Early Childhood Education - AAS

AAS General Education Requirements (19 credits)

• College Composition or Applied Communication  Credits: 6
• Mathematics  Credits: 3
• Physical and Biological Sciences   Credits: 4
• Arts and Humanities  AND/OR Social and Behavioral Sciences  Credits: 6 ¹

Note: For Arts & Humanities AND/OR Social & Behavioral Sciences choose from the approved options except ECE 210 or ECE 234, which will be applied to Program Requirements (below).

Note: ¹ Select from two different prefixes

Program Requirements (41 credits)

• BSA 102 - Career Search and Success: Skills for Entering and Succeeding in the Workplace Credits: 1
• ECE 200 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
• ECE 202 - Early Childhood Curriculum Credits: 3
• ECE 210 - Infant and Toddler Development Credits: 3
• ECE 216 - Playing to Learn Credits: 3
• ECE 222 - Introduction to the Exceptional Learner Credits: 3
• ECE 230 - Language and Literacy Experiences Credits: 3
• ECE 234 - Child Development Credits: 3
• ECE 240 - Family and Community Partnerships Credits: 3
• ECE 250 - Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Programs Credits: 3
• ECE 260 - Child Guidance Credits: 3
• ECE 270 - Health, Safety and Nutrition Credits: 3
• ECE 280 - Observation and Assessment of the Young Child Credits: 3
• ECE 291 - Early Childhood Practicum Credits: 4

• Note: Students must apply for practicum placement during the semester prior to enrolling in ECE 291 and must have completed ECE 200, ECE 202, ECE 222, ECE 230, ECE 234, ECE 270 and ECE 280. Evidence of completed application for fingerprint clearance and completed CPR and First Aid training will be required as part of a completed application.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Early Childhood Education Degree program, the learner will be able to:

1. Build strong relationships with families through understanding, respect and valuing the characteristics of both the families and their communities.
2. Articulate historical perspectives, as well as current trends, in the field of Early Childhood Education.
3. Apply relationship-based proactive strategies to promote pro-social development of young children, aged birth through 8 years.
4. Identify strategies to plan and implement instructional practices to promote literacy in children birth-age eight.
5. Use formal and informal observation techniques to document the development and learning in young children.
6. Provide opportunities and environments that support the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, language and creative development and learning in children birth-age eight.
7. Model leadership, advocacy and management skills in the field of early care and education.
8. Apply ethical and professional standards that emphasize reflective practices in working with young children, parents, other professionals and self.
9. Implement basic health, safety, and nutritional practices with young children as required by regulation.