2019-2020 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood Education (AAS) Course Map


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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career.  The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Associate of Applied Science Early Childhood Education, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

1. College Success


  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

2. English Composition I


  • Course purpose: As an early childhood education you will often find yourself writing lessons, creating assessments, and communicating in writing with parents, fellow teachers, and the administration. ENGL& 101 will provide the foundational skills of developing these writing skills.

3. Introduction to Early Childhood Education


  • Course purpose: This course sets the foundation for the determination of this career field.  This course is an overview of the early childhood education field. This course will help you determine if this field is where they desire to pursue their passion. 

Action Item: Background Check


Apply for Portable Background Check through the Department of Early Learning and schedule TB test.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Health, Safety and Nutrition


  • Course purpose: This class is an overview of the State and national guidelines and policies for health, safety, and nutrition in ECE. This class sets the foundation of teaching students about creating a safe and healthy learning environment for children. This course is also required to meet Mandated report criteria for ECE.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor


 Meet with an advisor to select the appropriate math class.

5. Introduction to Math for Early Childhood Education


Action Item Practicum Application


Complete practicum application and turn it into the Field Placement and Teacher Certification Manager; for ECED& 120.

6. Practicum: Focus on Relationships


Action Item: Apply for Certificate


Apply for the State Initial Early Childhood Education Certificate.

7. Child Development


  • Course purpose: This course will help you build a functional understanding of the foundation of child development, prenatal to early adolescence. Observe and document physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children, reflective of cross cultural and global perspectives. 

8. Guiding Behavior


  • Course purpose: This course helps you build an understanding and tool-set for effective child guidance and behavior management. It will also help you acquire effective interaction techniques with children in the classroom setting. Introduces teachers to being culturally sensitive to family practices.

Action Item: Apply for Short Certificate


 Apply for the State Short Certificate in Early Childhood Education- ECE General.

9. Child, Family, and Community


10. Curriculum Development


  • Course purpose: In this course you will gain understanding in the importance promoting language, fine/gross motor, social-emotional, cognitive and creative skills and growth in young children.

Action Item: Practicum Application


Complete practicum application and turn it into the Field Placement and Teacher Certification Manager for ECED& 190.

11. Observation and Assessment


  • Course purpose: You will learn and put to practice in the field the skill of collecting and record observation of young children in order to plan for and support the child, the family, the group and the community.

12. Environments for Young Children


Action Item: Apply for Graduation


Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation and/or the BAS-T program. For graduation details, visit the Pierce College Graduation website. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

13. Language and Literacy Development


Action Item: Apply for State Certificate


Apply for the State Early Childhood Education Certificate.

14. Art for Teachers


  • Course purpose: In this course you will explore theories, techniques, and curriculum design in order to offer a wide variety of developmentally appropriate art media to children and create a comprehensive art curriculum.

15. Social Science Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: In this field you need an  understanding of systemic issues impacting education today, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and social stratification. This course provides broad overview of sociology which is the study of society and human interaction.

  • Course purpose: In this field you need an  understanding of systemic issues impacting education today, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and social stratification. This course explores some of the socio-culturally defined problems today. 

  • Course purpose: Teachers need an understanding of systemic issues impacting education today, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and social stratification. This course explores race and ethnicity in contemporary society.

  • Course purpose: In this field you need an understanding of systemic issues impacting education today, including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and social stratification. This class explores multiculturalism in the US and various aspects of social identity. 

16. Introduction to Inclusive Education


Action Item: Complete Practicum Application


Complete practicum application and turn it into the Field Placement and Teacher Certification Manager for ECED& 120.

17. Practicum: Focus on Special Education


18. Music for Teachers


  • Course purpose: In this course you will  explore practical uses of music in the early learning environment to help facilitate learning for children with different learning styles.

19. Natural Science Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: In this field you will need a broad foundation of science skills, including life sciences. Emphasis on the study of cells, genetics, ecology, diversity of life, and physiology in order to establish a foundation of understanding and respect of life. This course provides a broad overview of biology which helps to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards.

  • Course purpose: In this field you will need a broad foundation of science skills, including earth sciences.  This course focuses on the system connections and interrelationships between the four Earth Science disciplines. 

  • Course purpose: In this field you will need a broad foundation of science skills, including physical and earth sciences. An introductory course for non-science majors covering the concepts of physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy. Lab included. This course explores physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy. This helps to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards.

  • Course purpose: In this field, you will need a broad foundation of science skills, including life sciences. This course provides a focus on understanding local plants and animals and helps provide the background knowledge needed to teach to the Next Generation Science Standards.

20. Math/Science for Children


  • Course purpose: This is a math and science methods course. It involves Research, planning, and assessment of math and science curriculum and its application to the young child’s learning environment.

21. Communications Course Recommendation


  • Course purpose: ECE teachers need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom and working with parents and co-workers. This course provides a broad overview of communication. 

  • Course purpose: ECE teachers need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom and working with parents and co-workers. This course focuses on public speaking. 

  • Course purpose: ECE teachers need to be effective oral communicators in the classroom and working with parents and co-workers.  The course give you the opportunity to analyze their own and others intercultural communication through experiential and interviewing formats. 

Action Item: Basic Skills Assessment


If transferring to the Highline BAS-T, a basic skills assessment is required.

22. Planning and Assessment for Student Teaching


23. Early Childhood Student Teaching


  • Course purpose: This course gives you the opportunity to implement effective teaching strategies in a classroom with children, integrating all content from previous classes. This course must be taken at the same time as ECED 270. This course involves a one quarter student teaching experience in our laboratory preschool. 

24. Early Childhood Education Professional Portfolio


Total Credits: 94


Optional Courses to Earn Specialization Certificates


Action Item: Apply for Short Certificate


If you took any of the optional courses, apply for a short Certificate of Specialization in that area.

Program Code: 402


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