Early Childhood Education - Associate Degree

Students gain skills that lead to success in college and employment. This course encourages students to develop a growth mindset and make wise choices. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)

This 3-credit course examines the topics of health, safety, and nutrition within the context of the early childhood educational setting. Course competencies include: integrate strategies that support diversity, cultural responsiveness, and anti-bias perspectives; examine governmental regulations and professional standards as they apply to health, safety, and nutrition; plan a safe early childhood environment; plan a healthy early childhood environment; plan nutritionally sound menus; examine child abuse and neglect issues and mandates; describe Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risk reduction strategies, describe strategies to prevent the occurrence of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS); incorporate health, safety, and nutrition concepts into the children's curriculum.

The 3-credit course examines child development within the context of the early childhood education setting. Course competencies include: integrate strategies that support diversity, cultural responsiveness, and anti-bias perspectives; analyze social, cultural, and economic influences on child development; summarize child development theories; analyze development of children ages three through five; analyze development of children ages five through eight; relate child development research findings to teaching practice; analyze the role of heredity and the environment; examine the role of brain development in early learning (ages 3-8); examine developmental and environmental assessment strategies for children ages 3-8.

This 3-credit introductory field experience course, introduces the foundations of early childhood education under guided supervision of a mentor teacher in an early childhood setting, working with children birth through age 8. This course meets the requirements for the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards 18-hour training. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program or Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Technical Diploma; 10-890-101 College 101; Corequisite: 10-307-167 ECE: Health Safety & Nutrition and 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development)

Learners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: High school GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 18; OR Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 260; OR "preparatory course(s)", contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

This 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of social studies, art, music, & movement (SSAMM).

In this 3-credit course you will study infant and toddler development as it applies to an early childhood education setting. Course competencies include: integrate strategies that support diversity, cultural responsiveness, and anti-bias perspectives; analyze development of infants and toddlers (conception to thirty-six months); correlate prenatal and postnatal conditions with development; summarize child development theories; analyze the role of heredity and the environment; examine culturally and developmentally appropriate environments for infants and toddlers, examine the role of brain development in early learning (conception through thirty-six months); examine caregiving routines as curriculum; and examine developmental and environmental assessment strategies for infants and toddlers.

This 3-credit course focuses on the child with differing abilities in an early childhood education setting. Course competencies include: integrate strategies that support diversity, cultural responsiveness, and anti-bias perspectives; promote inclusive programs for young children; apply legal and ethical requirements including, but not limited to, ADA and IDEA; examine the consultation process to embed intervention in natural based settings; differentiate between typical and exceptional development; analyze the differing abilities of children with physical, cognitive, health/medical, communication, and/or behavioral/emotional disorders; identify community and professional resources; interpret an individual educational plan (IEP/IFSP) for children with developmental differences; adapt curriculum to meet the needs of children with developmental differences; examine strategies for cultivating partnerships with families who have children with developmental differences.

This 3-credit course examines positive strategies to guide children's behavior in the early childhood education setting. Course competencies include: integrate strategies that support diversity, cultural responsiveness, and anti-bias perspectives; analyze techniques for and effects of strong relationship-building with children and families; identify positive and proactive guidance principles and techniques to support children; analyze environmental influences on child behavior; identify strategies that support children’s active engagement in the learning environment; identify strategies that proactively teach emotional literacy and regulation techniques; identify strategies that proactively teach friendship skills; identify strategies that proactively teach children calming, relaxation, and problem-solving techniques; utilize observation and assessment techniques to assess and interpret behavior; create a behavior support plan based on a functional behavior assessment; create a guidance philosophy. This course meets the requirements of the "24 hour Wisconsin" Pyramid Model training.

This 3-credit intermediate field experience course includes assisting the mentor teacher in carrying out classroom routines and implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote child development and learning through play for children birth to age 8. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program or Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Technical Diploma; 10-890-101 College 101, 10-307-160 ECE: Field Experience 1 or 10-307-174 ECE Introductory Practicum; Corequisite: 10-307-151 Infant Toddler Development)

This course focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English score greater/equal to 16; OR preparatory course-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

This 3-credit course introduces you to the early childhood profession. Course competencies include: explore the concepts of diversity, cultural responsiveness, and anti-bias as it relates to early childhood education, investigate the history of early childhood education, examine regulatory requirements for early childhood education programs in WI, summarize types of early childhood education settings, identify the components of a quality early childhood education program, summarize responsibilities of early childhood education professionals, explore early childhood curriculum models and examine the critical role of play as it relates to developmentally appropriate practice.

This 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. (Prerequisites: 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music; 10-307-179, ECE: Child Development)

In this 3-credit course you will examine the role of relationships with family and community in early childhood education. Course competencies include: implement strategies that support diversity, cultural responsiveness, and anti-bias perspectives when working with families and community; analyze contemporary family patterns and trends; identify strategies to strengthen and support families; explore effective communication strategies; discover strategies for developing respectful and reciprocal relationships with families; analyze strategies to promote family engagement in early childhood education programs; explore a variety of formats for meeting with families in their contexts; advocate for children and families; and explore community resources that provide a range of services for children and families.

This 3-credit advanced field experience course focuses on supporting young children's development birth to age 8 through observation, assessment, and implementation of developmentally appropriate teaching strategies. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program, 10-307-170 ECE: Field Experience 2, and ECE: 10-307-187 Children w Differing Abilities)

The nature and variety of groups; inequality, race and ethnicity; family, population, social integration, and change; collective behavior; politics, economics, religion, education, and the effects of technology. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)

This course explores strategies to encourage the development of early language and literacy knowledge and skill building in children birth to 8 years of age. Learners will investigate the components of literacy including; literacy and a source of enjoyment, vocabulary and oral language, phonological awareness, knowledge of print, letters and words, comprehension and an understanding of books and other texts. Theories and philosophies regarding children's language and literacy development will be addressed. Dual language learning will be examined within the context of developmentally appropriate practices. Assessment tools for early language and literacy acquisition will be reviewed. (Prerequisites: 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music; 10-307-179, ECE: Child Development)

Basic American values of justice and equality by teaching vocabulary, history of immigration/conquest, transcultural communication, legal liability, multicultural majority/minority relations, ageism, sexism, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled/ADA. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better.)

Prepares the student to develop sustainable literacy, analyze the interconnections among the physical and biological sciences and environmental systems, summarize the effects of sustainability on health and well-being, analyze connections among social, economic, and environmental systems, employ energy conservation strategies to reduce the use of fossil fuels, investigate alternative energy options, evaluate options to current waste disposal and recycling in the U.S., and analyze approaches used by your community to promote and implement sustainability. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 15; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

This final 3-credit pre-professional field experience course focuses on demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of children birth to age 8, and families. An emphasis is on practicing the lead teacher role to design, implement and evaluate a connected unit of learning experiences. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program, 10-307-190 ECE: Field Experience 3, and ECE: 10-307-195 ECE: Family/Community Relationships; Corequisite: 10-307-108 ECE: Early Language & Literacy)

Defines human development; examines theories; heredity and environmental effects; prenatal development and birth; evaluates biosocial, cognitive psychosocial development through the life span; aging, death, and dying. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)