Education

The Education Department prepares students with evidence-based knowledge, skills, and competencies to support the education and care for children and families. Our Early Childhood Education program provides comprehensive, workforce preparation on the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs of children from birth to age 8. Our Education and Paraeducation program certificates and transfer degrees provide multiple pathways for students seeking a career in the K-12 public school system.

Effective educators are critical for realizing the profession’s vision that all young child, birth through age 8, have equitable access to high-quality learning and care environments. As such, there is a core body of knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions educators must demonstrate to effectively promote the development, learning, and well-being of all learners.

Our programs combine hands-on training in partner school districts, as well as in community childcare centers and classrooms. Education Department faculty believe that college-level classroom instruction should be aimed at creating skilled, kind and understanding future educators. Students learn to develop and apply curriculum methods and to meet the needs of children as individuals and within their social and familial situations.

ECE, EDUC, SPED, and READ courses are offered days, evenings, Saturdays, hybrid (blended) and online.

Programs’ Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the early childhood education (ECE) associate in arts and sciences (AAS-T) degree, ECE associate in arts (AA) degree, or State ECE certificates, graduates should be able to…

Promote child development and learning.
Build family and community relationships.
Observe, document, and assess to support young children and families.
Use developmentally appropriate approaches.
Build meaningful curriculum using content knowledge.
Use professional standards and ethical guidelines.

Please note: The Education Department has multiple pathways for degrees and certificates. Courses and/or degree requirements are specific for each degree. Please seek assistance from a YVC academic advisor prior to enrolling in EDUC, ECED, EDUC&, and/or ECED& courses. Effective Fall 2020, degree requirements have changed. Students may elect to graduate under the official printed catalog in force when they first entered YVC, provided they remain continuously enrolled (continuous enrollment is defined as attending at least two quarters out of each academic year) and the lapsed time does not exceed five years. They may also graduate under the official printed catalog in force when they apply for graduation. Please refer to YVC’s Specification of Catalog Year information located in Student Service section of this catalog.

Programs

Certificate - Professional/Technical

Associate

Bachelor of Applied Science

Bachelor of Applied Science Teacher Education