Early Childhood Education A.A.S.
A55220
The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from birth through eight in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers.
Coursework includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Students will foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children.
Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs. Students should consult their advisor for information about course scheduling.
This program is nationally-accredited by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC). The competencies that follow are from the NAEYC standards and are compatible with the general education competencies and learning outcomes of WPCC as the key assessments used by NAEYC for evaluation and continued accreditation of the early childhood education program align with them. Note below the selected general education competencies associated with the selected NAEYC standards.
Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:
- Know and understand young children’s characteristics and needs
- Know and understand the multiple influences on development and learning
- Use developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments
- Know about and understand family and community characteristics
- Support and empower families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships
- Involve families and communities in their children’s development and learning
- Understand the goals, benefits and uses of assessment
- Know about and use observation, documentation and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches
- Understand and practice responsible assessment to promote positive outcomes for each child
- Know about assessment partnerships with families and other professionals
- Understand positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of their work with children
- Know and understand effective strategies and tools for early education
- Use a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning practices
- Reflect on their own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child
- Understand content knowledge and resources in academic disciplines
- Know and use the central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines
- Use their own knowledge, appropriate early learning standards, and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curricula for each child
- Identify and involve oneself with the early childhood field
- Know about and uphold ethical standards and other professional guidelines
- Engage in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice
- Integrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on early education
- Engage in informed advocacy for children and the profession
- Demonstrate skill in self-assessment and self-advocacy
- Demonstrate skill in mastering and applying foundational concepts from general education
- Demonstrate written and verbal skills
- Demonstrate skill in making connections between prior knowledge/experience and new learning
- Demonstrate skill in identifying and using professional resources
**Cited from the NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation—Associate Degree Programs (2010)
Program Graduation Policy
Early Childhood Education requires a high level of professionalism, knowledge, and identification with the field when interacting with children, families, co-workers, and the community. As a result, students enrolled in this nationally-accredited Early Childhood program must continuously demonstrate growth in and development of ethical and professional conduct, as well as, application of knowledge and skills through service with and in teaching young children and their families. Therefore, to graduate from the program, students in the Early Childhood Education program are required to attain the following:
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Complete 20 hours of documented service outside of coursework through direct or indirect service with children, families, or agencies which serve children and families.
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Earn grades of "C" or higher in core and other required major hour courses. Students earning less than a "C" in any core or other required major hour course must repeat that course to raise the grade to a "C" or higher.
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Have a GPA of 2.0 or higher for all coursework at the end of the program of study.
Furthermore, before participating in a practicum experience, students may be required to submit to a criminal records check, a TB test, and/or attest to physical fitness. These requirements are at the discretion of the cooperating placement site.
General Education
Required Courses
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ENG 114 | Prof Research & Reporting | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
Natural Science/Mathematics
(Select 3-4 SHC from the following courses)
| BIO 140 | Environmental Biology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| BIO 140A | Environmental Biology Lab | 1 | FA, SP, SU |
| MAT 143 | Quantitative Literacy | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
Humanities/Fine Arts
Select 3 SHC from the following
| ART 111 | Art Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| DRA 111 | Theatre Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| DRA 126 | Storytelling | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| MUS 110 | Music Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP |
| PHI 240 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| REL 110 | World Religions | 3 | FA, SP |
Major Courses
Core Required Course
| EDU 119 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 4 | FA |
| EDU 131 | Child, Family, and Community | 3 | SP |
| EDU 144 | Child Development I | 3 | FA |
| EDU 145 | Child Development II | 3 | SP |
| EDU 146 | Child Guidance | 3 | FA |
| EDU 151 | Creative Activities | 3 | SP |
| EDU 153 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 | SP |
| EDU 221 | Children With Exceptionalities | 3 | FA |
| EDU 234 | Infants, Toddlers, & Twos | 3 | FA |
| EDU 271 | Educational Technology | 3 | SP |
| EDU 280 | Language and Literacy Experiences | 3 | FA |
| EDU 284 | Early Childhood Capstone Practicum | 4 | SP |
Other Major Required Courses
| CIS 110 | Introduction to Computers | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| EDU 184 | Early Childhood Introductory Practicum | 2 | SP |
| EDU 251 | Exploration Activities | 3 | FA |
| EDU 259 | Curriculum Planning | 3 | SP |
General Elective
(Select 3-4 SHC from the following courses)
| ASL 111 | Elementary ASL I | 3 | FA, SP |
| BUS 230 | Small Business Management | 3 | SP |
| EDU 235 | School-Age Dev & Program | 3 | |
| EDU 261 | Early Childhood Administration I | 3 | |
| EDU 262 | Early Childhood Admin II | 3 | |
| PSY 241 | Developmental Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| PSY 281 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| SOC 210 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| SOC 213 | Sociology of the Family | 3 | FA |
| SOC 220 | Social Problems | 3 | SP |
| SPA 111 | Elementary Spanish I | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| SPA 181 | Spanish Lab 1 | 1 | FA, SP, SU |
Total Credit Hours: 67