The Early Childhood Education program is designed to prepare students to secure one of the many careers available in early childhood education. Graduates of the program may work with children from birth to eight years of age in a variety of settings such as child care centers, preschools, child development homes, or public and private schools. Students may elect to complete either the Educator Licensure/Transfer Pathway or the Child Care Management Pathway of the Early Childhood Education AAS. Students who intend to teach in a Pre-K through third-grade setting will need to transfer to a teacher licensure institution. In addition, this program addresses the competencies and functional areas necessary for students to begin the assessment and testing process for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential administered by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition. See http://www.cdacouncil.org/storage/documents/TransitionGuide_1-3-13.pdf for additional CDA Credential requirements by the Council.

Students who successfully complete ECE-103, ECE-133, ECE-243. and either ECE-221, ECE-158, or ECE-159 will be equipped with the competencies and functional areas necessary to pursue the CDA Credential.

The Child Development-Infant/Toddler certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete SDV-108, ECE-103, ECE-133, ECE-221, ECE-170, and ECE-243.

The Child Development-Preschool certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete SDV-108, ECE-103, ECE-133, ECE-158, ECE-170, and ECE-243.

The Early Childhood Education diploma is awarded to students who successfully complete the first year of the program.

For specific information regarding program rules and expectations, please view the Early Childhood Education & Teacher Education Programs Handbook.

Summary Sheet

The summary sheet provides a program overview and other information.

Download the summary sheet.

Curriculum Sequence

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Fall Semester I	Course Title	Credit
ECE-103	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	3
ECE-133	Child Health, Safety and Nutrition	3
EDU-212	Educational Foundations	3
EDU-920	Field Experience	2
ENG-105	Composition I	3
SDV-108	The College Experience	1
Take course totaling 1 to 3 credits
WBL-103	Exploring Careers: Human Services	1
	TOTAL CREDITS	16 - 18

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Spring Semester I	Course Title	Credit
ECE-158	Early Childhood Curriculum I	3
ECE-170	Child Growth and Development	3
EDU-245	Exceptional Learners	3
BIO-151	Nutrition	3
Take one of two options - ART-101 or MUS-100
ART-101	Art Appreciation	3
MUS-100	Music Appreciation	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	15

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Fall Semester II	Course Title	Credit
ECE-159	Early Childhood Curriculum II	3
EDU-235	Children's Literature	3
EDU-240	Educational Psychology	3
SPC-112	Public Speaking	3
POL-111	American National Government	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	15

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Spring Semester II	Course Title	Credit
ECE-123	Family, Teacher and Community Interaction	3
ECE-221	Infant/Toddler Care and Education	3
ECE-284	Field Experience II	2
HIS-152	US History Since 1877	3
PHI-105	Introduction to Ethics	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	14

ECE-103 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course is an overview of early childhood programs and curricula, historical and present, and an examination of qualities and skills necessary for working with young children.

ECE-133 - Child Health, Safety and Nutrition

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course focuses on evidence-based concepts in the fields of health, safety and nutrition and their relationship to the growth and development of the young child ages birth to eight. The course blends current theory with problem solving, practical applications and assessments. The course includes collaboration with families, and assesses the role of culture, language and ability on health, safety and nutrition decisions in early childhood settings.

EDU-212 - Educational Foundations

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This survey course is designed to examine the historical, philosophical, sociological, political, economic and legal foundations of the American public education system. Students will explore the nature of school environments, design and organization of school curriculum and characteristics of effective schools and instruction in grades P-12. Educational structures, practices and projections for the future will be studied. Corequisite: EDU-920.

EDU-920 - Field Experience

Lecture: 1

Lab: 1

Credit: 2

Field Experience provides the student an opportunity to observe a teacher in a local classroom and to work with students in that classroom under direct supervision of the cooperating teacher. Students will be required to complete 32 observation hours. The student will complete observation documents during their required hours in the classroom. Corequisite: EDU-212.

ENG-105 - Composition I

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A study of the principles of writing. Emphasis on rhetoric, mechanics and development of expository patterns: narration, description illustration, comparison/contrast, classification, process and cause/effect. Required for AA and AS Degrees. Prerequisite: Meet minimum test score requirements.

SDV-108 - The College Experience

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course is designed to empower new students to successfully transition to college. Students will learn academic success skills, strategies for personal development and exploration, college culture and expectations, and how to access college resources and services.

WBL-103 - Exploring Careers: Human Services

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course will provide guidance in choosing a career goal and preparing for employment in Human Services careers. Emphasis will be placed on identifying interests,abilities and values and exploring options for careers. Students will learn how to access labor market information and employment trends. Additionally, students will develop the skills and aptitudes necessary to obtain employment in these fields, emphasizing the development of characteristics associated with job success.

