Early Childhood Development

Early Childhood Education

A.A.S. Degree (D,G,W)

The Early Childhood Education Development curriculum prepares the future early childhood professionals to develop and implement curriculum, to communicate effectively with families, and to manage a classroom or a child care program. Students may build on the Early Childhood Studies diploma. They will also receive a broad-based education in social sciences, English, and math. The Education department arranges for on-site community-based and/or lab school experiences.

Program Graduate Competencies

The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.

1. Implement developmentally appropriate practices based on theories, norms and milestones associated with development in early childhood.
2. Communicate information about student learning and behaviors in a collaborative manner with school, family and community members.
3. Plan developmentally appropriate curricula for quality infant/toddler and preschool children in multicultural settings.
4. Maintain a healthy, safe environment for children by following licensing requirements and legal issues affecting Early Childhood programs.
5. Apply knowledge of the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language development of birth to pre-school aged children in a classroom setting.
6. Access and implement educational technology.
7. Develop an effective business plan for the operation of an Early Childhood Program.

Core Curriculum Competencies

The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:

1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Graduation Requirements

Core Courses

ENG 101	Composition I	3
ENG 102	Composition II	3
HIS 111	United States History: Pre-Civil War	3
MAT 152	Quantitative Reasoning	3
PSY 121	General Psychology	3
SSC 100	First Year Seminar	1

Program/Major Courses

ECE 111	Childhood Nutrition and Safety	3
ECE 120	Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood	3
ECE 121	Infant & Toddler Methods & Lab	4
ECE 123	Early Childhood Methods I & Lab	4
ECE 125	Early Childhood Methods II & Lab	4
ECE 127	Childhood Classroom Management	3
ECE 222	Program Planning and Evaluation	3
ECE 226	Assessment of Young Children	3
ECE 233	Introduction to Exceptional Learners	3
ECE 244	Fieldwork: Teaching Practicum	6
EDC 120	Foundations of Literacy	3
EDC 220	Parent, Family, and School Interaction	3

Program/Major Support Courses

Select course(s) from:

CLT 110	Cross-Cultural Immersion	3
COM 222	Intercultural Communication	3
ENG 124	Oral Communications	3
SOC 111	Sociology	3
SPA 133	Using Beginning Spanish	3

Suggested Pathway to Graduation (Course Sequence Sheet)

Semester 1

SSC 100	First Year Seminar	1
ECE 111	Childhood Nutrition and Safety	3
ECE 120	Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood	3
ECE 121	Infant & Toddler Methods & Lab	4
ENG 101	Composition I	3

Semester 2

MAT 152	Quantitative Reasoning	3
ECE 123	Early Childhood Methods I & Lab	4
ECE 127	Childhood Classroom Management	3
ENG 102	Composition II	3
PSY 121	General Psychology	3
Elective	Cultural/Humanities Elective	3

Semester 3

ECE 125	Early Childhood Methods II & Lab	4
ECE 233	Introduction to Exceptional Learners	3
EDC 120	Foundations of Literacy	3
ECE 226	Assessment of Young Children	3
Elective	Cultural/Humanities Elective	3

Semester 4

EDC 220	Parent, Family, and School Interaction	3
ECE 222	Program Planning and Evaluation	3
HIS 111	United States History: Pre-Civil War	3
ECE 244	Fieldwork: Teaching Practicum	6

Approved Electives

Select two (2) cultural/humanities electives.

CLT 110	Cross-Cultural Immersion	3
COM 222	Intercultural Communication	3
ENG 124	Oral Communications	3
SOC 111	Sociology	3
SPA 133	Using Beginning Spanish	3

To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 70 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on your need for developmental education courses and the elective choices you make (if electives are a part of the program). Some programs also have college-level courses that you must take if you do not score at a certain level on the College Placement Test. If this applies to your program, the courses are listed at the top of the sequence sheet before the first semester of the course list.

ECEAASECD