Program Overview

Early Childhood Education, BAS

The Bachelor of Applied Science Early Childhood Education program prepares students to serve in leadership roles as administrators, teachers in early learning settings, mentors, ECE trainers, and advocates in non-profit community organizations. The BAS curriculum will provide students with an examination of theories, current research, and in-depth applications of content that builds on the foundational knowledge developed at the associate degree level. Students will engage in application-based learning experiences that focus on equity and inclusion, reflective teaching cycles, working with diverse groups of young children and their families, developmentally appropriate practice, promoting language acquisition and early literacy, designing enriching curriculum, developing programs, advocating for early learning, and collaborations within the early learning setting and community.

Bachelor of Applied Science Early Childhood Education graduates will:

• create, plan, integrate, implement, and evaluate comprehensive curriculum experiences for young children based on developmentally appropriate practice, their interests, and culture.
• design equitable learning experiences by utilizing observations and assessments to track children’s development, modify curriculum, support culturally and linguistically diverse children, invite family and staff participation, and document children’s learning over time.
• create anti-bias, inclusive, culturally responsive, respectful, enriching, and equitable learning environments and curriculum experiences.
• analyze observations, engage in reflective teaching cycles, and implement teaching strategies to build relationships, improve interactions, guide, teach self-regulation skills, provide trauma-informed care, integrate literacy, and promote social and emotional development for diverse groups of young children.
• develop partnerships, and collaborate with culturally and linguistically diverse families, teaching staff, administrators, and communities to promote children’s development, health, and well-being.
• demonstrate skills related to ECE leadership, professional approaches, and advocacy by
  • applying ethical and professional standards for early childhood educators,
  • engaging in advocacy for children, families, and the field of ECE,
  • serving as mentors,
  • analyzing the use of technology and media,
  • utilizing reflective practice and collaboration with colleagues, and
  • communicating effectively
• demonstrate communication, critical thinking, cultural humility, information literacy, and teamwork skills
• meet Humanities, Natural Science, Quantitative Reasoning, Social Science, and Written Communication general education distribution area outcomes

Prerequisites

To be considered for admission to the BAS in Early Childhood Education program, students must meet the following requirements:

1. An earned associate degree or equivalent from an accredited institution in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field
2. Minimum cumulative GPA across all college coursework of 2.0
3. Completion of all General Education prerequisite courses listed below with a minimum 2.0 GPA in each course
4. Completion of all Technical Education prerequisite courses listed below with a minimum 2.0 GPA in each course

• General Education Prerequisites
  • MATH& 107 Math in Society 5 credits (5 credits of college-level math with intermediate algebra as a prerequisite)
  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I 5 credits (or equivalent)
  • 5 credits of college-level Social Science
  • 5 credits of college-level Humanities
• Technical Education Prerequisites
  • ECED& 105 Intro to Early Childhood Education 5 credits
  • ECED& 107 Health/Safety/Nutrition 5 credits
  • ECED& 120 Practicum - Nurturing Relationships 2 credits
  • ECED& 160 Curriculum Development 5 credits
  • ECED& 170 Learning Environments 3 credits
  • ECED& 180 Language/Literacy Development 3 credits
  • ECED& 190 Observation/Assessment 3 credits
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development 5 credits
  • EDUC& 130 Guiding Behavior 3 credits
  • EDUC& 150 Child, Family and Community 3 credits

General Education Requirements - 60 Credits

The following courses from the Program Requirements and Pre-Requisites listed meet the General Education requirements for this program.

• MATH& 107 Math in Society 5 credits (5 credits of college-level math with intermediate algebra as a prerequisite)
• ENGL& 101 English Composition I 5 credits (or equivalent)
• 5 credits of college-level Social Science
• 5 credits of college-level Humanities
• ENGL& 102 English Composition II 5 credits (or ENGL& 235 Technical Writing if ENGL& 102 completed prior)
• PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology 5 credits (or SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology or PSYC& 100 General Psychology if PSYC& 200 completed prior)
• CMST 300 Professional Communication 5 credits
• ART& 100 Art Appreciation 5 credits (or any ART/ART& course; select ART 111 Beginning Painting for Non Art Majors or ART 121 Introduction to Drawing for those students who wish to pursue teacher certification)
• HIST 300 History of Education in the United States 5 credits
• ENVS& 101 Introduction to Environmental Science 5 credits (or any Natural Science course with lab)
• NUTR& 101 Nutrition 5 credits (For those students who wish to pursue teacher certification: BIOL& 100 Survey of Biology or any BIOL& or CHEM& course)
• PSYC 330 Wellness, Resilience, and Self-Awareness 5 credits (or any 300/400 level general education college course)

