Early Childhood Education

ED 110 Safety, Nutrition, and Health Issues of Young Children - 2 Credits
This course will examine the health, safety and nutritional needs of children from birth through the middle school years with special attention given to safeguarding the various settings in which children spend their days.

ED 119 Aesthetic Experiences for Young Children - 3 Credits
This course examines the artistic and musical development of children from early childhood through elementary school and investigate ways to provide developmentally appropriate practices.

ED 213 Basics of Early Childhood Education - 3 Credits
This course analyzes the development, maturation and learning processes throughout the early childhood years, ages 0-8. Curriculum models, assessment and early childhood programs will be analyzed through the lens of child development theory and learning theories, with emphasis on a constructivist philosophy. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: PY 204.

ED 251 Emergent Literacy - 3 Credits
In this course, students will learn developmentally appropriate strategies that foster awareness of print, letter naming and phonemic awareness in young children. Students will develop techniques that enable young children to develop listening comprehension, vocabulary and language facility. Students will understand the relationship between early literacy experiences and later school success. Prerequisite: PY 204.

ED/PY 203 Psychology of Infant Development - 3 Credits
This course analyzes the development of the infant from conception through the toddler years. The interrelatedness of
physical, motor, perceptual, cognitive, language, social and emotional development will be discussed. Observations of infants and toddlers related to developmental expectancies will be conducted. Current findings and their implications for parenting, programming and care will be analyzed.

ED/PY 206 Psychology of Exceptional Children - 3 Credits
This course is intended to build a strong foundation for understanding the needs of children in the early childhood years who have disabilities. Students will learn the components of a systematic approach to early intervention that involves various professionals and appropriate, inclusive strategies. Prerequisite: PY 102 or PY 204.

ED 270 Supervised Field Experience: Child Care Administration - 1 Credit
This course is designed to offer the associate degree student the opportunity to work under the direction of a director or head teacher in a child-care setting. The student will learn the intricacies of owning and administering a child-care center. Students will work under the supervision of a child care director for a total of 45 hours.

ED 271 Supervised Field Experience: Play as Curriculum - 1 Credit
This course will provide opportunities for the student to design developmentally appropriate practices in a child-care setting, including the use of play, play-based assessment and integrated learning experiences for young children. Students will work under the supervision of a child-care director or lead teacher for a minimum of 45 hours.

PY 204 Child Development and Adolescence - 3 Credits
This course surveys biological, cognitive, social and emotional development from conception through adolescence. Special attention is given to the diversity of characteristics resulting from the effects of heredity and the environment (including family and peer influences, education and child abuse) on development of the individual.

PY 221 Educational Psychology - 3 Credits
Focuses on psychoeducational theories which explain the teaching/learning process. Applications of various learning
theories are discussed.

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

GE 101 World Geography: Man and Environment - 3 Credits
Study of man's relationship with the earth accomplished through study of physical, cultural, economic, and demographic factors. This course fulfills the Cultural Diversity requirement.