Interdisciplinary Early Childhood (IEC)
Introduces information related to designing appropriate environments and curricula for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Explores the historical and current influences on early childhood education. Includes twenty (20) hours of required field experience. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).
Focuses on creating an environment and curricula that support cognitive, physical, creative, language, social, and emotional development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 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: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).
Addresses the physical, language, cognitive, social and emotional development of children beginning with conception. Includes methods of observation that are practiced during field experiences. This course requires ten (10) hours of field experience. 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).
Presents the interaction of language therapy and instruction techniques and the resulting effect on language and literacy development. This course requires five (5) hours of required field experience. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).
Addresses the role of creativity as it relates to the development of young children. Studies a variety of art music, drama, and movement experiences that encourage creative expression in young children. Includes the implementation of appropriate creative activities in a child-centered environment. 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, adaptations and assistive technology, and ethical considerations. 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).
Applies the concepts and principles of science, social studies, mathematics, and health in learning experiences for young children. Includes five (5) hours of required field. 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 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. Required: One Hundred and eighty (180) field hours of experience. Practicum: 3.0 credits (180 contact hours/ratio 60:1).