Early Childhood Education Courses

Early Childhood Education Courses

ECE 101    5 credits
Introduction to Early Childhood Education
Overview of early childhood philosophies with respect to learning environments and their relationships to growth and development in all areas; developmentally appropriate practice in child guidance, professional development; strategies for ensuring a well-run program; and productive relationships with families. (Provides 50 clock hours toward CDA certification.) Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in ECE 131 required.

ECE 108    3 credits
Health, Safety and Nutrition
Study of health, safety and nutrition guidelines that promote quality in an early childhood setting. Examination of the relationship between a healthy and safe environment, the family, and a child’s growth and development. Community resources available to ECE programs and parents of young children will be identified.

ECE 113    3 credits
Child Guidance
Introduction to the dynamics that affect children’s social growth, including age, teacher, parent, care giving, environment, genetic factors, traumas and losses. Developmentally appropriate and inappropriate guidance techniques will be examined along with current guidance theories. Community resources available to ECE programs and parents of young children will be identified.

ECE 116    3 credits
Working with Families
Covers knowledge and skills needed to establish positive and productive relationships with families. Ideas to help support each child’s relationship within the family and ways to encourage family involvement in the program will be included. Concurrent enrollment in ECE 133 required for students pursuing ECE one-year certificate or ATS degree.

ECE 117    3 credits
Diversity
Introduction to incorporating cultural, ethnic, racial, gender and physical diversity into the early childhood setting. Includes recognizing and resisting stereotypical and discriminatory behavior and working with parents and communities to create a supportive environment for diversity.

ECE 118    3 credits
Early Childhood Environments
Addresses the impact of indoor and outdoor environments on learning and social climate in early childhood settings. The influence of environment on each developmental area, creativity, problem solving and social relationships will be stressed.

ECE 119    1 credit
ECE Cornerstone
Provides students with an overview of the early childhood education program expectations and philosophy. Students will gain knowledge and skills in collecting work samples for the professional portfolio which they are required to develop in ECE 260.

ECE 121    1 credit
Understand Behaviors and Bldg Relations/Children
In this course students will learn about relationship-based care, influences on children’s behavior, goals of mistaken behavior and temperament. (Students who successfully complete ECE 121, 122 and 123 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 113.)

ECE 122    1 credit
The Encouraging Classroom
Focuses on using the environment to support children’s positive behavior, developmentally appropriate guidance practices, guidance vs. punishment and involving families to support children’s social and emotional growth. (Students who successfully complete ECE 121, 122 and 123 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 113.)

ECE 123    1 credit
Positive Guidance
Focuses on positive communication and direct guidance techniques to support children’s social/emotional development and strategies for specific challenging behaviors. (Students who successfully complete ECE 121, 122 and 123 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 113.)

ECE 128    2 credits
CDA Field Experience-I-BEST
Under the direct supervision of a qualified early childhood professional, student takes on the role of the lead teacher to demonstrate proficiency in the skills needed to acquire a CDA credential. The ECE instructor will observe the student using the CDA classroom observation tool to assess the student’s competency. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in ECE 141.

ECE 131    2 credits
Field Experience I
Student completes 15 hours of field experience in each of the following four approved early childhood education settings: family home child care program, child care center or privately owned preschool, Head Start/ECEAP program, and kindergarten through third-grade classroom (60 hours total). Concurrent enrollment in ECE 101 required.

ECE 132    2 credits
Field Experience II
Student completes 15 hours of field experience in each of the following four approved early childhood education settings: infant/toddler program, preschool program, kindergarten or first-grade classroom, and second- or third-grade classroom (60 hours total). Concurrent enrollment in ECE 212 required.

ECE 133    2 credits
ECE Field Experience III
Student completes 66 hours of field experience in an approved early childhood setting with a qualified teacher. Students apply classroom theory from ECE 116 to actual practice of technical skills per Washington Skill Standards. Concurrent enrollment in ECE 116 required for students who are pursuing ECE certificate or ATS degree.

ECE 140    2 credits
CDA Capstone
Course assists students in final preparation for CDA assessment. Students develop CDA professional resource file, distribute parent questionnaires and review CDA competency goals/functional areas. Formal observation not included - students must contract with an independent adviser to fulfill the formal observation requirement. (CDA assessment fee is NOT included in the cost of this course.) Prerequisites: ECE 101, ECE 102, first aid/CPR training, blood-borne pathogen education, and have at least 480 hours of experience working with preschool children within the past five years.

ECE 141    4 credits
CDA Capstone I-BEST
Assists students in final preparation for CDA Assessment. Students develop CDA professional resources files, distribute parent questionnaires and review CDA competency goals/functional areas. Integrates technical early childhood education and adult basic skills instruction. Prerequisites: ECE 101, 102, first aid/CPR and bloodborne pathogens education, and at least 480 hours of experience working with children, five-years of age or younger, within the past five years.

