Early Childhood Education A.A. and B.S.
Philosophy:
The Early Childhood Education program is designed to provide foundational education for students who want to work with young children from birth to preschool. Students will demonstrate competency in professional knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values in the following areas in order to effectively teach young children while involving the child’s family and community: child development and the learning process; curriculum development and implementation; family and community relationships; assessment; and professionalism.
Expected Learner Outcomes:
As a result of successfully completing the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of maintaining a healthy, safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment for each child by applying knowledge of child development and an understanding of the multiple influences on children’s development;
- Build relationships with families and community members that are respectful, supportive, and reciprocal and encourage involvement in the learning and development of children;
- Utilize authentic and appropriate assessments in a relationship with families in order to advance positive outcomes for each child;
- Build and implement meaningful and culturally relevant curriculum using knowledge of each child’s background, abilities, and interests and ample knowledge of the content;
- Utilize a variety of developmentally appropriate approaches to connect with children and families to advance each child’s development and learning;
- Demonstrate the skills and dispositions of an early childhood professional.
Course Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree
Students will complete the GENERAL EDUCATION and the PROFESSIONAL CORE degree requirements as outlined in the appropriate sections with these specific courses required for completion of General Education.
General Education
Professional Core
| EDEC 108 | INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 2 |
| EDEC 130 | HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION IN ECE | 3 |
| EDEC 210 | MEETING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES | 3 |
| EDEC 220 | CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING | 2 |
| EDEC 230 | GUIDING THE YOUNG CHILD AND LAB | 3 |
| EDEC 265 | LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONALISM IN ECE | 3 |
| EDEC 282 | EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM I | 3 |
| EDEC 283 | EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM II | 3 |
| EDEC 295 | EARLY CHILDHOOD PRACTICUM | 3 |
| EDU 220/PSYX 230 | HUMAN GROWTH & CHILD DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| HPE 115 | FIRST AID & CPR | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 32 |
Total Credit Hours: 67
Course Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree
Students will complete the GENERAL EDUCATION and the PROFESSIONAL CORE degree requirements as outlined in the appropriate sections with these specific courses required for completion of General Education.
General Education
Professional Core
| EDEC 108 | INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 2 |
| EDEC 130 | HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION IN ECE | 3 |
| EDEC 210 | MEETING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES | 3 |
| EDEC 220 | CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING | 2 |
| EDEC 230 | GUIDING THE YOUNG CHILD AND LAB | 3 |
| EDEC 265 | LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONALISM IN ECE | 3 |
| EDEC 282 | EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM I | 3 |
| EDEC 283 | EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM II | 3 |
| EDEC 295 | EARLY CHILDHOOD PRACTICUM | 3 |
| EDU 220/PSYX 230 | HUMAN GROWTH & CHILD DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| HPE 115 | FIRST AID & CPR | 2 |
| EDEC 320 | Supporting Children and Families: Tribally Informed Practices | 3 |
| EDEC 350 | The Role of Play in Children’s Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Development | 3 |
| EDEC 380 | ECE Clinical Experience 1 | 3 |
| EDEC 410 | Observation, Documentation and Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| EDEC 370 | Supporting Cognitive Development through Math and Science | 3 |
| EDEC 480 | ECE Clinical Experience 2 | 3 |
| EDEC 490 | Advanced ECE Practicum | 3 |
| EDEC 330 | Children’s Literature: A Foundation for Learning | 3 |
| EDEC 360 | Creativity and Young Children | 3 |
| EDU 235 | INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN EDUCATION | 3 |
| EDU 311 | CULTURE, DIVERSITY, AND ETHICS | 2 |
| | EDU 210 | |
| EDU 337 | TEACHING EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS | 3 |
| EDU 495 | REFLECTIVE PRACTICE AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATION | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 32 |
Total Credit Hours: 67
Student Ed Plan
Associate of Arts Early Childhood Education
Fall – Year 1
Spring – Year 1
Fall – Year 2
| M 130 | MATH FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS I | 4 |
| EDEC 210 | MEETING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES | 3 |
| EDEC 220 | CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING | 2 |
| EDEC 230 | GUIDING THE YOUNG CHILD AND LAB | 3 |
| EDEC 282 | EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring – Year 2
| NAS 101 | HISTORY OF INDIANS IN THE U.S. | 3 |
| HUM 213 | CHIPPEWA CREE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY | 3 |
| EDEC 265 | LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONALISM IN ECE | 3 |
| EDU 270 | INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| EDEC 283 | EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM II | 3 |
| EDEC 295 | EARLY CHILDHOOD PRACTICUM | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Total Credit Hours: 67