- Las Positas College
- Degrees & Certificates
- Degrees & Certificates
- Early Childhood Development
Degrees & Certificates
Early Childhood Development
Associate in Arts
2022-2023
About the Program
The Early Care and Education Program is designed to educate students in principles of child growth and development, preparing engaging, developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum and environments, and experience with applying these principles into direct work with children and their families. The program reflects the current and projected needs of the early childhood profession. Courses are designed to satisfy CA Department of Social Services licensing regulations and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for work permits. Educating and caring for young children requires study, personal and professional integrity, self-reflection and critical thinking. This program prepares students to: apply theories of child development and educational pedagogy with children birth to eight, create enriching educational environments and curriculum, utilize child-centered, emergent and developmentally appropriate approaches to learning, make meaningful connections with families, support children’s understanding of diversity and inclusion, and support children’s social-emotional well-being.
About the Degree
The goals of the AA in Early Childhood Development degree are 1 - to prepare future teachers of children birth to five to provide developmentally appropriate care and education, through educationally sound, culturally engaging and family-centered practices; and 2 - to provide foundational child development and family engagement knowledge and experience to students who will pursue a Multi-Subject or Single Subject credential through a 4-year college or university. The Early Care and Education Program provides students with a fundamental understanding of the principles of child growth and development, as well as experience in the application of these principles.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities include: Early childhood teacher before and after school teacher.
Program Outcomes
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to apply ethical standards of behavior accepted by the profession of early childhood education using ongoing self-reflection to guide practices.
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to assess children’s development through observation, documentation, reflection and interpretation to guide curriculum and intentional teaching.
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to compare and contrast diverse cultural values, child rearing practices, attitudes towards play and education by developing respectful reciprocal relationships in order to work effectively with children, families, coworkers and community.
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to demonstrate practices that maintain standards of health, nutrition, and safety in early childhood settings.
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to identify the processes of and contributions to systemic and internalized oppression and privilege. Utilize this information, along with personal reflection, to identify strategies to more effectively educate children in a pluralistic society.
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to intentionally design inclusive, culturally and linguistically appropriate curriculum to promote positive development for all young children, based on child development, observation and reflection.
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to synthesize child development research and theories; apply principles with consideration for children's varying characteristics, needs and the multiple interacting influences on children's development.
- Upon completion of the AA in Early Childhood Development, students are able to utilize observation and evaluation processes/tools to apply and implement developmentally appropriate practices in an early care and education setting using knowledge, skills and professional dispositions that promote the development and learning of all young children.
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| ECE 50 Early Childhood Principles and Practices | 3 |
| ECE 56 Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECE 62 Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| ECE 63 Early Childhood Curriculum | 4 |
| ECE 54 Child Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 |
| ECE 60 Introduction to the Young Child With Exceptional Needs | 3 |
| ECE 69 Child Study: Observation and Assessment | 3 |
| ECE 79 Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| ECE 90 Practicum-Supervised Experience | 4 |
| ECE 95 Work Experience | 1-3 |
| ECE 96 Work Experience Seminar | 1 |
| Units Category | Units |
|---|---|
| Total Units for the Major | 31-33 |
The Associate Degree is conferred upon those students who complete the required 60 or more semester units of the degree pattern with a grade-point average of 2.0 or better, of which 12 units must be earned at Las Positas College. In addition, students must complete a General Education pattern in order to earn a degree: see the Las Positas College General Education Pattern for Associate of Arts (AA) Degree, California State University General Education-Breadth, or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (for CSU) patterns for listing of areas and courses. Double counting courses in GE and the major is permissible. The number of units that may be double counted will depend on the entry point to the degree program, the optional course(s) taken, and the GE pattern selected. Elective units are degree applicable. Consult with an adviser or a counselor to plan the courses necessary to achieve your academic goal.
Updated: July 2022