UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
Departmental Honors are granted to undergraduate students who demonstrate a high level of achievement in
their majors. Departmental Honors will be awarded to the top 10% of Child Development majors based on a
Departmental Honors Essay, a high-quality senior thesis/project and a minimum GPA of 3.6 in the major and
3.0 overall.
Departmental Honors Essay Criteria (see attached CEOL Dispositions and scoring rubric):


Address a “defining moment” in the Child Development program that speaks to the path of
professionalism
Address at least one of the University of La Verne College of Education and Organizational
Leadership Dispositions in regards to the Child Development student’s personal and professional
growth
The following criteria MUST also be met:




Receive a minimum 3.0 GPA overall (including transfer courses).
Receive a minimum 3.6 GPA in the major. This includes courses taken at ULV and all other
institutions.
High quality senior project. MUST receive an A or A- in EDUC 499
Place in the top 10% of child development majors
The following documents are due by the date printed below:



Application for Departmental Honors in Child Development (attached)
Departmental Honors Essay
Unofficial ULV transcripts, with transfer courses included (available by downloading from the
MyLaverne site on the ULV homepage)
Send all documents by the due date to your Academic Advisor:
Anticipated Degree Completion
Term
Summer Term (mid August)
Fall Term (December)
Winter Term (mid March)
Spring Term (May)
Deadline to submit Departmental
Honors Application to your
Academic Advisor
June 15
November 1
January 25
March 15
Qualify for the following
commencement ceremony
Winter Commencement
Winter Commencement
Spring Commencement
Spring Commencement
Please note: Departmental Honors are not printed on the diploma
While a candidate’s name may appear in the commencement program, in progress grades may affect
departmental honor status.
Questions? Contact your Academic Advisor
Effective 2012-2013
APPLICATION FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
Please complete Section 1 and return this application to your Academic Advisor by the following deadline:
Departmental Honors will be verified upon receipt of all final grades
Anticipated Degree Completion
Term
Deadline to submit Departmental
Honors Application to your
Academic Advisor
June 15
November 1
January 25
March 15
Summer Term (mid August)
Fall Term (December)
Winter Term (mid March)
Spring Term (May)
Qualify for the following
commencement ceremony
Winter Commencement
Winter Commencement
Spring Commencement
Spring Commencement
SECTION 1 (to be completed by the student)
ID#:
Date:
Name:
Address:
Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Term & year you plan to complete your degree Fall____ Winter____ Spring____ Summer____
Academic Advisor:
Regional Campus:
Has all transfer work been completed and submitted? YES NO
If NO, list pending work here:
Please check that the following items are attached to this application:
____Unofficial transcripts showing all ULV and transfer coursework
____ Departmental Honors Essay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------SECTION 2 (to be completed by the Academic Advisor)
Major GPA:
Units Completed in Major:
Overall GPA (attach transcript)
Units Completed Overall:
Comments:
Advisor Signature:
Date:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------REGISTRAR USE ONLY
GPA in Major:
GPA Overall:
Unit/GPA totals as of (mm/dd/yyyy):
Honors Verified By:
Date:
Registrar-Please return copy of this form to the student’s Academic Advisor upon verification
Effective 2012-2013
Child Development Program Dispositions
Dispositions are behaviors characterized by attitudes toward activities such as work, teaching, or care giving.
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Educators (NCATE) has defined dispositions as the ability
to apply knowledge and skill in classrooms in order to teach all children.
The faculty of the College of Education and Organizational Leadership has described eight dispositions (listed
below) that are believed to be consistent with our values. These dispositions represent the behavioral
expectations of students as they grow through the program. It is the expectation of the faculty that students will
display most of these dispositions at entry to the program. But it is also expected that students’ dispositional
behaviors will grow and improve as they progress through their respective programs.
Intellectual Commitment
o
Will demonstrate formal thinking capacity (thinks critically, collects and analyzes data, anticipates
multiple consequences, makes sound decisions, and is open to alternative viewpoints).
Respectfulness
o
Will appropriately respond to and communicate with others, including hearing feedback and
responding constructively to criticism. Is reflective and willing to wrestle with ideas outside of his or
her cognitive framework.
Professionalism
o
Will demonstrate awareness of personal and professional style, strengths, and weaknesses. Monitors
personal and professional performance and plans appropriate self-improvement. Has a sense of humor
and can relate happily with students, faculty, and others in a flexible non-defensive manner.
Empathy
o
Will demonstrate patience, flexibility, and compassion in working with others. Is normally relaxed
around adults and children.
Socio-cultural Competence
o
Is able to give students positive attention and reinforcement. Demonstrates good attending behavior
and is respectful of differences in values, styles, and cultures.
Responsibility
o
Takes responsible action when faced with problems and conflicts. Communicates directly and
willingly accepts responsibility for errors or negative impact on others.
Commitment to Professional Development
o
Enjoys and is committed to learning about, with, and from students, peers and faculty. Open to new
ideas and feedback in order to remain current and committed to the profession.
Ethical Behavior
o
Maintains the highest level of integrity, honesty, confidentiality, and fairness both personally and
professionally at all times.
Effective 2012-2013
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS ESSAY RUBRIC
Major GPA
1
2
3
4
3.60-3.7
3.71-3.8
3.81-3.9
3.91-4.0
Defining
Moment in the
Child
Development
Program
A “defining
moment” in the
program is not
identified
A “defining moment”
is identified but does
not speak to the
student’s path to
professionalism
A “defining moment” is
identified and vaguely
addresses the student’s
path to professionalism
A “defining moment” is identified and
clearly addresses the student’s path to
professionalism, details are included
College of
Education and
Organizational
Leadership
Dispositions
An example of
University of La
Verne College of
Education and
Organizational
Leadership
Dispositions in
regards to the
Child
Development
student’s personal
and professional
growth is not
provided
The example of
University of La
Verne College of
Education and
Organizational
Leadership
Dispositions in
regards to the Child
Development
student’s personal and
professional growth is
unclear
Incorporates 1 relevant
University of La Verne
College of Education
and Organizational
Leadership Disposition
with 1 relevant example
of how it relates to the
Child Development
student’s personal and
professional growth
Incorporates 2 relevant University of
La Verne College of Education and
Organizational Leadership
Dispositions with 2 relevant examples
of how it relates to the Child
Development student’s personal and
professional growth
Language Use
and format
Meaning is
frequently
confused due to
frequent problems
in sentence
structure,
grammar,
mechanics, and
word
choice/idiom
usage
Meaning is
occasionally confused
in a minor way due to
errors in sentences,
grammar, mechanics,
and word
choice/idiom usage.
Displays competence
with most sentence
structures; good word
choice; very minor errors
in grammar, mechanics,
and word choice/idiom
usage
Displays consistent facility with
language; variety of sentence
structures from simple to complex;
sophisticated/precise/clever word
choice, no errors
Organization
Is disorganized
with confusing,
disconnecting
ideas. Very
difficult to
follow.
Can be followed, but
not clearly organized.
Lacks transitions, and
sometimes wanders.
Is organized. Ideas
appropriately sequenced
with minor problems in
cohesiveness.
Is very well organized with clear main
ideas and supporting evidence.
Effective, smooth transitioning.
Effective 2012-2013
Score