Early Childhood Care/Education Associate Degree
Offered at the Following Campus Locations
Program Overview
The Early Childhood Care and Education associate of applied science degree program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the field of early childhood education. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application as well as general core competencies necessary for successful employment. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers, Head Start, Georgia Pre-K programs, and elementary school paraprofessional positions. Graduates of this program will receive one of five areas of specialization: exceptionalities, infant/toddler, program administration, paraprofessional/school age, or family child care.
Entrance Requirements
This program requires either the ACCUPLACER® or COMPASS college placement test and High School Diploma or GED. Minimum Required Age of 16.
ACCUPLACER® minimum scores: Reading Comprehension 64, Sentence Skills 70, Elementary Algebra 57
COMPASS minimum scores: Reading 79, Writing 62, Algebra 37
Note: Students will be required to complete a satisfactory National Criminal Background Check before they can complete this program of study
Course Overview
Basic Skills Courses:General Education Core (Required Minimum: 18 Semester Hours)Area I – Language Arts/Communication (6 hrs)ENGL1101Composition and Rhetoric3Explores the analysis of literature and articles about issues in the humanities and in society. Students practice various modes of writing, ranging from exposition to argumentation and persuasion. The course includes a review of standard grammatical and stylistic usage in proofreading and editing. An introduction to library resources lays the foundation for research. Topics include writing analysis and practice, revision, and research. Students write a research paper using library resources and using a formatting and documentation style appropriate to the purpose and audience.1242XXXX0000Language Arts/Communication Elective35214Area II – Social/Behavioral SciencesPSYC1101Introductory Psychology3Introduces the major fields of contemporary psychology. Emphasis is on fundamental principles of psychology as a science. Topics include research design, the organization and operation of the nervous system, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, thinking and intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychopathology and interventions, stress and health, and social psychology.1320Area III – Natural Sciences/Mathematics – Select one of the following three CoursesMATH1103Quantitative Skills/Reasoning (201614)3Emphasizes algebra, statistics, and mathematics of finance. Topics include fundamental operations of algebra, sets and logic, probability and statistics, geometry, mathematics of voting and districting, and mathematics of finance.1295MATH1101Mathematical Modeling3Emphasizes functions using real-world applications as models. Topics include fundamental concepts of algebra; functions and graphs; linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions and models; systems of equations; and optional topics in algebra.1296MATH1111College Algebra3Emphasizes techniques of problem solving using algebraic concepts. Topics include fundamental concepts of algebra, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, and systems of equations; optional topics include sequences, series, and probability or analytic geometry.1297Area IV – Humanities and Fine Arts courseXXXX0000Humanities/Fine Arts Elective34607ElectiveXXXX0000General Core Elective (Any 1101 or higher)311903Occupational Courses:COLL1010College and Career Success Skills3This course is designed to assist the learner to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic, personal, and professional success and to improve student retention. Topics include: Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Skills, Time and Personal Financial Management, Stress Management and Wellness, Study and Test Taking Skills, Communication Skills, Career Planning and Goal Setting, Computer Application/Technology Skills, and Employability/Professional Skills.13802ECCE1101Intro-Early Childhood Care/Edu3Introduces concepts relating the responsibilities and procedures involved in a variety of early childhood care situations. Topics include historical perspectives; professionalism; guidance; developmentally appropriate practices; learning environment (including all children); cultural diversity; and licensing, accreditation, and credentialin1914ECCE1103Child Growth and Development3Introduces the student to the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of the young child (prenatal through 12 years of age).
