Interdisciplinary Early Childhood (IEC)

Introduces information related to designing appropriate environments and curricula for children ages birth through age eight. Explores the historical and current influences on early childhood education. Includes twenty (20) hours of required field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Focuses on creating an environment and curricula that support cognitive, physical, creative, language, social, and emotional development of children, birth through age eight. Presents knowledge of appropriate child assessment, ethical decision-making in the early childhood profession and accommodations for children with disabilities. Includes ten (10) hours of required field experiences. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Addresses the developmental period of early childhood from prenatal through age eight across the physical, linguistic, cognitive, social and emotional domains. Focuses on developmentally appropriate practices within the multi-dimensional context in relationship to the way children develop and learn as individuals. Includes ten (10) hours of required field experience, which may be waived by the IECE program coordinator for students concurrently enrolled in IEC 291. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Presents the process of observation, documentation, and assessment. Includes assessment skills, identification of appropriate methods and instruments, and linking results to planning, guidance, and instruction. Emphasizes recommended practices, ethical and legal responsibilities for educators, and the role of the family in the process. Includes ten (10) hours of required field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces theoretical perspectives for curriculum in early childhood programs. Teaches the design of curricula and examines the societal factors that impact programming for children. Includes ten (10) hours of required field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Examines appropriate methods for guiding children and promoting the development of prosocial behaviors. This course requires ten (10) hours of field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Examines community programs that focus on forming partnerships with families to support child development and family well-being. Builds an awareness of family in context of a diverse society to create respect, build reciprocal relationships, and empower families. Required: 10 hours of field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces the developmental sequence of language and literacy development for birth to age eight to support listening, speaking, writing, and reading. Presents and fosters the development of interaction techniques and strategies to build foundational aspects of language and literacy acquisition based on current learning standards. This course requires five (5) hours of field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces the developmental sequence of creativity in the areas of music, drama, creative movement, dance, and visual arts for birth to age eight. Presents and fosters the development of creative experiences across the curriculum. Supports engagement with materials and activities to build foundational aspects of the arts based on current learning standards. This course requires five (5) hours of field experience. Lecture 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces establishing, operating and/or owning an early childhood program. Includes legal forms for early childhood programs, finance, accounting, insurance, governmental regulations and assistance, economics, marketing and management principles. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Presents the types of exceptionalities that occur in the development of children with an emphasis on state and federal laws that impact services. Introduces assessment, referral processes and sources, education plans, family service plans, center-based and home-based care, assistive technology, and ethical considerations. Presents strategies for adapting curriculum, environment, and programming in inclusive settings for children birth to age eight. This course requires ten (10) hours of field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Focuses on the administrative responsibilities of creating and implementing education programs for children and their families with an emphasis on the administrative, organizational, and legal responsibilities in operating early childhood programs. Includes ten (10) hours of required field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Introduces the developmental progression of concept development in science, social studies, mathematics, and health education for birth to age eight. Presents developmentally appropriate technology and engineering tools for use with young children. Presents and fosters development of developmentally appropriate techniques and strategies for designing and implementing learning experiences for young children based on current learning standards. Includes five (5) hours of required field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Provides the student with specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities for working with school age children. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Examines the developmental and educational needs of children from birth to age three. Provides an opportunity for students to plan, prepare, and implement the care and educational environment for children birth to age three by integrating an understanding of the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development with developmentally appropriate practices for each stage. This course requires ten (10) hours of field experience. Lecture: 3 hours (45 contact hours).

Requires comprehensive reflection on IECE program content and participation in supervised teaching experiences in early childhood settings where practical skills are applied. Includes observing, planning, implementing and assessing learning experiences based on developmentally appropriate practices. Lecture: 1 credits (15 contact hours); Practicum: 2 credits (120 contact hours).