ObjectivesEarly Childhood Education majors will be trained to
supervise and provide care and learning experiences for infant
through eight-year-old children in a variety of early childhood
settings. Early Childhood Education professionals adhere to
the guidelines as well as the Professional Code of Ethics of
the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC) providing developmentally appropriate learning
opportunities for the enhancement of the physical, intellectual,
social, emotional and creative domains of young children.
The Early Childhood Education major focuses on educational
practices that emphasize interpersonal relationships,
cultural diversity, child-centered curriculum and the inclusion
of children with special needs in all educational opportunities.
Course descriptionThe Early Childhood Education Program major follows
a natural progression that allows students to move from
short to long-term educational goals: preparation for the
state Children’s Center Permit, fulfillment of post-certificate
Professional Development, completion of advanced California
Career Ladder courses (including paired specialization courses
as well as the California State Mentor course), completion
of an Associate in Arts degree in Early Childhood Education,
Associate in Arts in Early Childhood Intervention assistant,
Associate in Arts in Early Childhood Intervention Teacher, and
transfer to a four-year institution.
Possible Early Childhood Education career goals include
Early Childhood Education Teacher, Early Education Director,
Early Childhood Intervention Assistant, Early Childhood
Intervention Teacher, Family Home Child Care Provider,
Private ECE Center Owner/Director, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, K through 12 teacher, K through 12
Special Education Teacher, Parent Educator, Early Childhood
Education Instructor, Marriage Family and Child Counselor.
The Early Childhood Intervention programs will prepare
students for career placements in public and/or private early
intervention and educational settings that serve typically and
atypically developing young children. Specific jobs and responsibilities
may include serving as an early childhood educator
with a specialization in working with children with special
needs, special education assistant for children birth to eight
years of age, a one-to-one aide for a child (e.g., “inclusion
facilitator”), classroom aide with expertise in special needs, or
as an assistant to the early intervention team for infants birth
to three years of age.
Early Childhood Education (27 units)
A Certificate of Achievement for Early Childhood
Education Teacher is granted upon completion of 27 units.
Remaining units (to total 60) should include Associate in Arts
degree general education requirements and electives.
Required Core Courses: (21 units)
Early Childhood Education 2, Early Childhood Education
Program (3)
Early Childhood Education 11, Child, Family and
Community (3)
Early Childhood Education 21, Observation and
Assessment (4)
Early Childhood Education 22, Education Field
Experience (5)
Early Childhood Education 64, Health, Safety and
Nutrition for Young Children (3)
Psychology 11, Child Growth and Development (3)
Required Curriculum Courses; select two courses: (6 units)
Early Childhood Education 4, Language and Literature for
the Young Child (3)
Early Childhood Education 5, Math and Science for the
Young Child (3)
Early Childhood Education 8, Creative Experiences: Art,
Music and Movement (3)
Early Childhood Education 61, Teacher-Child
Interactions (3)
Recommended Courses:
Bilingual 1, Introduction to Bilingual Studies (3)
Early Childhood Education 9, Introduction to School-Age
Child Care (3)
Early Childhood Education 10, Developing Literacy (3)
Early Childhood Education 18, Childhood: Culture and
Personality (also Psychology 18) (3)
Early Childhood Education 19, Teaching in a Diverse
Society (3)
Early Childhood Education 23, Practicum in Early
Intervention (5)
Early Childhood Education 30, Children with
Challenging Behaviors (3)
Early Childhood Education 35, Foundations of Early
Literacy (3)
Early Childhood Education 43, Supervision and
Administration 2 (3)
Early Childhood Education 44, Introduction to Family
Day Care (1)
Early Childhood Education 45, Children with Special
Needs (3)
Early Childhood Education 46, Infant Through Toddler
Studies (3)
Early Childhood Education 47, Developing Family
Childcare (3)
Early Childhood Education 48, Adult Supervision and
Mentoring, ECE/CD (2)
Early Childhood Education 49, Early Intervention
Strategies (3)
Early Childhood Education 50, Parenting Skills
Development (1)
Early Childhood Education 51, The Reggio Approach (3)
Early Childhood Education 52, Documentation: Making
Learning Visible (1)
Early Childhood Education 53, Environment as the Third
Teacher (1)
Early Childhood Education 60, Observation and
Assessment (3)
Early Childhood Education 70, The Hanen Language
Program (3)
Early Childhood Education 84, Early Childhood
Educator’s Seminar (1)
Early Childhood Education 89 A, B, C, or D, Cooperative
Work Experience (1, 2, 3 or 4)
Education 1, Career Choices in Education (3)
Education 2, The Early Childhood Through 12th Grade
Teaching Experience (3)
Education 20, Exceptional Children in School (3)
Education 24, Paraeducator Fieldwork Experience (5)
Psychology 1, General Psychology (3)