This course offers an introduction to the field of teaching and child development. Students will explore educational careers, teacher preparation, and certification requirements while examining professional expectations and current issues in education. Emphasis is placed on understanding the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and moral development of children from birth through adolescence, with a focus on the K–12 learner. Observation, interviewing techniques, and the study of family, peers, schools, culture, and media provide insight into how children grow, learn, and thrive.