Early Childhood Education - Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Description

The Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science prepares students with a strong emphasis in the theories, curriculum goals, and developmentally appropriate teaching and guidance strategies necessary to lead an early childhood classroom program or to work as a paraprofessional in public schools.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

  1. Support child development and learning by understanding primary theories used in early childhood development and education.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of children’s patterns of learning specific to developmental domains.
  3. Build family and community relationships with particular attention to integrating knowledge of cultural diversity in educational learning environments and settings.
  4. Observe, document, and assess learning and growth to support young children and families through program and curriculum planning.
  5. Apply developmentally appropriate approaches to build meaningful curriculum and positive guidance strategies.
  6. Apply knowledge of health and safety issues affecting child development within learning environments.
  7. Prepare for professional expectations for the early childhood field by developing effective communication skills and demonstrating knowledge of professional standards, associations, licensures, and related laws governing early childhood education.

Entrance Requirements

Academic Entrance Requirements

Recommended:

  • Complete ED 140 Introduction to Early Childhood Education before taking other Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses.

Other Entrance Requirements

Required:

  • The ECE program requires a background check through the Oregon Employment Office-Child Care Division.
  • Some field practicum sites may require documentation of current immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccine. Please contact the program director if you have any questions.

Additional Program Costs (Beyond Standard Tuition/Fees and Textbooks)

Material Costs

  • Background check ($0 to $70)
  • Cost of mileage to and from field placement/practicum sites

Course Requirements

Course Title Credits
Core Courses
ED 140Introduction to Early Childhood Education4
ED 150Environments & Curriculum in Early Childhood Education4
ED 151Observation & Guidance in Early Childhood Education Learning4
ED 152Family, School and Community Relationships in ECE3
ED 172Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education3
ED 173Movement, Music and the Arts in Early Childhood Education3
ED 174Math, Science, and Technology in Early Childhood Education3
ED 219Multicultural Issues in Education Settings3-4
or ED 224 Anti-Bias Curriculum in Education
ED 250Advanced Curriculum Development & Teaching Methods in Early Childhood4
ED 261
ED 262
Early Childhood Education Practicum I
and Early Childhood Education Practicum II
6
ED 265Children at Risk3
ED 269Exceptional Children in Early Childhood Education3
Early Childhood Electives:
Choose a minimum of 12 credits from the following list.12
Youth Mentoring and Advocacy
Supporting Social, Emotional, and Mental Health in Early Childhood
Foundations of Education
Teaching and Learning in a Digital Age
Purposeful Learning and Active Exploration through Play
Trauma Sensitive Classrooms
Learning Across the Lifespan
English Language Development in the Primary Classroom
Geography for Teachers
Other Required Courses
Discipline Studies (choose 2 courses)6-10
ED 112Children's Lit & Curriculum3-4
or ENG 221 Introduction to Children's Literature
ED 243Nutrition, Health and Safety for Young Children 13-4
or FN 225 Human Nutrition
or HHP 266 Nutrition for Health
PSY 201Mind and Brain4
Choose one math course from the following:3-4
Business Math
Mathematics for Early Learning Educators
Math in Society
Or one course from the foundational requirements math list
PSY 215Developmental Psychology4
SOC 201Introduction to Sociology4
WR 121ZComposition I4
WR 122ZComposition II4
or WR 227Z Technical Writing
Total Credits90-98
1

 Students who may eventually complete a bachelor's degree should take FN 225 Human Nutrition.

Advising Notes

This degree is designed for students planning to enter their chosen career upon graduation. Often, only selected credits are considered transferable to public or private baccalaureate institutions.

The College's Early Childhood Education program works closely with four-year programs to prepare students for transfer opportunities in early learning, elementary education, and human service-related programs. In addition to working closely with programs, including OSU-Cascades and George Fox, the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree is fully articulated with Southern Oregon University’s Early Childhood Development program and allows students to transfer directly as juniors and to become admitted into the Early Childhood Development program at Southern Oregon University (SOU) with no loss of credits to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The program offers an excellent balance of early childhood and general education courses that support advanced study in the field of early childhood development.

Students should contact the SOU School of Education early in the beginning of their AAS in Early Childhood Education program to be advised about additional requirements and procedures for admission to the school or program. Students should be aware that if they transfer before completing this degree, their courses will be evaluated individually toward the general education requirements in effect at SOU. For more information, see the articulation agreement on the SOU website.

Students wishing to use the AAS in ECE as a foundation for future licensure in K-12 classrooms should work closely with academic advisors in the education program to ensure appropriate transfer preparation. Students who are considering the Elementary Education Licensure program through OSU-Cascades may be able to apply several course. Please connect with your advisor to explore options as well as additional classes which may be of benefit, such as College Success courses and LIB 100 Introduction to Finding Information.

For current and potential students who have obtained a Child Development Associate or Step 7 or higher on the Oregon Registry and who wish to apply this toward their AAS or certificates in Early Childhood Education, please speak with the program director, Amy Howell, to discuss options and next steps.

Performance Standards

  • Academic Requirements:
    • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
    • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
  • Additional Requirements:
    • Adhere to the field placement contract; and
    • Adhere to confidentiality, health-related and no-smoking policies as
      they pertain to field placement settings.
    • Refer to the student handbook on the Early Childhood Education website for an explanation of each of the above policies.

Sample Plan

Sample Plan Grid
First TermCredits
ED 140Introduction to Early Childhood Education4
WR 121ZComposition I4
Choose one math course from the following:3-4
Business Math
Mathematics for Early Learning Educators
Math in Society
Or one course from the foundational requirements math list
 Credits11-12
Second Term
ED 150Environments & Curriculum in Early Childhood Education4
ED 243
Nutrition, Health and Safety for Young Children
or Human Nutrition
or Nutrition for Health
3-4
ED 152Family, School and Community Relationships in ECE3
WR 122Z
Composition II
or Technical Writing
4
 Credits14-15
Third Term
ED 173Movement, Music and the Arts in Early Childhood Education3
ED 174Math, Science, and Technology in Early Childhood Education3
ED 219
Multicultural Issues in Education Settings
or Anti-Bias Curriculum in Education
3-4
PSY 201Mind and Brain4
 Credits13-14
Fourth Term
ED 151Observation & Guidance in Early Childhood Education Learning4
ED 265Children at Risk3
ED elective3-4
SOC 201Introduction to Sociology4
 Credits14-15
Fifth Term
ED 112
Children's Lit & Curriculum
or Introduction to Children's Literature
3-4
ED 269Exceptional Children in Early Childhood Education3
ED 172Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education3
PSY 215Developmental Psychology4
 Credits13-14
Sixth Term
Discipline Studies course3-5
ED 250Advanced Curriculum Development & Teaching Methods in Early Childhood4
ED 261Early Childhood Education Practicum I3
ED elective3-4
 Credits13-16
Seventh Term
Discipline Studies Course3-5
ED 262Early Childhood Education Practicum II3
ED elective3-4
ED elective (if needed)3-4
 Credits12-16
 Total Credits90-102

Outside of
expected

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