriate care practices and environments from infancy through 36 months of age.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session
04/28/25 - 10/03/25 10/06/25 - 11/30/25 Fall 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 5502

|
This course focuses on theory and practical approaches to understanding and providing accommodations for students with special needs. Students will be presented with an overview of the characteristics of the most prevalent types of disabilities, as well as the laws that protect and best educational practices for children with disabilities. Students will examine the methods to teach, as well as the documents that provide the legal basis for meeting the needs for an appropriate education for this population.

Course ID: 2895

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This course develops interpersonal, group, and presentational communication skills that are applicable in personal and professional cross-cultural relationships, and focuses on differences in values, message systems, and communication rules across cultural boundaries and in multicultural settings.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session
04/28/25 - 10/03/25 10/06/25 - 11/30/25 Fall 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3577

|
This course examines formal and informal methods of gathering and analyzing data on children. The emphasis is on understanding developmental patterns and implications for diagnostic assessment and intervention.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session
04/28/25 - 10/03/25 10/06/25 - 11/30/25 Fall 2025 Session B 8 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Jul 7
Register by Jul 4
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Admission Requirements

  • All APU undergraduate programs require a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (i.e., GED). Please read all undergraduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the APU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].

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Disclosures

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1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.

*Cost Per Credit Hour

The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

See all military student benefits.

Cost of Attendance

Learn more about American Public University's cost components and full cost of attendance.