Early Childhood Education Associate Degree

10-890-101 COLLEGE 101 ...Students will utilize digital tools and resources to assess, explore, practice, apply, and evaluate both employability and learning skills. By establishing NWTC cultural values as hallmarks of success in academic, career, and personal settings the course encourages reflective, personalized development of a growth mindset and emphasizes the importance of making wise choices. To maximize the return on investment, students should take this course in their first semester as it identifies key expectations (hidden rules) of higher learning and professional employment.

10-307-167 ECE: HEALTH SAFETY & NUTRITION...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.

10-307-151 ECE: INFANT & TODDLER DEVELOPMENT...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.

10-307-148 ECE: FOUNDATIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ... 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.

10-307-110 ECE: SOCIAL STUDIES, ART & MUSIC ...This 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of social studies, art, music, & movement (SSAM).

10-307-174 ECE: INTRODUCTORY PRACTICUM ...In this 3-credit practicum course you will learn about and apply the course competencies in an actual early childhood setting. You will explore the standards for quality early childhood education, demonstrate professional behaviors, and meet the requirements for training in the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program or Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Technical Diploma; Corequisite: 10-307-167 ECE: Hlth Safety & Nutrition)

10-307-179 ECE: CHILD DEVELOPMENT...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.

10-801-136 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 ...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: Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills greater/equal to 75; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND Eng greater/equal to 18; OR preparatory courses-contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

10-307-187 ECE: CHILDREN WITH DIFFERING ABILITIES ...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. (Prerequisite: 10-307-174, ECE: Introductory Practicum)

10-307-188 ECE: GUIDING CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR ...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. (Prerequisite: 10-307-174, ECE: Introductory Practicum OR accepted in Early Childhood Preschool Certificate 9030711)

10-307-177 ECE: INTERMEDIATE PRACTICUM ...In this 3-credit course you will be implementing regulations and standards for quality early childhood education, applying knowledge of child development and positive guidance, utilizing observation and assessment techniques, and assessing developmentally appropriate environments for children. (Prerequisite: 10-307-174, ECE: Introductory Practicum or ECE: Practicum 1; Corequisite: 10-307-187, ECE: Children with Differing Abilities)

10-307-108 ECE: EARLY LANGUAGE & LITERACY ...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. (Prerequisite: 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music)

10-801-196 ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION ...the communication process, perception and self-concept, language, listening, nonverbal communication, interpersonal relationships, communication in groups and public communication; prepare and deliver an oral presentation. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills score greater/equal to 60; 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)

10-809-196 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY ...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: Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills greater/equal to 60; 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)

10-307-175 ECE: PRESCHOOL PRACTICUM ...This course will apply as the capstone course in The Registry Preschool Credential. You will be placed or working in an early childhood setting with 3-5 year old children and create a portfolio that prepares you for The Registry commission. In this course you will be implementing regulations and standards for quality early childhood education, applying knowledge of child development and positive guidance, utilizing observation and assessment techniques, and assessing developmentally appropriate environments for preschoolers. (Prerequisites: 10-307-167 ECE: Hlth Safety & Nutrition; 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development; 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music; 10-307-108 ECE: Early Language & Literacy; 10-307-188 ECE: Guiding Child Behavior AND Accepted in the Early Childhood Preschool Certificate)
OR Early Childhood Program Associate Degree Students must have completed all of the above AND Accepted in Early Childhood Program; (Prerequisite: 10-307-174, ECE: Practicum 1 OR ECE: Introductory Practicum)

10-809-172 INTRO TO DIVERSITY STUDIES...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: Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills greater/equal to 60; 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)

10-307-195 ECE: FAMILY/COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS ...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.

10-307-112 ECE: STEM ...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)

10-806-112 PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY ...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: Accuplacer Reading score greater/equal to 55; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 15; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

10-307-199 ECE: ADVANCED PRACTICUM ...In this final 3-credit practicum course you will demonstrate competence in supporting child development through observation, assessment and implementation of teaching strategies as you work in and learn about and apply the course competencies in an actual early childhood setting. You will demonstrate a high level of skill in fostering relationships with children, families and early childhood professionals, and use skills learned in a lead teacher role to develop a career plan to transition from student to early childhood education professional. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education program; completion of 10-307-177 ECE: Intermediate Practicum [or 10-307-192 ECE: Practicum 2*] AND 10-307-175 ECE: Preschool Practicum [or 10-307-197 ECE: Practicum 3*]; Corequisite: 10-307-195, ECE: Family & Community Relations)

10-809-188 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY ...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: Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills greater/equal to 60; 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)