Early Childhood Development

Overview

The goals of the AA in Early Childhood Development degree are 1 - to prepare future teachers of children birth to five to provide developmentally appropriate care and education, through educationally sound, culturally engaging and family-centered practices; and 2 - to provide foundational child development and family engagement knowledge and experience to students who will pursue a Multi-Subject or Single Subject credential through a 4-year college or university. The Early Care and Education Program provides students with a fundamental understanding of the principles of child growth and development, as well as experience in the application of these principles.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities include: Early childhood teacher Before and after school teacher

Program Learning Outcome(s)

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Apply ethical standards of behavior accepted by the profession of early childhood education using ongoing self-reflection to guide practices.
2. Assess children’s development through observation, documentation, reflection and interpretation to guide curriculum and intentional teaching.
3. Compare and contrast diverse cultural values, child rearing practices, attitudes towards play and education by developing respectful reciprocal relationships in order to work effectively with children, families, co-workers and community.
4. Demonstrate practices that maintain standards of health, nutrition, and safety in early childhood settings.
5. Identify the processes of and contributions to systemic and internalized oppression and privilege. Utilize this information, along with personal reflection, to identify strategies to more effectively educate children in a pluralistic society.
6. Intentionally design inclusive, culturally and linguistically appropriate curriculum to promote positive development for all young children, based on child development, observation and reflection.
7. Synthesize child development research and theories; apply principles with consideration for children's varying characteristics, needs and the multiple interacting influences on children's development.
8. Utilize observation and evaluation processes/tools to apply and implement developmentally appropriate practices in an early care and education setting using knowledge, skills and professional dispositions that promote the development and learning of all young children.

Early Childhood Development (AA): Program Requirements