Transform dreams into lessons. Embark on the Early Childhood AAS journey to an educator licensure.

The Educator Licensure/Transfer Pathway of the Early Childhood AAS prepares students to build knowledge and skills through hands-on experience and coursework to transfer to earn a bachelor's degree with a teacher education licensure.

Program location

 

Skills you'll learn

• Foundational knowledge of early childhood education
• Communication with parents
• Making connections between families and resources
• Developmentally appropriate evidence-based practices to support child growth and development
• Foundational child assessment and behavioral strategies
• Foundational understanding of students with disabilities and talented and gifted students
• Technology use
• Curriculum development

Key classes you'll take

• Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• Child Growth and Development
• Early Childhood Guidance
• Children's Literature
• Technology in the Classroom
• Early Childhood Program Administration
• Family, Teacher, and Community Interaction

Common transfer colleges and universities

• Mount Mercy University
• University of Iowa
• University of Northern Iowa

TRANSFER INSTITUTION OPTIONS

Where this degree can take you

• Childcare Center Director/Supervisor/Owner
• Head Start Teacher

Contact Us

Schedule an Appointment

The Early Childhood Education program is designed to prepare students to secure one of the many careers available in early childhood education. Graduates of the program may work with children from birth to eight years of age in a variety of settings such as childcare centers, preschools, child development homes, or public and private schools. Students may elect to complete the Educator Licensure/Transfer Pathway of the Early Childhood Education AAS. Students who intend to teach in a Pre-K through third-grade setting will need to transfer to a teacher licensure institution. In addition, this program addresses the competencies and functional areas necessary for students to begin the assessment and testing process for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential administered by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition. See http://www.cdacouncil.org/storage/documents/TransitionGuide_1-3-13.pdf for additional CDA Credential requirements by the Council.

Students who successfully complete ECE-103, ECE-133, ECE-243, and either ECE-221, ECE-158, or ECE-159 will be equipped with the competencies and functional areas necessary to pursue the CDA Credential.

The Early Childhood Education diploma is awarded to students who successfully complete the first year of the program.

*Diploma can be earned one time.

For specific information regarding program rules and expectations, please view the Early Childhood Education & Teacher Education Programs Handbook.

Summary Sheet

The summary sheet provides a program overview and other information.

Download the summary sheet.

Curriculum Sequence

---

Fall Semester I	Course Title	Credit
ECE-103	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	3
EDU-212	Educational Foundations	3
EDU-920	Field Experience	2
SDV-108	The College Experience	1
ECE-133	Child Health, Safety and Nutrition	3
ENG-105	Composition I	3
Take WBL-103 as 1 credit
WBL-103	Exploring Careers: Human Services	1-3
	TOTAL CREDITS	16

---

Spring Semester I	Course Title	Credit
ECE-158	Early Childhood Curriculum I	3
ART-133	Drawing	3
MUS-100	Music Appreciation	3
ECE-170	Child Growth and Development	3
EDU-245	Exceptional Learner	3
MAT-117	Math for Elementary Teachers	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	18

---

Summer Semester	Course Title	Credit
HIS-152	US History Since 1877	3
SPC-112	Public Speaking	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	6

---

Fall Semester II	Course Title	Credit
BIO-105	Introductory Biology	4
SOC-110	Introduction to Sociology	3
ENG-106	Composition II	3
PSY-121	Developmental Psychology	3
EDU-235	Children's Literature	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	16

---

Spring Semester II	Course Title	Credit
ECE-140	Early Childhood Curriculum Planning	3
ECE-284	Field Experience II	2
EDU-255	Technology in the Classroom	3
PHI-105	Introduction to Ethics	3
ECE-123	Family, Teacher and Community Interaction	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	14

ECE-103 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course is an overview of early childhood programs and curricula, historical and present, and an examination of qualities and skills necessary for working with young children.

EDU-212 - Educational Foundations

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This survey course is designed to examine the historical, philosophical, sociological, political, economic and legal foundations of the American public education system. Students will explore the nature of school environments, design and organization of school curriculum and characteristics of effective schools and instruction in grades P-12. Educational structures, practices and projections for the future will be studied. Corequisite: EDU-920.

EDU-920 - Field Experience

Lecture: 1

Lab: 2

Credit: 2

Field Experience provides the student an opportunity to observe a teacher in a local classroom and to work with students in that classroom under direct supervision of the cooperating teacher. Students will be required to complete 32 observation hours. The student will complete observation documents during their required hours in the classroom. Corequisite: EDU-212.

SDV-108 - The College Experience

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course is designed to empower new students to successfully transition to college. Students will learn academic success skills, strategies for personal development and exploration, college culture and expectations, and how to access college resources and services.

ECE-133 - Child Health, Safety and Nutrition

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course focuses on evidence-based concepts in the fields of health, safety and nutrition and their relationship to the growth and development of the young child ages birth to eight. The course blends current theory with problem solving, practical applications and assessments. The course includes collaboration with families, and assesses the role of culture, language and ability on health, safety and nutrition decisions in early childhood settings.

ENG-105 - Composition I

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A study of the principles of writing. Emphasis on rhetoric, mechanics and development of expository patterns: narration, description illustration, comparison/contrast, classification, process and cause/effect. Required for AA and AS Degrees. Prerequisite: Meet minimum test score requirements.

WBL-103 - Exploring Careers: Human Services

Lecture: 1-3

Credit: 1-3

This course will provide guidance in choosing a career goal and preparing for employment in Human Services careers. Emphasis will be placed on identifying interests,abilities and values and exploring options for careers. Students will learn how to access labor market information and employment trends. Additionally, students will develop the skills and aptitudes necessary to obtain employment in these fields, emphasizing the development of characteristics associated with job success.

