Program Overview

Early Childhood Education, AAS

The Early Childhood Education AAS degree prepares students to develop competencies necessary to plan, implement, and evaluate a quality program for children, following National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards.

Program Description

This program prepares students to seek new employment or update professional skills and knowledge as a family care provider; program supervisor of a child care center; child care manager; and lead and support teacher in early childhood programs. Theoretical knowledge is gained through traditional, hybrid, and online classroom lectures; practical experience takes place in college labs and in family and center-based programs where students may be employed.

Program Outcomes

Early Childhood Education AAS degree graduates will:

• be prepared for a lead teacher or entry-level management position in the early care and learning field
• plan, implement, and evaluate children’s programs using current child development knowledge
• apply developmentally appropriate guidance techniques
• document children’s skill development and plan programs based on documented observations
• be prepared to create a learning environment that fosters language, social, cognitive, and motor skills in young children
• be prepared to communicate in verbal and written format with the parents
• be prepared to plan and monitor food service in an early childhood program
• be able to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment, both indoors/outdoors
• follow the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) as it relates to early childhood programs
• demonstrate communication, critical thinking, cultural humility, information literacy, and teamwork skills
• meet Humanities, Quantitative Reasoning, Social Science, and Written Communication general education distribution area outcomes

Program Requirements

• The program consists of 90 credits.
• Students must consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with a college or program advisor.
• Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.

Recommended Course Sequence

The recommended course sequence is as follows:

• Quarter One (Fall)
  • ECED& 105 Intro to Early Childhood Education (5 credits)
  • ECED& 120 Practicum - Nurturing Relationships (2 credits)
  • ECED& 107 Health/Safety/Nutrition (5 credits)
• Quarter Two (Winter)
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development (5 credits)
  • EDUC& 130 Guiding Behavior (3 credits)
  • ECED& 160 Curriculum Development (5 credits)
• Quarter Three (Spring)
  • ECED& 132 Infant/Toddler Care (3 credits)
  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
  • ECED& 190 Observation/Assessment (3 credits)
• Quarter Four (Summer)
  • ECED 140 Diversity in Education (3 credits)
  • ECED 145 Science, Math, Music, and Creative Activities in ECE (5 credits)
  • EDUC& 203 Exceptional Child (3 credits)
• Quarter Five (Fall)
  • EDUC& 150 Child, Family and Community (3 credits)
  • MATH& 107 Math in Society (5 credits)
  • ECED 130 Practicum II - Teaching Young Children (4 credits)
• Quarter Six (Winter)
  • ECED& 180 Language/Literacy Development (3 credits)
  • ECED 200 Practicum III - Reflection (4 credits)
  • CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication (5 credits) (or any Humanities course)
• Quarter Seven (Spring)
  • ECED 215 Capstone Practicum (5 credits)
  • ECED& 139 Administration of Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
  • ECED& 170 Learning Environments (3 credits)
• Quarter Eight (Summer)
  • SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits) (or any Social Science course)
  • ECED& 134 Family Childcare Management (3 credits)
  • OR
  • ECED& 137 Outdoor Learning Environments (3 credits)
  • OR
  • EDUC& 136 School Age Care (3 credits)

Technical Electives

• Select one 3-credit course from the following courses:
  • ECED& 134 Family Childcare Management (3 credits)
  • EDUC& 136 School Age Care (3 credits)
  • ECED& 137 Outdoor Learning Environments (3 credits)

General Education Requirements

• CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication (5 credits) (or any Humanities course)
• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
• MATH& 107 Math in Society (5 credits)
• SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits) (or any Social Science course)

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.

Total Program Credits

The total program credits required for the Early Childhood Education AAS degree is 90 credits.