This program equips students with the academic coursework and hands-on experience needed to become responsive, developmentally appropriate educators for children from birth to age 8. Students engage in meaningful field experiences that support the application of coursework in real-world early learning environments. The program emphasizes child-centered, inclusive, and trauma-informed practices that foster social-emotional development, resilience, and well-being.
Coursework includes observation and assessment techniques, early childhood development, health & safety, and the interconnected roles of families, communities, schools, and support agencies in promoting healthy development. Students also explore the foundations of education. A strong focus is placed on creating nurturing learning environments that are culturally responsive and grounded in the principles of social-emotional learning and trauma- informed care.
For a roadmap that identifies the preferred sequencing of courses and other specific rRecommendations from faculty, please see the corresponding program map(s).
See also
- Degree Requirements for Teacher Education and Early Learning programs
- Course descriptions in the LCC Catalog
- Distribution lists in the LCC Catalog
Important: Many course sequences only begin in fall quarter. Check with your program advisor.
First Quarter
Get your Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations; Merit background check; and tuberculosis (TB) test
- COLL 101: College Success 101 (2 credits)
- ENGL& 101: English Composition I (5 credits)
- Placement Test or ENGL 99 C or better*
- ECED& 107: Health/Safety/Nutrition (5 credits)
- ECED& 120: Practicum-Nurturing Relationships (2 credits)
*Pre- and/or co-requisite(s)
Second Quarter
- EDUC& 130: Guiding Behavior (3 credits)
- ECED& 132: Infants/Toddlers Care
- ECED& 134: Family Child Care
- EDUC& 136: School Age Care
- ECED& 139: Administration of ECE
- OR one of the following (3 credits)
- MATH&107 Math in Society (5 credits)
- Placement Test /MATH 88/98, 87/97 C or better; or CCP 97 or CCP 98 with a B or better*
- ECED& 105: Introduction to Early Childhood Education (5 credits)
- PSYCH&100 (5 credits) General Psychology
*Pre- and co-requisite(s)
Third Quarter
- EDUC&202: Introduction to Education (5 credits) OR EDUC&205: Introduction to Education with field placement (5 credits)
- HUMANITIES - from Humanities distribution list: (5 credits)
- ENGL 270 Literature for Children OR
- CMST&210 Interpersonal Communication recommended
- EDUC& 115: Child Development (5 credits)
- ECED& 190: Observation/Assessment (3 credits)
*Pre- and co-requisite(s)
Fourth Quarter
- EDUC& 150: Child/Family/Community (3 credits)
- Choose one natural science with lab course (5 credits)
- With a lab - PHSC 109 Energy & Matter recommended
- ECED& 160: Curriculum Development (5 credits)
- EDUC 246 Linguistically Diverse Education (3 credits)
*Pre- and/or co-requisite(s)
Fifth Quarter
- ENGL& 102 OR CMST& 220: Composition II OR Public Speaking (5 credits)
- ECED 261Practicum and Seminar: Professional Practice in Early Childhood: (5 credits)
- *ECED& 105, ECED& 107, ECED& 120, ECED& 190, ENG& 101
- ECED 155 Designing Inclusive Environments for Positive Behavior (4 credits)
- ECED&180 Language and Literacy Development (3 credits).
*Pre- and co-requisite(s)
Meet with Advisor
Apply for Graduation
Sixth Quarter
- EDUC 230 Social Skill Development & Trauma Informed Teaching (5 credits)
- ECED 200 Supporting Exceptional Needs and Behavior in Young Children (5 credits)
- HIST 254: History of Washington and the Pacific Northwest (5 credits)
*Pre- and co-requisite(s)
1. College Success 101
COLL 101 (2 credits)
2. English Composition I
ENGL& 101 (5 credits)
Pre- and co-requisite(s): Placement Test or ENGL 99 C or better
3. Introduction to Early Childhood Education
ECED& 105 (5 credits)
Pre- and co-requisite(s): Get your Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations;
background check; and tuberculosis (TB) test
4. Practicum-Nurturing Relationship
ECED& 120 (2 credits)
5. Communications Course
ENGL& 102: English Composition II OR CMST& 220: Public Speaking (5 credits)
Pre- and/or co-requisite(s): ENGL& 101 (None for CMST& 220)
6. Math in Society
MATH&107 (5 credits)
Pre- and co-requisite(s): Placement Test /MATH 88/98, 87/97 C or better; or CCP 97
or CCP 98 with a B or better
7. Health/Safety/Nutrition
ECED& 107 (5 credits)
8. Language and Literacy Development
ECED& 180 (3 credits)
9. Introduction to Education w/Field Experience OR Introduction to Education
EDUC&205 OR EDUC&202 (5 credits)
10. General Psychology
PSYCH&100 (5 credits)
11. Child Development
EDUC& 115 (5 credits)
12. Child/Family/Community
EDUC& 150 (3 credits)
13. Observation/Assessment
ECED& 190 (3 credits)
14. Curriculum Development
ECED& 160 (5 credits)
15. Practicum and Seminar: Professional Practice in Early Childhood
ECED 261 (5 credits)
Pre- and co-requisite(s): ECED& 105, ECED& 107, ECED& 120, ECED& 190, ENG& 101
16. Humanities
From Humanities distribution list (5 credits) ENGL 270 Literature for Children OR CMST&210 Interpersonal Communication recommended (5 credits)
17. Guiding Behavior
EDUC& 130 (3 credits)
18. Designing Inclusive Environments for Positive Behavior
ECED 155 (4 credits)
19. Natural Science
Choose one natural science with a lab (5 credits), PHSC 109 Energy and Matter recommended
20. Social Skill Development & Trauma-Informed Teaching
EDUC 230 (5 credits)
21. Supporting Exceptional Needs and Behavior in Young Children
ECED 200 (5 credits)
22. Linguistically Diverse Education
EDUC 246 (3 credits)
23. History of Washington and the Pacific Northwest
HIST 254 (5 credits)