Academic Courses

Early Childhood Education

ECE 111
History and Trends in Early Childhood Education
3-0-3
This course presents an overview of the early childhood education field and profession. Parameters of the field are discussed, along with history, current research, relevant theories, curriculum variations, and projected trends for the future.

ECE 121
Program Planning and Curriculum Development I
3-0-3
This course provides an overview and specific experiences to develop students’ skills for planning curriculum for children aged three to five years. Developmentally-appropriate practices, multicultural, and thematic approaches are emphasized.

ECE 125
Program Planning in Family Child Care
3-0-3
Programming for the family child care setting: daily scheduling; use of space; equipment and materials; planning for individual needs and multi-age grouping, utilization of outdoor space and equipment and planning outings and field trips.

ECE 131
Teacher-Parent-Child Relationships
3-0-3
This course is designed for students who are considering ECE as a career. Students are introduced to the significance of the parent-child relationship via consideration of roles of parents, current research, and influences of various types of family interactions. Involvement of parents and/or other primary caretakers in children’s schooling is discussed at length, including various types of informal and formal home-school communications, roles for parents in classrooms, home visits, home-school meetings and conferences. Working with parents and families with various special needs is also explored.

ECE 151
Health Care of Young Children
3-0-3
This course provides an overview of factual information and procedures related to the health, safety and nutrition of young children, birth to age five. Students will learn techniques for maintaining a safe and healthy classroom environment; for providing health, safety, and nutrition education for young children and their families; and for responding to a range of childhood illnesses and emergencies.

ECE 175
Family Child Care Management Skills
3-0-3
Regulations for family child care homes, techniques for advertising services, child intake procedures, program budgeting, fee scheduling, planning and implemen-ting program policies and procedures, record keeping and parent-caregiver community relations.

ECE 195
Practicum in Family Child Care
2-8-4
For students planning careers as family child care providers, this course provides a supervised field experience. Students will complete ninety-six hours in an approved family child setting under the supervision of a registered, faculty approved provider. Students are expected to work alongside the provider in caring for children, while keeping a log of their experiences at the site. Students are visited and observed at least twice at the practicum setting by a faculty instructor. In addition, students attend a weekly seminar to plan for and reflect on their practicum experiences. Students enrolled in both the Family Child Care Certificate of Completion and the A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education may take ECE 195 in lieu of ECE 196. Open only to students enrolled in the Family Child Care Certificate of Completion.

ECE 196
Practicum in Early Childhood Education I
2-8-4
This course provides a supervised field experience for students planning careers working with young children from birth to age five. Students will work alongside a cooperating teacher in a licensed child care/preschool setting caring for children. Students complete a total of ninety-six hours work at the field site, while completing a series of assigned activities and keeping a log of their experiences at the site. Students are visited and observed at least twice at the practicum setting by a faculty instructor. In addition, students attend a weekly seminar to plan for and reflect on their practicum experiences. One of the two required ECE practica may be completed at a student’s job site, provided that site meets faculty approval. Open only to Early Childhood Education students. Pre- or corequisites: ENGL 101 and ECE 121.

ECE 213
Child Development Associate Professional
3-0-3
Prepares students for assessment and functioning as a Child Development Associate (CDA) professional. Students are assisted in the development of a professional resource file, in self-evaluation and growth activities, and in preparing for testing, observation, and assessment by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition, which awards the CDA Credential. This course will provide each student with a “Field Advisor” as required for each CDA candidate. In order to apply for CDA certification, a candidate must be employed for a minimum of 20 hours weekly in a licensed child care or early childhood education program. Pre/Corequisite: ECE 131, ECE 151, ECE 121 or 221, ECE 196.

ECE 221
Program Planning and Curriculum Development II
3-0-3
This course provides an overview of the development and appropriate curriculum for infants and toddlers in center-based settings. Focus is placed on the needs of the whole child and the integral relationship between parents and caregivers in providing for those needs. Skills of infant-toddler teachers are discussed. Developmentally-appropriate practices, materials and equipment are examined, along with the unique safety and health requirements of programs for the youngest children. Prerequisite: ECE 121, ENGL 101.

ECE 241
Children’s Literature
3-0-3
Consideration and evaluation of a diverse range of children’s literature to determine its most appropriate use. Students will practice using this material and developing their own. Demonstration of skill in storytelling with individuals and small groups. Includes writing-intensive exercises.

ECE 261
Teaching o fLanguage Arts
3-0-3
Specific verbal techniques to guide the development of language. Ways of stimulating verbal expression and expanding methods of communicating needs, ideas and feelings. Emphasis on written and spoken English. Prerequisites: ECE 121, ENGL 101.?Enrollment limited to students in the ECE curriculum.

ECE 275
Early Childhood Professional Leadership
3-0-3
This course provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of leaders in the early childhood profession. Organizational, team building, advocacy and other skills for stewards in the field are explored. Students will be provided with opportunities for developing techniques for self and program evaluation. Prerequisites or corequisites: 9 credits in ECE including ECE 196 and ENGL 102.

ECE 281
Career Growth and Development
3-0-3
Professional portfolio development, college fair, and research project complete the major requirements. Evaluation of student progress and readiness for transfer. Field trips required. Students must graduate by the following December. Prerequisite: ENGL 101.

ECE 291
Observing and Recording Techniques 3-0-3 This course addresses the observation and understanding of child behavior. Observing and recording techniques for evaluating child’s progress, and child development principles and concepts are explored. Prerequisite: Eng. 101 Corequisite: ECE 196 or ECE 296.

ECE 296 Practicum in Early Childhood Education II
2-8-4
Practicum in Early Childhood Education II is the second of two supervised field placements required for students matriculating toward the Associate in Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education. Students complete a total of ninety-six hours of supervised work with young children from birth to five years of age in a licensed child care facility and attend a weekly seminar. In Practicum II students are expected to demonstrate increased professionalism and competence with young children. Students are required to maintain a weekly journal and complete a series of assignments in the field. An instructor conducts at least two field visits/observations during the course of the semester. One of the two required ECE practica may be completed at a student’s job site, provided that site meets faculty approval. Open only to Early Childhood Education students. Prerequisites: ENGL 101, ECE 121, ECE 151, and ECE 196 (or ECE 195 for students dually enrolled in the ECE Program and the Family Child Care Certificate of Completion program). Corequisite: ECE 291.