Home • Programs A-Z

Early Childhood Education

ECE-139: Teaching Young Children I, Credits = 3
Provides student experience in an early care setting. The student integrates experience and knowledge of young children in planning and assisting as preschool teacher/preschool teacher's assistant. Topics include environments, curriculum evaluation, staff relationships, and code of ethics. Prerequisites: ECE 191 and instructor permission. Recommended: READ 088.

ECE-144: Early Childhood Education Seminar, Credits = .5 - 2
This course includes STARS and CDA seminars. Topics will vary by quarter.

ECE-148: Introduction to Child Care, Credits = 2
Provides basic training for childcare workers and licensed family child care personnel. Emphasis on care and guidance of children birth to five years. Course is available on WAOL each quarter. Recommended: READ 088.

ECE-150: Math & Science for Early Childhood, Credits = 4
Focus on math and science for preschool and primary grade children. Students will learn how to create developmentally appropriate curriculum that will support young children in acquiring concepts and skills essential to basic understanding of math and science. Classroom activities will be introduced and concepts studied through inquiry based learning, note taking and discussion sessions. Recommended: READ 088

ECE-160: Instructional Strategies Special Needs Children, Credits = 3
Provides adaptive strategies and technical knowledge for efficient educational sequences to remediate specific student skill deficits. Topics include analysis of basic learning principles, considerations in special techniques for training, and a formal design to teach specific skills and/or concepts. Recommended: READ 088. Student may not earn credit for both ECE 160 and ED 160.

ECE-191: Cooperative Work Experience, Credits = 1 - 3
Provides hands-on experience in the early childhood field. This formal training period is agreed upon by the student, employer, and instructor. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Recommended: READ 088.

ECE-199: Special Topics, Credits = 1 - 5
Study and train to meet established local needs in the early childhood education field, supplemental to courses currently offered. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Recommended: READ 088.

ECE-232: Children's Art and Literature for Educators, Credits = 4
Develop competence in the use of various types of literature, criteria for selecting children's books, and methods to provide literary experiences with young children. Experience literature from various cultures. Introduction to creative art experiences for young children. Topics include selection of literature, methods of providing appropriate literary experiences for children, storytelling, props and dramatic play as well as planning, presentation and supervision of creative art activities and materials. Recommended: READ 088. Student may not earn credit for both ECE 232 and ED 232.

ECE-236: Music and Movement, Credits = 4
Introduction to activities that assist in development of a young child's muscle coordination, awareness of body image and movement, and physical development. Topics include developmental sequence, creative expression, brain development, group games, and play. Recommended: READ 088. Student may not earn credit for both ECE 236 and ED 236.

ECE-239: Teaching Young Children II, Credits = 3
Provides student experience in an early childhood setting and experience in integrating past experience and knowledge of young children in planning and assisting as preschool teacher/preschool teacher's assistant. Topics include environments, curriculum evaluation, staff relationships, and code of ethics. Prerequisite: Instructor permission, successful completion of ECE 139 and ECE 291. Recommended: READ 088.

ECE-255: Children at Risk, Credits = 3
Caring for children from families affected by substance abuse. Topics include values clarification, family characteristics, families in treatment, empowerment. Recommended: READ 088. Student may not earn credit for both ECE 255 and ED 255.

ECE-261: Current Issues and Trends in Education, Credits = 3
Overview of issues, trends, and policies in education. Topics include: social, political, economic, and educational issues that influence the education of children. Recommended: READ 088. Student may not earn credit for both ECE 261 and ED 261.

ECE-287: Mentoring and Leadership in Early Care and Education, Credits = 3
A study in the relationship-based professional development methods and principles involved in early childhood education mentoring and leadership development. Emphasis is on the role of experienced early childhood education teachers, adult educators and other professionals who work in roles as mentors, coaches, consultants and collaborators facilitating the professional development of teachers of young children. With the information necessary to open, operate, and manage child care centers and early learning programs that meet licensing, accreditation and other quality standards, the skills taught in these modules are also transferable into the fields of parent education and family support. Recommended: READ 088.

ECE-291: Cooperative Work Experience II, Credits = 1 - 3
Opportunity to participate in hands-on training in the early childhood field. This formal training period is agreed upon by the student, employer, and instructor. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Recommended: READ 088.

ECE-297: Special Projects, Credits = 1 - 10
Project-oriented experiences in the area or applications not covered in the standard early childhood education curriculum. Prerequisite: Instructor permission, based on evaluation of student's education and work experience.

ECE-299: Leadership, Credits = 1
Develop awareness of leadership potential and abilities through small group discussions and assumption of leadership roles and responsibilities. Students will acquire information, experience diverse points of view, construct knowledge and practice a variety of interpersonal and social skills, such as communicating, goal-setting, decision-making, team-building, and managing stress.