Mar 28, 2024  
2017-18 Gaston College Catalog 
    
2017-18 Gaston College Catalog [THIS CATALOG IS OUT-OF-DATE. USE THE CURRENT CATALOG TO FIND CURRENT PROGRAMS.]

Early Childhood Education, A.A.S. (A55220)


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The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from infancy through middle childhood in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers.

Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with parents and children. Students will foster the cognitive/ language, physical/motor, social/emotional and creative development of young children.

Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school age programs.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

  1. Promote child development and learning by:
    a. Knowing and understanding young children’s characteristics and needs.
    b. Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on development and learning.
    c. Using developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments.
  2. Build family and community relationships by knowing about and understanding family and community characteristics.
  3. Observe, document, and assess to support young children and families by:
    a. Knowing about assessment partnerships with families and other professionals.
    b. Knowing about and using observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches.
    c. Understanding and practicing responsible assessment to promote positive outcomes for each child.
  4. Teach and learn by:
    a. Understanding positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of working with children.
    b. Knowing and understanding effective strategies and tools for early education.
    c. Using a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning approaches.
    d. Reflecting on one’s own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child.
  5. Use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum by:
    a. Understanding content knowledge and resources in academic disciplines.
    b. Knowing and using the central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines.
    c. Using one’s knowledge, appropriate learning standards, and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum
  6. Become a professional by:
    a. Identifying and involving oneself with the early childhood field.
    b. Knowing about and upholding ethical standards and other professional guidelines.
    c. Engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice.
    d. Integrating knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on early education.
    e. Engaging in informed advocacy for children and the profession.

Additional Program Requirements for Early Childhood Education


All students are required to submit documentation of additional non-academic criteria which will include a valid Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualification letter obtained through DCDEE. Instructions will be provided in EDU 119. Students who do not submit a valid CBC Qualification letter will not successfully complete Early Childhood Education.

FIRST YEAR


SECOND YEAR


Total Program Hours: 71


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