Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Early Childhood Education

About The Program

Transfers to the Lower Columbia College BAS-TE and BAS-OLTM degrees.

This program provides students with both academic coursework and field experience necessary to become a teacher of children ages birth to 8 years. The program allows the student to experience working with young children and mentor teachers. The program includes teaching methods in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, children's literature, expressive arts, and observation and assessment techniques. Emphasis is placed on educational foundations, child development, nutrition, families, communities, schools and other agencies. Students entering the Early Childhood Education Program must show evidence of a current TB test and obtain a cleared Portable Background check through Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

See: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/early-learning-providers/background-checks

For a roadmap that identifies the preferred sequencing of courses and other specific recommendations from faculty, please see the corresponding program map(s):

Early Childhood Education - AAS

Degree Requirements

Communications:

10 credits - ENGL& 101 English Composition I AND ENGL& 102 Composition II OR CMST& 220 Public Speaking
Quantitative Skills:

5 credits – MATH& 132 Math for Elementary Educators 2
Humanities:

5 credits – from the Humanities distribution list. ENGL 270 Literature for Children OR CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication recommended
Natural Sciences:

10 credits - MATH& 131 Math for Elementary Educators I and 5 credits w/lab from the Natural Science distribution list. PHSC 109 Energy & Matter recommended
Social Sciences:

10 credits – EDUC& 115 Child Development AND HIST& 136 World Civilizations I: DIV OR HIST& 137 World Civilizations II: DIV
Diversity:

5 credits – EDUC& 205 Intro to Education

Program Requirements

ECED& 105	Intro Early Childhood Education	5
ECED& 107	Health/Safety Nutrition	5
ECED& 120	Practicum-Nurturing Relationships	2
ECED& 160	Curriculum Development	5
ECED& 170	Learning Environments	3
ECED& 180	Language & Literacy Development	3
ECED& 190	Observation/Assessment	3
ECED 225	STEAM in Early Childhood	5
ECED 261	Practicum IV/Principles	3
ECED 262	Practicum V/Practice	3
ECED 263	Practicum VI/Professionalism	3
EDUC& 130	Guiding Behavior	3
EDUC& 150	Child, Family, Community	3
EDUC& 204	Inclusive Education-Birth through 21 focus	5

Diversity and Distribution Lists are available in the Lower Columbia College Catalog located at lowercolumbia.edu/catalog.

Total credits required to earn this degree: 96 with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in the program requirements.

Students completing this program should acquire the following skills and abilities:

Create and maintain a safe and healthy environment for young children and families
Discuss how children differ in their development and approaches to learning
Apply knowledge of child development to intentionally support physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth
Develop interpersonal skills to build relationships with children and families, enhancing children's self-esteem, social and emotional development, and problem solving skills
Utilize theory, research, developmentally appropriate practice and a variety of instructional strategies when planning and implementing curriculum
Individualize guidance and problem solving techniques to support social and emotional development
Assess a variety of tools to strengthen the home to school connection
Examine features of an anti-biased, culturally relevant environment/curriculum, not exclusive to race, ethnicity, family diversity, learning styles and abilities
Create a professional development plan to maintain knowledge of current issues and trends in the field
Communicate effectively through the spoken and written word and through visual materials for varied audience and purposes
Compare and contrast a variety of observation and assessment tools, to analyze data with the purpose of developing age and developmentally appropriate curriculum
Utilize critical thinking strategies to evaluate the validity of sources, and credit ideas or sources appropriately
Analyze numerical data from child assessments to plan and implement developmentally appropriate teaching strategies

Revised May 2023 (Effective Summer 2023)

Notes:

Program planning is based on information available at the time of preparation. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with their LCC advisor. Consult the LCC catalog for LCC graduation requirements.