ECE 206    3 credits
Sharing Literature with Children
Students will develop competence in selecting various types of literature for young children. Methods of providing literacy experiences, such as storytelling, flannel board and dramatic play, will be explored. Strategies for incorporating family and community resources included.

ECE 212    3 credits
Observation and Assessment
Provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary in observing and recording behaviors of young children in a variety of early childhood settings. Students will select screening and assessment tools appropriate for the needs of the child and determine curricular direction based on the data collection. Concurrent enrollment in ECE 132 required.

ECE 215    3 credits
Curriculum and Program Development for Infants and Toddler
Investigation of the requirements of quality developmental programs specific to infants and toddlers ages birth to three years. Includes understanding of general and individual child development; respect for family culture and partnerships; a safe, healthy environment that stimulates and nurtures; hands-on child directed experiences; and respectful and caring interactions. Prerequisites: ECE 101, EDUC& 115, ECE 108, 113, 116, 117, 119, EDUC& 204, 131, 132, 133, 212.

ECE 216    3 credits
Curriculum/Program Development: School-Age Children
Investigation of the requirements of quality programs specific to children ages five to 15. Includes general and individual development during the school-age years; providing a safe, healthy environment that is active and age-appropriate; guidance and discipline issues and techniques; and the importance of respecting and working with all families.

ECE 219    5 credits
Language and Literacy Development
Covers the fundamental concepts of how language is acquired and literacy emerges in children from birth through eight years. Methods of enhancing language development, listening skills, and emergent reading and writing skills in the early childhood setting and family environment will be explored. Prerequisites: ECE 101, EDUC& 115, ECE 108, 113, 116, 117, 119, EDUC& 204, 131, 132, 133, 212.

ECE 220    3 credits
Math and Science in Early Childhood
Methods, materials and vocabulary to use in individualized and developmentally appropriate math and science experiences in early childhood and family environments. Role of technology will be explored. Concurrent enrollment in ECE 231 required. Prerequisites: ECE 101, EDUC& 115, ECE 108, 113, 116, 117, 119, EDUC& 204, ECE 131, 132, 133, 212.

ECE 221    3 credits
Movement/Motor Development in Early Childhood
Students will learn to select, create and use activities to foster development of muscle coordination and strength, body awareness, movement, balance, and endurance. Individual areas of physical and creative activities will be explored, as will family and community influences. Prerequisites: ECE 101, EDUC& 115, ECE 108, 113, 116, 117, 119, EDUC& 204, ECE 131, 132, 133, 212.

ECE 222    3 credits
Arts and the Creative Process
Provides students with skills to plan and implement creative experiences in art, music, drama, dance and literature. Community resources will be identified. The relationship of the creative domain to other developmental domains is a focus. Concurrent enrollment in ECE 232 required for students pursuing an ECE certificate or ATS degree. Prerequisites: all first-year ECE classes must be completed before enrolling in this course.

ECE 225    1 credit
Literacy and Young Children
Students will identify literacy behaviors and discuss the value of early literacy learning. Children’s literature will be examined, including a study of genre. Participants will discuss criteria for book selection, including the use of multicultural books. Literacy will be defined through the interrelated areas of speaking, listening, writing and reading.

ECE 226    1 credit
Environment, Curriculum and Literacy
Focuses on both the importance of a language-rich physical environment and the role of adults in promoting literacy skills. Students learn the importance of talking, singing, and telling stories. Read-aloud strategies, including dialogic techniques, are demonstrated. Students will learn to use assessment and share strategies for documenting progress.

ECE 227    1 credit
Developing a Literacy Program
Students will practice how to integrate reading, writing, listening and speaking into activity plans. Strategies for how to recognize language delays, where to refer for assessment, how to individualize instruction and how to use reflective learning to identify personal teaching goals in the area of language and literacy for children.

ECE 231    2 credits
Field Experience IV
Student will complete 60 hours of field experience in an approved early childhood setting with a qualified teacher. Students apply classroom theory from ECE 220 to actual practice of technical skills as defined in the Washington Skill Standards for Early Childhood Professionals. Concurrent enrollment in ECE 220 required. Prerequisites: all first-year ECE classes must be completed before enrolling in this course.

ECE 232    2 credits
ECE Field Experience V
Student completes 66 hours of field experience in an approved early childhood setting with a qualified teacher. Students apply classroom theory from ECE 222 to actual practice of technical skills per Washington Skill Standards. Concurrent enrollment in ECE 222 required for students pursuing ECE certificate or ATS degree. Prerequisites: all first-year ECE classes must be completed before enrolling in this course.

ECE 251    1 credit
Supporting Healthy Social and Emotional Development
Early care and education professionals will learn about the emerging language of the young child, fostering secure caregiver-child relationships and the importance of culturally responsive partnerships with families. (Students who successfully complete ECE 251, 252 and 253 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 215.)

