Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Development from birth to age three. Major theories and research on development will be covered including growth patterns, the influences of disabilities and risk factors, environmental factors and their effects on attachment styles, language acquisition, brain development, cognitive development, social-emotional development, and perceptual and sensory motor skills.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Development from ages four through eight. Major theories and research on development will be covered including growth patterns, the influences of disabilities and risk factors, environmental factors and their effects on attachment styles, language acquisition, brain development, cognitive development, social-emotional development, and perceptual and sensory motor skills.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Exploring the role of a professional as a teacher, administrator or advocate in early childhood programming. Students will learn about professionalism and ethics, identifying child abuse, and applying universal precautions. Discussion of qualities of the early childhood educator role, program models, and working with children and professional colleagues.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Important elements for planning, promoting and maintaining healthy and safe learning/care environments, understanding childhood illnesses and establishing healthy lifestyles, first aid, and care providers maintaining their own health. Maintaining safe relationships with others, including identifying and reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children. Exploration of nutrients for life and feeding, food preparation and safety policies and guidelines, food allergies and intolerances, appropriate feeding practices.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Working knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice in child guidance. This goal will be accomplished through review of current guidance methods and programs in order to familiarize students with successful guidance techniques. By the end of this course, students will develop their own approach to guidance based upon practices best suited to their own unique skills and strengths.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Laboratory 6.
Prereq: ECP 2010; ECP 2020; ECP 3050; ECP 3060; ECP 3070; HDFS 1030
Practicum in Early Childhood Education is an opportunity for ECP teacher candidates to have a guided learning experience in a professional agency that provides services to children and families. It is expected that learning experiences and projects at the practicum site will provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to utilize and implement theories and practices learned in other ECP classes.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Exploration of cultural diversity in daily life and beliefs in families with young children. The focus is on U.S. families, with attention to the multiple cultures from which they come.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Application of an ecological model to the understanding of variation in parental roles, perspectives, relationships, approaches, and challenges.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Impact of electronic technology on the development of young children in educational, home, and community environments, and how technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Students will be critical thinkers and informed consumers of technology related to young children.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: ECP 2010; ECP 2020; ECP 3050; ECP 3060; ECP 3070; ECP 3200
Curriculum development related to children from birth to age 3: (1) learn and utilize assessment and documentation to inform curriculum, (2) plan and evaluate developmentally appropriate activities, and (3) learn about effective ways to share curriculum information with families. All areas of developmental domains and content areas; issues related to diversity in family composition, culture, and individual abilities will also be addressed.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: ECP 2010; ECP 2020; ECP 3050; ECP 3060; ECP 3070; ECP 3200
Development of curriculum for children ages 4 to 8 years: (1) learn and utilize assessment and documentation to inform curriculum, (2) plan and evaluate developmentally appropriate activities, and (3) learn about effective ways to share curriculum information with families. This course addresses all areas of developmental domains and content areas, and issues related to diversity in family composition, culture, and individual abilities will also be addressed.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: ECP 2010; ECP 2020; ECP 3050; ECP 3060; ECP 3070; ECP 3200
Students will learn to select, evaluate, and use appropriate assessment tools for children birth to age 8. Students will use assessment data to inform decisions about teaching (environments and practice) and intervention. There will be an emphasis on the ethical use of assessments, validity of assessments, multicultural sensitivity, and assessments for children with special needs.
Credits: 3.
Prereq: ECP 4120; ECP 4130; ECP 4240; ECP 4250
Practicum in Early Childhood Education is an opportunity for ECE teacher candidates to have a guided learning experience in a professional agency that provides services to children and families. It is expected that learning experiences and projects at the practicum site will provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to utilize and implement theories and practices learned in other required classes.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: HDFS 1020
Exploration of issues surrounding the administration of early childhood programs including identification of community needs, analysis of business opportunities, the evaluation and appropriate use of space and quality programming, consideration of policy and legal responsibilities, and professionalism in the field. In addition, the course explores best practices in staff selection, training, coaching, and supervision.
Credits: 3-6. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: ECP 3220; ECP 3230; ECP 3240; ECP 4400; ECP 4420
Professional practicum as a 15 week experience designed to allow the student to demonstrate practical application of developmentally appropriate early childhood teaching techniques and skills, actual teaching experience and developmental feedback. Practicum students will be involved in observation and evaluation of classroom experiences, environmental design, classroom management, and parent communication.