Collaborative Programs & General Studies: Occupational Development

There is a growing need in the United States for childcare and elder care in private homes and at daycare and eldercare centers. Some employers are making a collaborative effort to provide dependent care for their employees by establishing centers or expanding existing ones.

The demand for a dependent care career will increase in the future as the baby boom generation ages and assumes the responsibility of providing care for their elderly parents and as more young mothers pursue employment outside the home. Job opportunities for this degree include employment in retirement communities, adult day care centers, senior centers, adult congregate living facilities, employer and community childcare facilities, and in individual homes.

Students in the Occupational Development Program are subject to the Community and Technical College’s requirements for admissions, basic skills testing, and appropriate course placement, including mandated developmental courses, which are not counted toward completion of the program. Blue Ridge CTC Catalog requirements regarding academic standards, student conduct, and graduation procedures also apply.

Course	Credit Hours
APTR Course Apprenticeship for Child Development OR Direct Support Specialist	32

General Education Core :

Course	Credit Hours
CGEN 100 Critical Thinking & Learning	3
ENGL 101 Written English (by placement)	3
COMM 202 Fundamentals of Speech	3
MATH 101 Introduction to Mathematics OR MATH 105 College Algebra OR MATH 154 Finite Mathematics	3
CGEN 101 Career Transition	1
OFTC 102 Microsoft Office Aps Intro	3
PSYC 203 Introduction to Psychology	3
SOCI 203 General Sociology	3

Required Program Core :

Course	Credit Hours
CAHS 200 Nutrition	3
EMSP 102 EMT-Basic	5
CAHS 210 Human Growth and Development	3