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Early Childcare Education and Programming

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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Curriculum in Early Childcare Education and Programming

The Early Childcare Education and Programming (E C P) curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to work in a variety of early care and education programs that serve families that are mobile. Families who are mobile include military families, immigrant families, families who must travel to make a living, homeless families, and families living in poverty. Some of the programs are childcare centers and homes, infant/toddler and preschool programs, Head Start programs, and before and after-school programs for children ages birth to eight. This degree does not lead to teacher licensure. Students interested in a license to teach in public schools can refer to the Early Childhood Education - Unified (ECE) program. The E C P curriculum is designed to provide content for the final two years of a student's program; the content is focused specifically on topics directly relevant to the major. This is an online program offered through a collaboration of universities called Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (or GPIDEA). The program within GPIDEA is known as Early Care and Education for a Mobile Society. For more information see https://www.gpidea.org/program/early-care-and-education-in-a-mobile-society

Students will complete a total of 120 credits for the major, 51 of which are specific to the E C P curriculum. These 51 credit hours are comprised of 12 core courses and 3 practica; the final practicum will be a 6-credit capstone experience. Students must complete 30 credits of college work, a lifespan development course, and have a 2.5 GPA to be admitted to E C P. If students prefer to be admitted to ISU before being admitted to the E C P major, they can enroll as Pre ECP (P ECP) students until they are eligible for the E C P major. For more information about the program at Iowa State, see https://online.hs.iastate.edu/early-childcare-programming.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the ECEMS bachelor's degree program, students will be able to:

  • use their understanding of young children's characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
  • understand how successful early childhood education depends upon partnerships with children’s families and communities and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities.
  • use child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence the development of every child.
  • use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for every young child.
  • identify and conduct themselves as a member of the early childhood profession, using ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice.
  • demonstrate, through sequential practicum experiences and clinical practice, the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood.

Administered by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Leading to the degree bachelor of science.

Total credits required: 120

Human Development and Family Studies Core: 3 credits

HD FS 102Human Development3

Early Childcare Education and Programming Professional Core: 51 credits

Pre-practicum I
E C P 201Child Development – Ages Birth to 33
E C P 202Child Development – Ages 4 to 83
E C P 305Professional Development3
E C P 320Practicum I – Child Observations in Classroom Environments3
Pre-practicum II
E C P 412Development of Curriculum for Children Ages Birth to 3 *3
E C P 413Development of Curriculum for Children Ages 4 to 8 *3
E C P 424Assessing Young Children and Their Environments to Enhance Development *3
E C P 425Understanding and Adapting for Developmental Differences *3
E C P 440Practicum II – Curriculum Development and Implementation3
Professional Development
E C P 306Health, Safety, and Nutrition3
E C P 307Child Guidance and Classroom Environments3
E C P 322Diversity in the Lives of Young Children and Families3
E C P 323Working with Families3
E C P 324Technology and Young Children3
E C P 442Administration and Supervision in Early Childhood Settings3
E C P 460Practicum III – Capstone Experience6
Total Credits51

* Must be completed prior to enrollment in Practicum II (E C P 440)

Electives : 28-29 credits

Communications and Library: 13 credits

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1
One of the following:3
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Conflict Management
One of the following:3
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Technical Communication
Total Credits13

Natural Sciences and Mathematical Disciplines: 9-10 credits

One of the following:3-4
Principles of Statistics
Introduction to Probability
Introduction to Mathematical Ideas
College Algebra
Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences
Calculus I
Select from Biological or Physical Sciences courses6
Total Credits9-10

Social Sciences: 9 credits

Select from Approved General Education options

Humanities: 6 credits

Select from Approved General Education options

Total credits: 120 credits

The courses listed in this section are approved general education course options for this major.

Social Sciences: 9 credits. Coursework designed to help students develop an understanding of the principal methods of studying human behavior and an understanding of the structure and functioning of institutions.

AESHM 421Developing Global Leadership: Maximizing Human Potential3
AF AM 330Ethnic and Race Relations3
A M D 165Dress, Appearance, and Diversity in U.S. Society3
A M D 362Cultural Perspectives of Global Dress3
A M D 467Consumer Studies in Apparel and Fashion Products3
AM IN 310Contemporary Topics in American Indian Studies3
AM IN 315Archaeology of North America3
AM IN 322Peoples and Cultures of Native North America3
Anthropology (ANTHR) - except 202
Economics (ECON)
FS HN 342World Food Issues: Past and Present3
INTST 235Introduction to International Studies3
LING 219Introduction to Linguistics3
LING 471Language and Reading Development in Children3
Political Science (POL S)
Psychology (PSYCH) - except 131
Sociology (SOC), including Criminal Justice (CJ ST)
WGS 201Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies3
WGS 203Introduction to Lesbian Communities3
WGS 301International Perspectives on Women and Gender3
WGS 320Ecofeminism3
WGS 327Gender and Sexualities in Society3
WGS 328Sociology of Masculinities and Manhood3
WGS 346Psychology of Women3
WGS 350Women of Color in the U.S3
WGS 385Women in Politics3

Humanities: 6 credits. Coursework designed to assist students to develop an understanding of human cultural heritage and history, and an appreciation of reasoning and the aesthetic value of human creativity. 

AESHM 342Aesthetics of Consumer Experience3
AF AM 201Introduction to African American Studies3
AF AM 334Africana Religions3
AF AM 347Studies in African American Literature3
AF AM 353History of African Americans I3
AF AM 354History of African Americans II3
A M D 257Museum Studies3
A M D 354Euro-American Dress History: Prehistoric to Mid-19th Century3
A M D 356Euro-American Dress History: Mid-19th Century to the Present3
AM IN 210Introduction to American Indian Studies3
AM IN 240Introduction to American Indian Literature3
AM IN 346American Indian Literature3
ARCH 221Histories and Theories of Architecture to 17503
ARCH 420Topics in American Architecture3
Art History (ART H)
American Sign Language (ASL)
Classical Studies (CL ST)
DANCE 270Dance Appreciation3
DANCE 360History and Philosophy of Dance3
DSN S 183Design in Context3
ENGL 201Introduction to Literature3
ENGL 225Survey of British Literature to 18003
ENGL 226Survey of British Literature since 18003
ENGL 227Survey of American Literature to 18653
ENGL 228Survey of American Literature since 18653
ENGL 237Survey of Film History3
ENGL 240Introduction to American Indian Literature3
History (HIST)
HSP M 260Global Tourism Management3
MUSIC 102Introduction to Music Listening3
MUSIC 302Masterpieces of Music and Art in Western Culture.3
MUSIC 304History of American Rock 'n' Roll3
MUSIC 383History of Music I3
MUSIC 384History of Music II3
Philosophy (PHIL)
Religious Studies (RELIG)
THTRE 106Introduction to the Performing Arts3
THTRE 110Theatre and Society3
THTRE 465Theatre History: Ancient to 19th Century3
THTRE 466Theatre History: 19th Century to Present3
WGS 201Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies3
WGS 336Religion, Sex and Gender3
WGS 338Feminist Philosophy3
WGS 345Women and Literature: Selected Topics3
WGS 370Studies in English Translation3
WGS 374Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World3
World Languages and Cultures (ARABC, CHIN, FRNCH, GER, GREEK, RUS, SPAN)