Early Childhood Education

CDC-110. Early Childhood Development. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course studies the growth and development of the child from birth through age eight. It will cover a variety of factors that influence child development such as diversity, culture, health, economic and family environment. Also it provides an overview of the major theorists in the field of human development. There will be discussion regarding these theorists' contributions to understanding how children grow and learn. Students will have the opportunity to observe and report on a variety of teaching and learning venues.

CDC-210. Curriculum, Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course studies designing, implementing, and evaluating developmentally appropriate curriculum for children birth through age eight with a focus on language and literacy, social and emotional learning, creative arts, and social studies, math, science and technology. It will cover practical applications of theories and current research in early childhood education, methods of observing children's behavior and progress, and strategies for developing and using curriculum in all aspects of the daily routine. Attention will be given to anti-bias curriculum and elements of diversity that can influence learning including cultural backgrounds, gender, sexual orientation, religion, English language learners, socio-economic status, family circumstances, and children with special needs. A field work component includes observation of curriculum and teaching and learning in an Early Childhood Education setting.
Prerequisites: CDC-110 is a pre and/or co-requisite
Corequisites: CDC-110 is a pre and/or co-requisite.

CDC-220. CDA Capstone: Effective Preschool Practices. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course studies effective, practical, research-based methods for developing preschool teachers. Course content is aligned with the national competency standards for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. It will cover the essentials of planning a safe environment, advancing children's development, building family partnerships, program operations, professional development, authentic assessment, and principles of developmentally appropriate learning. Attention will also be given to current research on brain development in young children, designing the learning environment, professional ethics, and cultural competence.
Corequisites: CDC-210 is a pre and/or co-requisite.

CDC-228. Cooperative Work Experience- Child Care. 3 Credits.

COOP 45 hrs
This course provides selected students in the Early Childhood programs with job-oriented training and practical experience in a work environment. Students desiring to participate in this experience should make this intention known to the Faculty Special Projects person at the beginning of their third semester.
Prerequisites: Permission of department chair
Corequisites: CDC-229.

EDU-111. Teaching in America. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course presents the historical and philosophical foundations of American education and how they relate to contemporary issues facing teachers in America today. The goal is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the development of the teaching profession including both its roots and modern-day direction. The course offers theoretical and practical learning experiences including 20 hours of field experiences in public schools.
Prerequisites: Permission of department chair
Corequisites: PSY-113.

EDU-211. Behavior Observation in Education. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course uses weekly seminars and 30 hours of field experience in public schools to integrate theory and classroom observations in order for prospective teachers to understand curriculum development and instructional methods. Aspiring teachers learn how to use descriptive research methods to gain insight into the instructional needs of learners by observing them in their natural classroom settings. Armed with this experiential knowledge, students will use the seminar to report and discuss their observed findings, as well as relate this practical information to the theories of curriculum development and instructional strategies.
Prerequisites: EDU-111, PSY-113 and permission of department chair or advisor (via petition). Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Corequisites: PSY-217.