Early Childhood Education (A.A.)
Overview
Our Associate of Arts program in early childhood education prepares candidates to meet eligibility requirements as teaching assistants in early childhood education (ages 3-8) in the District of Columbia. Our graduates can, if they so choose, glide seamlessly into our Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education program.
Our courses provide a core of knowledge, skills and field-based experiences and include performance assessments designed to demonstrate the teacher’s ability to impact student learning.
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Featured Courses
EDCC 205 Children, Families, Culture and the Community in Early ChildhoodThis course examines relationships among schools, children and families, introducing the complex social and cultural factors that influence childrens development and learning, as well as the ethical guidelines that determine professional conduct. Within an orientation to the theoretical and developmental foundations of early learning education of young children, the course emphasizes current issues regarding families, community, and cultural diversity.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 207 Development of Learning Experiences in Early Childhood EducationThis course examines the historical, theoretical, and developmental foundations for learning in young children, birth to age 8 (specifically, pre-K to 3rd grade). Students learn how to create developmentally and individually appropriate lesson and activity plans. Learning experiences integrate the various content areas of literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts, and incorporate the social-emotional, cognitive, and physical domains of child development.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 211 Development of Early Childhood Oral Language and Literacy SkillsThis course introduces strategies for helping young children acquire communication skills. The contribution of appropriate children's literature to literacy development is demonstrated. Activities, materials, and lessons in these areas emphasize developmentally appropriate practices. This course requires a 10 hour on-site field component.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 213 Observation, Description and Measurement of Growth in Early ChildhoodIn this introductory course, students use developmentally appropriate observation and record keeping strategies to reflect upon, improve, maintain, and extend learning. Tools and techniques that promote growth across all domains of early childhood developmentsocial-emotional, cognitive, and physical, and across language and other content areaswill be discussed and explored. This course requires a 10-hour on-site field component.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDCC 220 Foundations of Education
EDCC 292 Early Childhood Education Capstone SeminarThe Capstone Seminar in the Early Childhood education program encourages students to examine developmentally appropriate practices for young children, PreK- 3rd grade. Students are required to conduct action research focusing on their teaching philosophy, practices, and research understandings as reflective practitioners based on their field work. This course should be taken in one of the final two semesters of the AA in Early Childhood Education program.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
EDTE 290 Practicum and Seminar in Early Childhood LearningThis course is composed of a practicum in one or more school settings and an on-campus seminar . Within the practicum, students will spend a minimum of four (4) hours a week in an approved early childhood learning site, observing, documenting, and working with early childhood educators and children. Within the weekly seminar, students will reflect upon, research, discuss, and write about theories and practices of early childhood education as experienced in their practicum sites and elsewhere. Note: Students must be available to spend the designated hours in a setting approved by the AA in Early Childhood Education program director.
3 credits
Prerequisites: All EDCC and EDTE courses, except EDCC 292; must be taken during the final 2 semesters.
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Career Paths
- Pre-School Assistant Teacher
- Child Development Center Assistant Director
- Child Development Home Owner/Director (expanded home)
- Teacher (community based programs only)
- Group Leader
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Faculty
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Accreditation
The program is state approved and nationally recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (N.A.E.Y.C.) and by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (N.C.A.T.E.). Course syllabi and classroom activities reflect the standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (I.N.T.A.S.C.).
The School of Professional Studies offers the Associate of Arts degree in early childhood education in partnership with the School of Education.
