Early Childhood Care and Education

Courses combine classroom lectures, presentations, discussions, practical exercises, and individual and group work. Students take an active role and learn by observing early childhood programs during field trips and off-site field studies. Students are exposed to the new ECCE resources SECD (Science of Early Child Development). Guest speakers are invited for every course in order to provide community awareness and connections for the students.

The class time includes the use of the ECCE Lab. The ECCE Lab is a combination of classroom space and several mock learning centers. The instructors incorporate the practical application in their lectures.

Practicum students receive on-site support and supervision from college instructors and sponsors who are qualified early childhood educators.

What You’ll Learn

• Protect and promote the psychological and physical safety, health and well-being of young children 2-6 years of age.
• Develop and maintain a warm, caring, and responsive relationship with each child and with groups of children.
• Administer daily experiences that support and promote children’s physical, emotional, social, communication, cognitive, ethical and creative lives.
• Use pedagogical narration to interpret and respond to every child’s skills, abilities, interests and needs with special focus on infants and toddlers and children who need extra support.
• Analyze variations in developing among young children 2-6.
• Establish and maintain an open, cooperative relationship with each child’s family.
• Establish and maintain inclusive, supportive, collaborative relationships with others working in the early care and learning setting.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other community service providers working with the child.
• Reflect on one’s own knowledge, attitudes, and skills and take appropriate action for change.
• Practice administrative and management skills as related to early care and learning settings.
• Advocate for high-quality, accessible, comprehensive and inclusive early care and learning settings.