Early Childhood Education (A55220)
(Formerly A552204 for Early Childhood Education)
Associate Degree Program
Career Information
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. Course work 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. A program that prepares individuals to promote child development and learning, work with diverse families and children, observe, document and assess to support young children and families, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, and use developmentally effective approaches in collaboration with other early childhood professionals. Potential course work includes instruction in all areas of child development such as emotional/social/health/physical/language/communication, approaches to play and learning, working with diverse families, and related observations/student teaching experiences.
Fall Semester I
| ACA 115 | Success & Study Skills | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| EDU 119 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| EDU 131 | Child, Family, and Community | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 144 | Child Development I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 146 | Child Guidance | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3,0,3) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total: | 16 | 2 | 17 |
Spring Semester I
| CIS 110 | Introduction to Computers | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| EDU 145 | Child Development II | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 153 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 184 | Early Childhood Introductory Practicum | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total: | 12 | 5 | 14 |
Summer Semester I
| ENG 112 | Writing/Research in the Disc | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | or | | | |
| ENG 114 | Professional Research & Reporting | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | Math/Science Elective | 2-3 | 2-3 | 3-4 |
| Semester Total: | 8-9 | 2-3 | 9-10 |
Fall Semester II
| COM 120 | Intro to Interpersonal Communication | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | or | | | |
| COM 231 | Public Speaking | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 151 | Creative Activities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 216 | Foundations of Education | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | or | | | |
| EDU 261 | Early Childhood Administration I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 221 | Children With Exceptionalities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 259 | Curriculum Planning | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total: | 15-16 | 0 | 15-16 |
Spring Semester II
| EDU 234 | Infants, Toddlers, & Twos | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 251 | Exploration Activities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 280 | Language/Literacy Experiences | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 284 | Early Childhood Capstone Practicum | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| | Social Science/EDU Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total: | 13 | 9 | 16 |
| Total Hours: | 64-66 | 18-19 | 71-73 |
Math/Science Electives
Choose from Math/Science Electives below.
| BIO 110 | Principles of Biology | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| BIO 140 | Environmental Biology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| BIO 140A | Environmental Biology Lab | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| MAT 110 | Mathematical Measurement and Literacy | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| MAT 143 | Quantitative Literacy | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Social Science or EDU Electives
Choose from Social Science/EDU Electives below.
| EDU 235 | School-Age Development and Programs | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 262 | Early Childhood Administration II | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| SOC 213 | Sociology of the Family | 3 | 0 | 3 |