ECE 252    1 credit
Infant-Toddler: Encouraging Healthy Physical Development
Focuses on infant/toddler care-giving practices to support healthy and safe environments for sensorimotor exploration. Students will explore ways to partner with families about sleeping issues and feeding interactions to support the healthy development. (Students who successfully complete ECE 251, 252 and 253 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 215.)

ECE 253 1 credit
Infant-Toddler Caregiving: Responsive Learning Environment
Students will explore how to create safe, nurturing and engaging environments to support culturally responsive early learning, brain and language development in the earliest years. (Students who successfully complete ECE 251, 252 and 253 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 215.)

ECE 260    1 credit
ECE Capstone
Provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop and maintain a professional portfolio to use in their job searches and other career endeavors. Prerequisites: ECE 101, EDUC& 115, ECE 108, 113, 116, 117, 119, EDUC& 204,ECE 131, 132, 133, 212.

ECE 261    1 credit
Program Administration
This course emphasizes the technical knowledge necessary to develop and maintain a quality early care and education program. It focuses on planning, developing and managing a center, and meeting licensing, accreditation regulations, and guidelines. (Students who successfully complete ECE 261, 262 and 263 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 265.)

ECE 262    1 credit
Operation of Children’s Programs
Focuses on the operation of children’s programs in early learning centers. Addresses the grouping of children, creating developmentally appropriate curriculum that is relevant for children for birth through age eight, and implementing a food program. (Students who successfully complete ECE 261, 262 and 263 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 265.)

ECE 263    1 credit
Staffing and Professional Development
Addresses staff recruitment, retention, support and supervision, which will lay a foundation for positive personnel management. Professional responsibilities such as cultural responsiveness and reflective practice are examined. (Students who successfully complete ECE 261, 262 and 263 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 265.)

ECE 265    3 credits
Program Management
Focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to open, operate and manage an early childhood program. Topics include licensing, accreditation, budgeting, personnel management, curriculum development, learning environments and professionalism. Prerequisites: ECE 101, EDUC& 115, ECE 108, 113, 116, 117, 119, EDUC& 204, ECE 131, 132, 133, 212.

ECE 266    1 credit
Creating Community Among Adults in Early Care Setting
Emphasizes technical knowledge needed to understand the importance of adult relationships in early learning settings. Focuses on why relationships matter, how adult relationships impact children, relationship-based practices, and positive relationships between staff and management. Instruction in English or Spanish (Students who successfully complete ECE 266, 267 and 268 meet the ECE degree requirement of ECE 116). Prerequisite: by permission of program coordinator.

ECE 267    1 credit
Building a Caring Community with Children
Introductory concepts of relationship-based care, caregiver’s role in building and supporting relationships with young children, learning through organizing thoughts around relationships, impact relationships have on thinking and language development of young children. Instruction in English or Spanish (ECE 266, 267 and 263 meet requirement of ECE 116). Prerequisites: by permission of program coordinator.

ECE 268    1 credit
Bldg Quality Relationships with Parents and Families
Understanding the needs families have when children are placed in early learning programs. Cultural impacts on relationships between caregivers, children and parents. Making parents feel welcomed, accepted and valued. In English or Spanish (ECE 266, 267 and 268 meet the requirement of ECE 116). Prerequisites: by permission of program coordinator.

ECE 290    4 credits
Early Childhood Education Practicum
Student completes 90 hours of field experience in an approved early childhood setting. Under the direct supervision of a qualified early childhood professional, student takes on the role of lead teacher to demonstrate skills in curriculum planning and implementation, child guidance, environmental design, and communication with families and program staff. Students will meet once a week with course instructor to discuss practicum experiences. Prerequisites: completion of all ECE classes except ECE 205 and 260.

ECE 295    3 credits
Practicum II
The student will build on skills and knowledge gained in second-year coursework through participating in practical field experience in an approved early childhood education setting with a qualified teacher. Student will develop and implement lesson plans, lead individual and group activities, and practice classroom management and behavior guidance techniques. Prerequisite: program director’s signature.

ECE 296    1-5 credits
Cooperative Work Experience
Designed to provide students with on-the-job practical field experience. One credit for each five hours of work experience per week. Prerequisite: instructor’s signature.

Education Courses

EDUC& 115  5 credits
Child Development
Child development in all areas including physical, social, emotional, communication and cognitive. Looks at patterns and sequences as well as individual development. Will consider the impact of community, family, cultures, disabilities and other external forces on development. Provides 30 clock hours toward CDA certification.

EDUC& 204  5 credits
Exceptional Child
Introduction to the field of special education. Includes various categories of disabilities and special needs, legal and historical perspectives for special education services, roles and responsibilities of special education team members, and instructional strategies for teaching in a special education environment. (Covers the 14 core competencies for special education paraeducators.)