Nov 23, 2024

Yakima Valley College Catalog 2023-2024

Yakima Valley College Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood Education, AAS-T

This is a dual-purpose degree that is intended to prepare students for employment in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) field, as a general paraeducator, and/or for transfer to specific baccalaureate degree programs such as the Applied Baccalaureate Degree Program in Teacher Education at YVC. An AAS-T degree in ECE will prepare you for careers in early learning, childcare, policy, parent and family support and education. It is also a pathway to studies in teacher education, child and family studies, and other areas. The Associate in Applied Science - Transfer degrees (AAS-T) are designed to build upon the technical courses required for job preparation but also includes a college-level General-Education component, common in structure for all such degrees.

In addition to supporting the college-wide Core Learning Outcomes, the Education & ECE Department promotes specific early childhood education outcomes. These goals and objectives identify the knowledge, attitudes and skills that students will acquire in the program curriculum, and are based on Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Washington State Core Competencies for Early Childhood and School Age Care Professions.

Required Distribution Courses 48-50 Cr

Basic Skills
ENGL& 101: English Composition I 5 Cr
ENGL 102 or ENGL 203 5 Cr
MATH (Quantitative or Computational Math above 100 or designated “Q/SR”) 5 Cr

Communications 3-5 Cr

CMST& 210: Interpersonal Communication 5 Cr or CMST& 220 5 Cr (recommended)
Humanities (Must be from two different subject areas) 10 Cr
- Elective Humanities Distribution 10 Cr
Natural Science (Must be from two different subject areas with one lab) 10 Cr
PSYC& 100: General Psychology 5 Cr
Social Sciences Distribution 5 Cr

Required Professional Tech/ECE Courses 45 Cr

ECED& 105: Introduction to Early Childhood Education 5 Cr
ECED& 107: Health, Safety, and Nutrition 5 Cr
ECED& 120: Nurturing Relationships 2 Cr
EDUC 111: Careers in Education/Early Childhood 2 Cr
EDUC 191: Field Experience 1 5 Cr
EDUC 202: Introduction to Education 5 Cr
EDUC 204: Introduction to Inclusive Education 5 Cr
EDUC 240: Diversity in Education 5 Cr
EDUC& 115: Child Development 5 Cr
EDUC& 130: Guiding Behavior 3 Cr

Total Credits 93-95

Program Outcomes

After completion of this program, students will:

Understand how to promote positive relationships among all children and adults, encourage each child’s sense of individual worth and belonging as part of a community, and foster each child’s ability to contribute as a responsible community member.
Demonstrate an understanding of how to work together and balance different activities and approaches to maximize children’s learning and development.
Use developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and effective teaching approaches that enhance each child’s learning and development in the context of the curriculum goals.
Be informed by ongoing systematic, formal, and informal assessment approaches to provide information on children’s learning and development.
Understand the importance of nutrition and health that protects children and staff from illness and injury, and supports safe environments for children’s healthy development.
Gain knowledge of the central concepts, foundational theories and intellectual frameworks of education and teaching. Including effective approaches to guidance and discipline, constructivist learning principles, the role of family and communities.
Be introduced to a variety of educational philosophies, attitudes and approaches in order to understand issues of professional teaching standards.