Early Childhood Development AAS

The Early Childhood Development associate of applied science degree is a 60-credit option that prepares students with necessary skills to be qualified for a variety of early childhood positions. The program emphasizes observation, assessment and planning of curriculum activities to support cognitive development, fine/gross motor physical development, social and emotional development, language and literacy development, and self-help skills of children birth through age eight. Credits earned while completing the educational requirements for the AAS articulate directly into the LC State General Studies: Early Childhood Education BA/BS degree option offered through the Teacher Education and Mathematics Division.

The AAS degree offers basic early childhood education which prepares students for careers in the following areas:

  • Early childhood assistant teacher
  • Lead teacher position in private childcare facilities
  • State quality systems consultant
  • Parent educator
  • Home-based education service provider
  • Resource and referral specialist
  • Special education teaching aide

Entry into the AAS degree option requires students to work with children at approved internship settings. Students enrolling in this program must complete an application packet including:

  • ECD Program Application
  • Criminal Background Check and Fingerprinting
  • Current Certification in Pediatric CPR/First Aid
  • TB Clearance
  • Proof of a Physical Exam

Students will not be allowed to register for Early Childhood Development Program coursework beyond the first semester without a completed and submitted application packet. Instructions for completing the application packet will be provided by the program advisor.

Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:

  • Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
  • Advance physical, intellectual, and linguistic competence
  • Support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance for young children
  • Foster positive and productive relationships with families and the community
  • Ensure well-run, purposeful programs responsive to participant needs
  • Maintain professionalism and ethical conduct
Written Communication
ENGL-101WRITING AND RHETORIC I3.00
Oral Communication
Select one from the following:3.00
FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Mathematical Ways of Knowing
Select one of the following:3.00-5.00
MATH IN MODERN SOCIETY
FINITE MATHEMATICS
PRECALCULUS I: ALGEBRA
PRECALCULUS (or MATH-147A & MATH-147B)
STATISTICAL REASONING
CALCULUS I
STATISTICAL METHODS FOR THE SCIENCES
MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS II
FINITE MATHEMATICS
MATH FOR TECHNOLOGY
STATISTICAL REASONING
Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing
Select one of the following:3.00
DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS
HUMAN RELATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
Additional General Education Courses
Select one of the following:3.00-4.00
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
WORLD PREHISTORY
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
RACE AND ETHNICITY
INTRODUCTION TO ART
INTRODUCTION TO BIOINFORMATICS
CONCEPTS OF BIOLOGY
PLANTS AND PEOPLE
BIOLOGY IN FILM
HUMAN BIOLOGY
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I
CONCEPTS OF CHEMISTRY
GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY
PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY I
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
WRITING AND RHETORIC II
COLLEGE WRITING AND RESEARCH
LITERATURE AND IDEAS
WORLD CLASSICS
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
MYTHOLOGIES
NATIVE AMERICAN WRITTEN LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SYSTEMS
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE MOTION PICTURE
INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTS
WORLD HISTORY I
WORLD HISTORY II
UNITED STATES HISTORY I
UNITED STATES HISTORY II
INTEGRATED SCIENCE II
ID-300A - 300Z (see course descriptions for options)
HELLS CANYON INSTITUTE
SOCIAL-CULTURAL ASPECTS OF SPORTS
SURVEY OF MUSIC
MUSIC IN AMERICA
WORLD MUSIC
HISTORY OF MUSICAL THEATER
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
NEZ PERCE LANGUAGE AND HISTORY
INTEGRATED SCIENCE I
INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL SCIENCES
NATURAL SCIENCE FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR
GENERAL PHYSICS I
GENERAL PHYSICS II
PHYS SCIENCES FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS
DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY
PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS I
AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOCIAL PROBLEMS
ELEMENTARY SPANISH I
ELEMENTARY SPANISH II
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH I
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II
SURVEY OF THE THEATER
Total Credits15.00-18.00

Program Requirements

ECDPT-100HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION3.00
ECDPT-104INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION3.00
ECDPT-108CHILD DEVELOPMENT3.00
ECDPT-112INFANT TODDLER DEVELOPMENT2.00
ECDPT-115PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT1.00
ECDPT-150OBSERVATION AND ASSESSMENT3.00
ECDPT-155CHILD FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES2.00
ECDPT-205GUIDING YOUNG CHILDREN2.00
ECDPT-208CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3.00
ECDPT-209PROFESSIONALISM3.00
ECDPT-211EXCEPTIONAL CHILD3.00
ECDPT-255CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT II3.00
ECDPT-194BINTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II2.00
ECDPT-294AINTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT I3.00
ECDPT-294BINTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II3.00
ECDPT-250PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION3.00
RE-301PSYCHOLINGUISTICS, LITERACY, AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION3.00
Completion of a Technical Skills Assessment is required
Total Credits45.00
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallCredits
ECDPT-100 HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION 3.00
ECDPT-104 INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 3.00
ECDPT-108 CHILD DEVELOPMENT 3.00
ENGL-101 WRITING AND RHETORIC I 3.00
COREAdditional General Education Core 3.00
 Credits15.00
Spring
ECDPT-112 INFANT TODDLER DEVELOPMENT 2.00
ECDPT-115 PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT 1.00
ECDPT-150 OBSERVATION AND ASSESSMENT 3.00
ECDPT-205 GUIDING YOUNG CHILDREN 2.00
COREMathematical Ways of Knowing 3.00
COREOral Communication 3.00
 Credits14.00
Sophomore
Fall
ECDPT-155 CHILD FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES 2.00
ECDPT-194B INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II 2.00
ECDPT-208 CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT 3.00
ECDPT-209 PROFESSIONALISM 3.00
ECDPT-211 EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 3.00
CoreSocial and Behavioral Ways of Knowing 3.00
 Credits16.00
Spring
ECDPT-250 PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION 3.00
ECDPT-255 CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT II 3.00
ECDPT-294A INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT I 3.00
ECDPT-294B INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II 3.00
RE-301 PSYCHOLINGUISTICS, LITERACY, AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION 3.00
 Credits15.00
 Total Credits60.00

Graduates from Early Childhood Development programs go on to obtain careers in a variety of fields:

  • Early childhood assistant teacher
  • Lead teacher position in private childcare facilities
  • State quality systems consultant
  • Parent educator
  • Home-based education service provider
  • Resource and referral specialist
  • Special education teaching aide

Check out the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website for more information about the potential careers above.