Core Courses - 50 Credits

• ECED 300 Influences and Issues in Early Childhood Education 4 credits
• ECED 310 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners with Practicum 6 credits
• ECED 330 Assessing and Enhancing Environments 3 credits
• ECED 340 Creative Expression 3 credits
• ECED 360 Behavior and Social-Emotional Development 4 credits
• ECED 400 Enriching Math, Science, Literacy and Technology Curriculum 5 credits
• ECED 425 Equity, Inclusion, and Individualized Learning Experiences 5 credits
• ECED 435 Leadership, Advocacy, and Program Development 5 credits
• ECED 445 Advanced ECE Curriculum Development 6 credits
• ECED 465 Collaborative Approaches to Promoting Health and Development 5 credits
• ECED 470 Practicum: Early Childhood Education Specializations 4 credits

Courses from Prior College Coursework - 70 Credits

Credits required from prior associate’s degree or college coursework to reach 180 total credits.

• Any 100-level or above courses not already taken within the BAS Early Childhood Education requirements
• General education pre-requisites do not count towards these credits

Required Course Sequence

• Quarter One
  • ENGL& 102 English Composition II 5 credits (or ENGL& 235 Technical Writing if ENGL& 102 completed prior)
  • ECED 300 Influences and Issues in Early Childhood Education 4 credits
  • ECED 310 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners with Practicum 6 credits
• Quarter Two
  • PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology 5 credits (or SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology or PSYC& 100 General Psychology if PSYC& 200 completed prior)
  • ECED 330 Assessing and Enhancing Environments 3 credits
  • ECED 340 Creative Expression 3 credits
  • CMST 300 Professional Communication 5 credits
• Quarter Three
  • ART& 100 Art Appreciation 5 credits (or any ART/ART& course; select ART 111 Beginning Painting for Non Art Majors or ART 121 Introduction to Drawing for those students who wish to pursue teacher certification)
  • HIST 300 History of Education in the United States 5 credits
  • ECED 360 Behavior and Social-Emotional Development 4 credits
• Quarter Four
  • ENVS& 101 Introduction to Environmental Science 5 credits (or any Natural Science course with lab)
  • ECED 425 Equity, Inclusion, and Individualized Learning Experiences 5 credits
  • ECED 400 Enriching Math, Science, Literacy and Technology Curriculum 5 credits
• Quarter Five
  • NUTR& 101 Nutrition 5 credits (For those students who wish to pursue teacher certification: BIOL& 100 Survey of Biology or any BIOL& or CHEM& course)
  • ECED 435 Leadership, Advocacy, and Program Development 5 credits
  • ECED 445 Advanced ECE Curriculum Development 6 credits
• Quarter Six
  • PSYC 330 Wellness, Resilience, and Self-Awareness 5 credits (or any 300/400 level general education college course)
  • ECED 465 Collaborative Approaches to Promoting Health and Development 5 credits
  • ECED 470 Practicum: Early Childhood Education Specializations 4 credits

Diversity and Social Justice Requirement

Within the degree requirements, students must complete a 3-5 credit course that meets the college’s Diversity and Social Justice (DSJ) requirement. DSJ courses are designated in the college schedule and are designed to meet other general education or technical requirements simultaneous to meeting the DSJ requirement (e.g., ENGL& 101 with the DSJ attribute meets both the ENGL& 101 requirement and the DSJ requirement). Note: Not all sections of a course meet the DSJ requirement. Students should review the class information to ensure the class section includes “course attributes: meets diversity requirement.”

Total Program Credits: 180

Total credits include the 90 credits listed above and a minimum of 90 credits completed at the associate degree level.