ECE-158 - Early Childhood Curriculum I

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course focuses on the development, implementation and assessment of appropriate environments and curricula for young children ages birth through eight. Students prepare to utilize evidence-based, developmentally appropriate practices in a context of children's family, culture, language and abilities. An emphasis will be placed on understanding children's developmental stages and developing appropriate learning opportunities, interactions and environments to support each child in the following areas: dramatic play, art, music and fine and gross motor play.

ART-133 - Drawing

Lecture: 2

Lab: 2

Credit: 3

A beginning drawing class in a variety of media using an assortment of subjects. The student will explore theories and concepts of drawing.

MUS-100 - Music Appreciation

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This is a general overview course which includes basic music concepts and elements of the art, a general historical look and critical approach. Music as it has evolved from the beginning to present-day is studied. This involves listening to musical examples.

ECE-170 - Child Growth and Development

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course reviews typical and atypical development of children from conception to adolescence in all developmental domains. Students will examine interactions between child, family and society within a variety of community and cultural contexts. The course will explore theories and evidence-based practices associated with understanding and supporting young children.

EDU-245 - Exceptional Learner

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This is a survey course that provides an overview of special education regulations, policies and programs in educational settings. Birth through 12th grade pre-service teachers learn the history of special education law, including IDEA and as it applies to the course with ESSA, characteristics of the categories of disabilities per federal and state regulations, characteristics of talented and gifted programs, and basic components of an IEP. This course is a required component for students seeking Birth through 12th grade teacher state licensure. Ten hours of observation will be required.

MAT-117 - Math for Elementary Teachers

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course is recommended for students pursuing a teaching degree in elementary education. It provides opportunities to better understand mathematical content practices as a foundation for teaching mathematics in an elementary classroom. Topics will include the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, problem-solving strategies, set theory, number systems, operations in the real number systems, informal geometry, elementary probability, and statistics. Prerequisite: MAT-092 with a minimum grade of C- or meet minimum placement testing requirements.

HIS-152 - US History Since 1877

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of American social, political, economic and intellectual developments since 1877.

SPC-112 - Public Speaking

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course examines both the theoretical and practical basis of speech communication, particularly public speaking. Emphasis is on speech preparation, organization, support, delivery and audience analysis.

BIO-105 - Introductory Biology

Lecture: 3

Lab: 2

Credit: 4

Introductory Biology is a lecture and lab course designed for non-science majors or as a refresher course of those wishing to take higher-level biology courses. Topics include chemistry of life, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, evolution, plant, animal, and fungi classification and ecology.

SOC-110 - Introduction to Sociology

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

An analysis of social organization (or the social order). This course deals with the nature of sociology as a science, the original nature of man, the socialization of the individual, the development of groups and group behavior, the nature of culture and culture patterns, the organization of institutions, the nature of social order, the organization of human stratification and examination of major social processes. Special emphasis is placed upon the American cultural patterns.

ENG-106 - Composition II

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A continuation of study of the principles of writing begun in ENG-105. Emphasis is placed on persuasive writing, critical analysis and the MLA research paper. Time will also be spent exploring print and electronic research sources and learning effective research strategies. Required for AA and AS Degrees. Prerequisite: ENG-105, with a minimum grade of C-.

PSY-121 - Developmental Psychology

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A systematic study of life-span development. Individual differences in behavior as well as cultural norms are considered in relation to heredity and environment.

EDU-235 - Children's Literature

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of the history, critical issues and characteristics of children's literature and an examination of both writing and illustration as the basis for evaluating and selecting children's literature for use in the pre-school and elementary classroom.

ECE-140 - Early Childhood Curriculum Planning

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course examines and evaluates early childhood curriculum and methods leading to the development and implementation of appropriate curricula for young children. Corequisite: ECE-284.

ECE-284 - Field Experience II

Lecture: 1

Lab: 2

Credit: 2

This course includes supervised experience in selected early childhood settings serving children ages birth through eight. It includes integration of theory, research and reflective practice. The course will provide an understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and the developmental stages of diverse populations of adult/child interactions, basic curriculum planning and program routines. Students will explore the overall operation of a program. Students will complete 32 hours of observation for this course. Prerequisites: ECE-158 or ECE-159. Corequisites: ECE-140 or ECE-290.

EDU-255 - Technology in the Classroom

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

Students will learn to integrate instructional technology into the PK-12 classrooms. Students will study a variety of software programs, presentation technology and telecommunication tools. The focus will also be on social, ethical, legal and human issues surrounding the use of technology.  This course will be taken in a student's final semester of their program.  Pre-requisites:  EDU-212, EDU-920, and EDU-245, or instructor permission.

PHI-105 - Introduction to Ethics

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

A survey of the major ethical emphases from ancient to modern times with pertinent reading in the works of representative philosophers.

ECE-123 - Family, Teacher and Community Interaction

Lecture: 3

Credit: 3

This course will provide an introduction to the family systems and parenting in a changing society. Principles of child development with family relationships applied to group and individual work with parents will be covered. This course will assist providers in developing skills that will help them effectively relate to parents. Topics will include: communication techniques, children's fears, discipline, nutrition, diversity, children's play and discovery as learning opportunities and school/community resources.

Amy Drew - Instructor - Early Childhood Education

Email: adrew@scciowa.edu
AA, Southeastern Community College
BA, Iowa Wesleyan University
MS, Walden University

Bailea Grier - Instructor - Early Childhood Education

Email: bgrier@scciowa.edu
AA, Southeastern Community College
BA, University of Northern Iowa
MA, Viterbo University
Advanced Studies Certificate as a Literacy Coach, University of Northern Iowa