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.
- Implement developmentally appropriate practices based on theories, norms and milestones associated with development in early childhood.
- Communicate information about student learning and behaviors in a collaborative manner with school, family and community members.
- Plan developmentally appropriate curricula for quality infant/toddler and preschool children in multicultural settings.
- Maintain a healthy, safe environment for children by following licensing requirements and legal issues affecting Early Childhood programs.
- Apply knowledge of the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language development of birth to pre-school aged children in a classroom setting.
- Access and implement educational technology.
- 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:
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Graduation Requirements
Core Courses
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:
Suggested Pathway to Graduation (Course Sequence Sheet)
Semester 1
Semester 2
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.
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.
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