Mar 29, 2024  
2022-23 Gaston College Catalog 
    
2022-23 Gaston College Catalog [THIS CATALOG IS OUT-OF-DATE. USE THE CURRENT CATALOG TO FIND CURRENT PROGRAMS.]

Early Childhood Education - Career Ready, A.A.S. (A55220CR)


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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. Use multidimensional knowledge (child development, ability, cultural, and other contexts) to support individual children
  2. Build supportive and collaborative partnerships with diverse families and community resources and agencies
  3. Utilize varied appropriate observation, documentation, and assessment strategies and tools, considering ethical, developmental, ability, cultural, and linguistic factors
  4. Use a broad repertoire of evidence-based, anti-bias teaching skills and practices responsive to children’s individual developmental, ability, cultural, and linguistic needs
  5. Demonstrate pedagogical knowledge, application, integration, and modification of academic content in the early childhood curriculum 
  6. Display professionalism as an early childhood educator through communication skills, advocacy, ethical behavior, collaboration, and reflective practice

Course Selection Information

Students, to help you progress in your degree program, take prerequisite courses along with English and Math early in your academic career. This will align you for greater success in completing your program of study. Click on the courses listed below to ensure you are aware of prerequisites. The order shown below under the student program priorities is a guide.

Student Program Priorities:

  1. EDU 119 , ENG 111  
  2. EDU 144 EDU 145 EDU 151  

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 Division of Child Development & Early Education (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.
  • A grade of “C” or better is required for all courses applied towards degree requirements.

FIRST YEAR


SECOND YEAR


Total Program Hours: 65-66


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