ECE-158 - Early Childhood Curriculum I

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course focuses on the development, implementation and assessment of appropriate environments and curricula for young children ages birth through eight. Students prepare to utilize evidence-based, developmentally appropriate practices in a context of children's family, culture, language and abilities. An emphasis will be placed on understanding children's developmental stages and developing appropriate learning opportunities, interactions and environments to support each child in the following areas: dramatic play, art, music and fine and gross motor play.

ECE-170 - Child Growth and Development

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course reviews typical and atypical development of children from conception to adolescence in all developmental domains. Students will examine interactions between child, family and society within a variety of community and cultural contexts. The course will explore theories and evidence-based practices associated with understanding and supporting young children.

EDU-245 - Exceptional Learners

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This is a survey course that provides an overview of special education regulations, policies and programs in educational settings. Birth through 12th grade pre-service teachers learn the history of special education law, including IDEA and as it applies to the course with ESSA, characteristics of the categories of disabilities per federal and state regulations, characteristics of talented and gifted programs, and basic components of an IEP. This course is a required component for students seeking Birth through 12th grade teacher state licensure. Twenty hours of observation will be required.

BIO-151 - Nutrition

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course explores nutrition as it relates to health, disease and stages of human development and life cycle. Emphasis is on essential nutrients, what they are and how they are used by the body. Food safety and food technology will be covered.

ART-101 - Art Appreciation

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course is a study of aesthetics as related to human expression, especially within the visual arts of painting, sculpture and architecture. This is a humanities-oriented course where art principles are examined as they relate to the production and interpretation of Western art in both historical and cultural contexts covering the Renaissance through post-modern periods. Students will form personal opinions about art by looking at art and evaluating art with methods taught in class.

MUS-100 - Music Appreciation

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This is a general overview course which includes basic music concepts and elements of the art, a general historical look and critical approach. Music as it has evolved from the beginning to present-day is studied. This involves listening to musical examples.

ECE-159 - Early Childhood Curriculum II

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course focuses on the development, implementation and assessment of appropriate environments and curricula for young children ages birth through eight. Students prepare to utilize developmentally appropriate, evidence-based practices in a context of children's family, culture, language and abilities. An emphasis will be placed on understanding children's developmental stages and developing appropriate learning opportunities, interactions and environments to support each child in the following areas: emergent literacy, math, science, technology and social studies. Prerequisite: ECE-158.

EDU-235 - Children's Literature

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of the history, critical issues and characteristics of children's literature and an examination of both writing and illustration as the basis for evaluating and selecting children's literature for use in the pre-school and elementary classroom.

EDU-240 - Educational Psychology

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course examines the application of psychological principles, theories and methodologies to issues of teaching and learning. Theory and research concerned with human learning, development, behavior and motivation is reviewed with an emphasis on the cognitive, psychological and social factors that relate to and influence learning in educational settings. Prerequisite: ECE-170 or PSY-111.

SPC-112 - Public Speaking

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course examines both the theoretical and practical basis of speech communication, particularly public speaking. Emphasis is on speech preparation, organization, support, delivery and audience analysis.

POL-111 - American National Government

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of the American federal system of government which includes a description and analysis of interest groups, political parties, public opinion, the presidency, the Congress, the court system and foreign policy making.

ECE-123 - Family, Teacher and Community Interaction

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course will provide an introduction to the family systems and parenting in a changing society. Principles of child development with family relationships applied to group and individual work with parents will be covered. This course will assist providers in developing skills that will help them effectively relate to parents. Topics will include: communication techniques, children's fears, discipline, nutrition, diversity, children's play and discovery as learning opportunities and school/community resources.

ECE-221 - Infant/Toddler Care and Education

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

Focuses on care, education and assessment of children from birth to 36 months. Prepares students to utilize developmentally appropriate evidence-based practices including responsive caregiving, routines as curriculum, collaborative relationships with culturally, linguistically and ability diverse children and families, and a focus on the whole child in inclusive settings.

ECE-284 - Field Experience II

Lecture: 1

Lab: 1

Credit: 2

This course includes supervised experience in selected early childhood settings serving children ages birth through eight. It includes integration of theory, research and reflective practice. The course will provide an understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and the developmental stages of diverse populations of adult/child interactions, basic curriculum planning and program routines. Students will explore the overall operation of a program. Students will complete 32 hours of observation for this course. Prerequisite: ECE-158  Corequisite: ECE-159

HIS-152 - US History Since 1877

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of American social, political, economic and intellectual developments since 1877.

PHI-105 - Introduction to Ethics

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of the major ethical emphases from ancient to modern times with pertinent reading in the works of representative philosophers.

Amy Drew - Instructor - Early Childhood Education

Email: adrew@scciowa.edu
AA, Southeastern Community College
BA, Iowa Wesleyan University
MS, Walden University

Bailea Grier - Instructor - Early Childhood Education

Email: bgrier@scciowa.edu
AA, Southeastern Community College
BA, University of Northern Iowa
MA, Viterbo University
Advanced Studies Certificate as a Literacy Coach, University of Northern Iowa