The course provides for competency development in observing, recording, and interpreting growth and development stages in the young child; advancing physical and intellectual competence; supporting social and emotional development; and examining relationships between child development and positive guidance. Topics include developmental characteristics, prenatal through age 12, developmental guidance applications, observing and recording techniques, ages and stages of development, and introduction to children with special needs.1915ECCE1105Health, Safety and Nutrition3Introduces the theory, practices, and requirements for establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment. Topics include CPR and first aid, health issues, safety issues, child abuse and neglect, and nutritional needs of children1916ECCE1112Curriculum and Assessment3Provides student with an understanding of developmentally effective approaches to teaching, learning, observing, documenting and assessment strategies that promote positive development for young children. The course will enable the student to establish a learning environment appropriate for young children and to identify the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment in the development of curriculum for young children. Topics include observing, documenting, and assessing; learning environments; development of curriculum plans and
materials; curriculum approaches; and instructional media.1917ECCE1113Creative Activities-Children3Introduces the concepts related to creativity in art,music, movement and creative drama, and facilitating children's creative expression across
the curriculum. Topics include concepts of creativity and expression; theories of young children's creative development; facilitation of children's creative expression, media, methods and materials across the curriculum; appreciation of children's art processes and products; appreciation of children's creativity in music, movement and dance; appreciation of children's creative expression in play and creative drama; and art and music appreciation.1918ECCE1121Early Childhood Care Practicum3Provides the student with the opportunity to gain a supervised experience in a practicum placement site allowing demonstration of techniques obtained from course work. Practicum topics include promoting child development and learning; building family and community relationships; observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families; teaching and learning; becoming a professional; and guidance techniques and classroom management.1919ECCE2115Language and Literacy3Develops knowledge, skills, and abilities in supporting young children's literacy acquisition and development, birth through age twelve. Topics include developmental continuum of reading and writing, literacy acquisition birth to five years of age, literacy acquisition in kindergarten, literacy acquisition in early grades, and literacy acquisition in children who are culturally and linguistically diverse.1921ECCE2116Math and Science3Presents the process of introducing math and science concepts to young children. Includes planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate activities and development of math and science materials, media and methods. Topics include inquiry approach to learning; cognitive stages and developmental processes in developing math and science concepts with children birth to five; cognitive stages and developmental processes in developing math and science concepts with children in kindergarten and primary grades; planning math and
science activities; and development of math and science materials, media and methods.1922ECCE2201Exceptionalities3Provides for the development of knowledge and skills that will enable the student to understand individuals with special needs and appropriately guide their development. Special emphasis is placed on acquainting the student with programs and community resources that serve families with children with special needs. Topics include inclusion/least restrictive environment (LRE), physical and motor impairments, gifted/talented, intellectual and cognitive disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, communication disorders in speech and language,
autism spectrum disorders, visual impairments, deaf and hard of hearing, health impairments, multiple disabilities, and community resources1923ECCE2202Social Issues/Family Involvmnt3Enables the student to value the complex characteristics of children's families and communities and to develop culturally responsive practices which will support family partnerships. Students use their understanding to build reciprocal relationships which promote children's development and learning. Students are introduced to local programs and agencies that offer services to children and families within the community. Topics include professional responsibilities, family/social issues, community resources, family education and support, teacherfamily communication, community partnerships, social diversity and anti-bias concerns, successful transitions, and school-family activities.1924ECCE2203Guidance/Classroom Mngment3Examines effective guidance practices in group settings based upon the application of theoretical models of child development and of developmentally appropriate practices. Focus will be given to individual, family, and cultural diversity. Topics will include developmentally appropriate child guidance (birth through 12); effective classroom management, including preventive and interventive techniques;
understanding challenging behaviors; and implementing guidance plans.1925ECCE2245Early Childhood Care and Education Internship I624575Select ECCE 2246 or 6 credit hours of guided electivesECCE2246Early Childhood Care and Education Internship II624579XXXX0000Guided Electives 69917Specialization - Select one of the following three specializationsParaprofessional SpecializationECCE2310Paraprofsnl Methods/Materials3Develops the instructional skills to enable the student to work as a araprofessional in a program for kindergarten through elementary age children. Topics include assessment and curriculum, instructional techniques, and methods for instruction in a learning environment.1927ECCE2312Paraprofsnl Roles/Practices3Develops skills to enable the student to work as a paraprofessional in a program for kindergarten through elementary aged children. Topics include professional qualifications, professional and ethical conduct, professionalism and employment, and paraprofessional roles and responsibilities.1928Program Administration SpecializationECCE2320Program Admin/Facility Mngmnt3Provides training in planning, implementation, and maintenance of an effective early childhood program and facility. Topics include organization, mission, philosophy, goals of a program; types of programs; laws, rules, regulations, accreditation, and program evaluation; needs assessment; administrative roles and board of directors; anti-bias program development; child development and developmentally appropriate practices; marketing, public and community relations, grouping, enrollment and retention; working with families; professionalism and work ethics; space management; money management; and program, equipment, and supplies management.1929ECCE2322Personnel Management3Provides training in early childhood personnel management. Topics include staff records; communication; personnel policies; managing payroll; recruitment, interviewing, selection, hiring, motivating, and firing; staff retention; staff scheduling; staff development; staff supervision; conflict resolution; staff evaluations; ethical responsibilities to employees; and time and stress management.1930Exceptionalities SpecializationECCE2360Classroom Strategies Exc Child3Course Description
Prepares child care providers and paraprofessionals with knowledge and skills in the areas of working effectively with children with a disability; working with families as partners; examining the laws and regulations; exploring resources, service providers, and agencies that may assist the child and his/her family; examining the adaptations and modifications to facilities and environments; reviewing the referral process; implementing inclusion; modifying instruction to accommodate the child with special needs; and investigating ways to document and
chart observations.1937ECCE2362Exploring Exceptional Envir3Prepares child care providers and paraprofessionals with knowledge and skills for screening and assessing purposes; and explores resources, service providers, and agencies that may assist the child and families in educational or natural settings. Examines adaptations, accommodations, and modifications to environments; reviews the referral process; implements inclusion and modifies instruction to1938Minimum Length of Program: 5 Term(s)Minimum Credit Hours for Graduation: 72