The Early Care and Education Program is designed to educate students in principles of child growth and development, preparing engaging, developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum and environments, and experience with applying these principles into direct work with children and their families. The program reflects the current and projected needs of the early childhood profession. Courses are designed to satisfy CA Department of Social Services licensing regulations and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for work permits. Educating and caring for young children requires study, personal and professional integrity, self-reflection and critical thinking. This program prepares students to: apply theories of child development and educational pedagogy with children birth to eight, create enriching educational environments and curriculum, utilize child-centered, emergent and developmentally appropriate approaches to learning, make meaningful connections with families, support children’s understanding of diversity and inclusion, and support children’s social-emotional well-being.
The goals of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development are 1 - to prepare future teachers of children birth to five to provide developmentally appropriate care and education, through educationally sound, culturally engaging and family-centered practices; and 2 - to provide foundational child development and family engagement knowledge and experience to students who may later choose to pursue a Multi-Subject or Single Subject credential through a 4-year college or university. The Early Care and Education Program provides students with a fundamental understanding of the principles of child growth and development, as well as experience in the application of these principles.
Program Learning Outcomes:
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to apply ethical standards of behavior accepted by the profession of early childhood education using ongoing self-reflection to guide practices.
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to assess children’s development through observation, documentation, reflection and interpretation to guide curriculum and intentional teaching.
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to compare and contrast diverse cultural values, child rearing practices, attitudes towards play and education by developing respectful reciprocal relationships in order to work effectively with children, families, coworkers and community.
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to demonstrate practices that maintain standards of health, nutrition, and safety in early childhood settings.
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to identify the processes of and contributions to systemic and internalized oppression and privilege. Utilize this information, along with personal reflection, to identify strategies to more effectively educate children in a pluralistic society.
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to intentionally design inclusive, culturally and linguistically appropriate curriculum to promote positive development for all young children, based on child development, observation and reflection.
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to synthesize child development research and theories; apply principles with consideration for children's varying characteristics, needs and the multiple interacting influences on children's development.
- Upon completion of the Certificate of Achievement in Early Childhood Development, students are able to utilize observation and evaluation processes/tools to apply and implement developmentally appropriate practices in an early care and education setting using knowledge, skills and professional dispositions that promote the development and learning of all young children.
