The list below is NOT a complete list of program courses and shows courses taught in the previous, current, and two future terms. View complete degree/certificate requirements and course offerings by clicking the links below.
- A.A.S. Degree: Early Childhood Education & Development
- Certificate: Early Childhood Education & Development
- Certificate: Early Childhood Education & Development - Youth Development
ECED 101 - Fundamentals of Early Care and Education - 3.00 credits
Prerequisite: ENGL90 - Foundations of College Writing II, with a minimum grade of S or appropriate placement score. This course provides an overview of the field of early childhood care and education. Topics include types of early childhood programs, the characteristics and needs of young children, preparation of the learning environment, curriculum, instruction, guidance techniques, strategies for observation, documentation, and assessment, ethics, and effective communication. This course aligns with the eight (8) subject areas of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, as well as the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals, and level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 110 - Child Health, Safety and Nutrition - 3.00 credits
Prerequisite: ENGL 90 and READ 11/31 with a minimum grade of S or appropriate placement score. This course covers basic factors that affect children's health, safety, and nutrition. Subject matter includes feeding habits, nutritional needs, health routines, hygiene, growth patterns, childhood diseases, first aid, CPR, safety, and implications for children. This course aligns with the eight (8) subject areas of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, as well as the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals, and level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 112 - Learning Environments - 3.00 credits
Prerequisite: ENGL 90 with a grade of S or appropriate placement test score. This course prepares students to create developmentally appropriate learning experiences and environments for young children. The course emphasizes strategies to plan, develop, evaluate, and integrate subject matter such as the arts, math, science, language, literacy, and social studies into the curriculum. This course aligns with the eight (8) subject areas of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, the guidelines of the Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals, and level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 113 - Child Growth and Development I - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 101 with a grade of C or higher or concurrent enrollment AND ENGL90 - Foundations of College Writing II with a grade of C or higher or appropriate placement test score. This course introduces the benchmarks and milestones of child development including physical, language, social and emotional, creative, and cognitive developmental domains. The multiple influences on development and learning are emphasized, as well as how to use this developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning opportunities. The course follows the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Child Care and Education Professionals and is aligned to level II of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 115 - Care and Education of Infants and Toddlers - 3.00 credits
Prerequisite: ECED 113 with a grade of C or higher. This course focuses on the unique characteristics of the growth and development of children from birth through 36 months. Emphasis will be placed on brain research, attachment, responsive caregiving, as well as implementing developmentally appropriate activities and learning environments for infants and toddlers. The course follows the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Child Care and Education Professionals and level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 121 - Equity and Advocacy in Child Care and Education - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 101 or ECED 117 with a grade of C or higher or concurrent enrollment. This course focuses on equity and advocacy as it applies to practices that affect children, families, and professionals within care and education settings. Students will learn equity-focused advocacy strategies related to professionalism, children, families, and the community. The course follows the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Child Care and Education Professionals and is aligned to level II of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 128 - Curriculum in ECE I: DAP & Play - 2.00 credits
Prerequisite: ECED 113 with a C or higher or concurrent enrollment. This course introduces students to developmentally appropriate practices and the teacher's role in curriculum and instruction for young children. The purpose and characteristics of curriculum models past and present will be examined, as well as methods to accommodate diverse learners. Play as an overriding component of the early childhood curriculum will be stressed. This course is aligned to level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators
ECED 129 - Curriculum in ECE II: STEAM - 2.00 credits
Prerequisite: ECED 128 with a C or higher. This course is a continuation of creating a developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. Curriculum areas of focus for this course include science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. This course is aligned to level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators
ECED 149 - Observation and Assessment - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 113 with a C or higher. This course facilitates an understanding of the purpose of assessment to inform instruction and planning for young children. Topics include how to utilize observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment approaches and tools to document developmental progress and promote positive outcomes for young children and families. This course is aligned to level ECE II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 201 - Language and Literacy in ECE - 3.00 credits
Prerequisite:ENGL101 - Composition & Reading I with a grade of C or higher. This course is an in-depth study of the primary use of tools and materials that stimulate language and literacy development of young children, including dual language learners. This course will also emphasize utilizing culturally relevant literature across the curriculum. The guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Child Care and Education Professionals and level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 220 - Child Care Management - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 113 with a C or better. This course is a survey of early care and education program administration. Students will study planning, developing, and operating an early care and education center. Licensing, curriculum, and parent involvement will be included. This course follows the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Child Care and Education Professionals and level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 236 - Child Guidance - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 113 with a grade of C or higher. This course focuses on developmentally appropriate, research-based, practices of positive child guidance and effective classroom management strategies in the early childhood classroom. Students will learn strategies on how to create a caring community of learners, support children'ssocial-emotional development, how to guide children's behavior directly and indirectly, and implement effective conflict resolution. This course follows the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals and is aligned to level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 254 - Teaching Methods & Interactions for Learning in ECE - 2.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 113 with a grade of C or higher, and concurrent enrollment in ECED 255. This course is focused on identifying and implementing developmentally appropriate and effective teaching methods and strategies. Intentional teaching and creating powerful interactions for learning will be emphasized. This course is aligned to level II of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 255 - Capstone Practicum Experience - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 149 with a grade of C or higher, and concurrent enrollment in ECED 254. This course is a supervised field experience designed for students to apply their knowledge of teaching and caring for young children acquired through prior ECED coursework. In their approved practicum classroom, students will practice health and safety guidelines, observation, positive interactions with young children, plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities, practice positive child guidance and plan learning environments that reflect intentional teaching and best practices in the field. This course is aligned to level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 260 - Education of the Exceptional Child - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 113 and ECED 149 (or concurrent enrollment) with a C or higher. This course is centered on the care and education of children with special needs, and the skills required to interact with and support their families. This course follows the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Child Care and Education Professionals and level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 262 - Working With Families & The Community - 3.00 credits
Prerequisite: ECED 101 or ECED 117 with a grade of C or higher. This course will prepare students to develop opportunities for partnership among families, schools, and communities. The course provides an in-depth study of the principles of parenting and family relationships as well as the skills necessary to understand and work with families. The importance of the teacher's role in the school and community as applied to working with families of young children and the community is emphasized. This course follows the guidelines of Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals and is aligned to level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.
ECED 270 - Professional Portfolio - 2.00 credits
Prerequisites: ECED 255 with a grade of C or higher. In this course, students will design a professional portfolio comprised of artifacts from various courses taken throughout the ECED AAS degree program, which document the student’s competency in early care and education. Only students in the final semester of the ECED may enroll in this course. This course is aligned to level II of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators.