ED: Early Childhood (EDEC)

Courses

EDEC A105 Introduction to the Field of Early Childhood Education 3 Credits

Surveys historical, social, and philosophical foundations of the field of early childhood education. Includes developmentally appropriate practices, observation and documentation, culturally relevant practices, survey of types of early childhood settings, ethics, and professionalism.

Attributes: UAA Social Sciences GER.

EDEC A106 Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood 3 Credits

Explores creativity and culturally-rich, art-integrated curriculum in Early Childhood classrooms. Promotes innovative and collaborative practices that highlight ways to connect one's personal identity and build connections to place and culture.

EDEC A107 Child Development and Learning 3 Credits

Introduces the cognitive, physical, emotional, social and communicative development of children from birth through age 12. Explores the patterns and sequences of development in terms of learning that is occurring in the home, school or community environment. Applies human development and learning theories to formal and informal learning, including cultural considerations. Introduces appropriate teaching and curricular requirements to meet the needs of diverse learners, including children with exceptionalities and dual language learners.
Special Note: This course requires a 15 hour field experience observation. Students must show documentation of a clear background check.

EDEC A108 Health, Nutrition and Wellness for Children Birth-12 3 Credits

Examines concepts of health, wellness, safety and nutrition and the relationship to the growth and development of the young child. Emphasizes promoting positive attitudes, working with culturally diverse families, and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum strategies.

EDEC A190 Selected Topics in Early Childhood 1-3 Credits

Examines current issues, themes, strategies and/or trends in the field of early childhood education.
Special Note: May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits.

EDEC A201 Early Childhood Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities 2 Credits

Focuses on the diverse roles of the early childhood practitioner, with an emphasis on self-analysis, ethical conduct, reflection and ongoing professional growth.

Prerequisites: EDEC A105 with a minimum grade of C and EDEC A106 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A206 Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Young Children 3 Credits

Examines interdisciplinary curriculum models for young children. Explores interest-based, developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, and standards-based curriculum.
Special Note: 30 field hours are required. Head Start or Title One recommended.

Prerequisites: EDEC A105 with a minimum grade of C and EDEC A106 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A210 Guiding Young Children 3 Credits

Examines the learning principles relevant to guidance of young children. Introduces the social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children and examines implications for effective child guidance and motivation in the classroom.

Prerequisites: EDEC A105 with a minimum grade of C or EDEC A107 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A241 Infant and Toddler Development 3 Credits

Examines the development of infants and toddlers, infant and toddler care programs, the roles of caregivers, and ways to build culturally responsive family engagement. Emphasizes cognitive, language, social, emotional, motor development and the importance of relationships in the care and education of infants and toddlers.
Special Note: Requires 10 observation hours. Students must provide documentation of a clear background check.

Prerequisites: EDEC A105 with a minimum grade of C or EDEC A107 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A242 Culturally Responsive Family Engagement 3 Credits

Examines the importance and complexity of building culturally responsive classrooms that support family and community engagement. The course explores programs that support family-centered principles underlying program planning, implementation, environments and relationship building.

EDEC A292 Early Childhood Practicum Seminar 3 Credits

Capstone seminar provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and experiences during the practicum field placement. Students discuss and evaluate developmentally appropriate practices and reflect on ethics and professionalism using the NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards and Code of Ethical Conduct.
Registration Restrictions: Must be admitted to practicum and to AAS in Early Childhood Development.

Corequisites: EDEC A295.

EDEC A295 Early Childhood Practicum 3 Credits

Supervised field experience in early childhood classroom. Students develop, implement and evaluate elements of a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning environment.
Special Note: Requires 150 hours of field experience.
Registration Restrictions: Departmental approval, admission to practicum and AAS Early Childhood Development

Corequisites: EDEC A292.

EDEC A303 Young Children in Inclusive Settings 3 Credits

Examines the principles, issues and concepts of inclusive teaching practices to support young children from birth through age eight. Focuses on research-informed inclusive practices for young children with exceptionalities and those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Special Note: Requires 10-15 hours of classroom observation.

Prerequisites: EDEC A107 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A310 A Developmental Approach to Assessment in Early Childhood Education 3 Credits

Examines a developmental approach to assessment for instructional and developmental planning with birth to age 8 populations, with an emphasis on multi-tiered models of support. Topics include authentic assessment, screening, progress monitoring, and formal and informal diagnostic assessments with application to cultural and linguistically diverse populations.
Special Note: Requires 15 hours of field experience.
Registration Restrictions: Departmental approval

Prerequisites: EDEC A210 with a minimum grade of C and EDEC A241 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A320 Foundations of Literacy and Language Development 3 Credits

Explores the foundations and theoretical frameworks of literacy development. Examines literacy components of language, reading, and writing development for various stages, ages, and a range of social and cultural contexts. Introduction to brain research about reading and other evidence-based practices.

Prerequisites: EDEC A107 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A321 Language, Reading and Culture 3 Credits

Examines models of teaching, cultural issues, ways to involve and support families and communities, and specific language and literacy instructional approaches to best support and assess English Language Learners (ELL) and/or dual language learners in the classroom. Explores the relationship between oral proficiency and literacy and culturally responsive teaching and assessment. Emphasizes evidence-based instructional practices which promote language development, particularly in reading and writing success for ELL and/or dual language students.
Special Note: Requires 15 hours of field placement.

EDEC A403 Mathematics and Science in Early Childhood 3 Credits

Examines the principles, developmental concepts, and curricula designed to promote science and mathematics concepts. Analyzes how young children develop mathematical and scientific thinking. Covers the methods of teaching mathematics and science to young children.
Special Note: Field experience is completed in conjunction with EDEC A495E.
Registration Restrictions: Department approval, admission to advanced practicum for early childhood education and the School of Education.

Prerequisites: EDEC A206 with a minimum grade of C and EDEC A210 with a minimum grade of C and MATH A211 with a minimum grade of C and MATH A212 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A404 Literacy Methods for Young Children 3 Credits

Examines the principles of language and reading development. Covers oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, and writing, as they relate to the developmental process of learning how to read.
Registration Restrictions: Department approval.

Prerequisites: EDEC A320 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A407 Observation, Documentation, and Assessment of Young Children 3 Credits

Examines the process of observation, documentation, assessment, and analysis. Focuses on this process as a cycle of inquiry and action. Covers formal and informal assessment systems will be covered in relation to literacy and language development. Applies performance evidence to plan next steps of instruction.
Special Note: 15 hours of field experience are required. Not available for credit to students who have completed EDEC A607.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to the School of Education.
May Be Stacked With: EDEC A607

Prerequisites: EDEC A321 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A408 Children's Literature: Early Childhood Years 3 Credits

Explores a variety of children's literature with emphasis on selecting, interpreting, and using quality literature with young children. Discusses current theories and methods about integrating literature into all curriculum areas.
Special Note: Not available for credit to students who have completed EDEC A608.
May Be Stacked With: EDEC A608

Prerequisites: EDEC A320 with a minimum grade of C.

EDEC A490 Selected Topics in Early Childhood Education 3 Credits

Examines current issues, themes, strategies and/or trends in the field of early childhood education.
Special Note: May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits with a change of topic.

EDEC A492 Early Childhood Professional Seminar 3 Credits

Provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and experiences during the internship experience. Opportunities for discussion, evaluation, collaboration, and reflection on professional practices.
Special Note: May be repeated once for credit.
Registration Restrictions: Department approval and admission to an internship

EDEC A492Y Early Childhood Student Teaching 1 Seminar 3 Credits

Provides for the exchange of ideas and experiences with a focus on culturally responsive strategies, trauma-informed practices, and performance-based assessment systems. Discusses and reflects of developmentally appropriate practices and professionalism/ethics using the NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards and Code of Ethical Conduct.
Special Note: Students must be admitted to student teaching 1.
Registration Restrictions: Department approval

Corequisites: EDEC A495Y.

EDEC A492Z Early Childhood Capstone Seminar 3 Credits

Focuses on performance-based assessment systems with an emphasis on classroom guidance, planning, facilitating instruction, and assessment practices. Includes discussion and reflection of developmentally appropriate practices and professionalism/ethics using the NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards and Code of Ethical Conduct.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to School of Education Early Childhood Student Teaching.

Prerequisites: EDEC A492Y with a minimum grade of C and EDEC A495Y with a minimum grade of P.

EDEC A495 Early Childhood Internship 3-12 Credits

Advanced professional internship in an early childhood community setting such as Head Start, childcare, hospital, or other agency that serves children and families.
Special Note: May be repeated for a maximum of 15 credits. Community settings must be approved by the department.
Registration Restrictions: Department approval and admission to an internship

EDEC A495Y Early Childhood Student Teaching 1 3 Credits

Supervised student teaching 1 in an early childhood classroom. Allows for application of theoretical concepts and principles and emphasizes developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum instruction, planning, assessment, reflection, classroom management, and professional skills for the field. Students are expected to engage in reflective practice while working with young children.
Special Note: Students must be admitted to student teaching 1.
Registration Restrictions: Department approval

EDEC A495Z Early Childhood Student Teaching 2 9 Credits

Supervised student teaching in early childhood classrooms, culminating with a residency. Allows for application of theoretical concepts and principles in the early childhood classroom environment. Emphasizes classroom management, developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum instruction, planning, assessment, reflection, and professional skills for the field.
Special Note: Students must be admitted to Student Teaching 2 in Early Childhood Education.
Registration Restrictions: Department approval

Prerequisites: EDEC A492Y with a minimum grade of C and EDEC A495Y with a minimum grade of P.

Corequisites: EDEC A492Z.

EDEC A607 Documentation and Assessment of Young Children: Inquiry in Action 3 Credits

Examines the process of observation, documentation, assessment, and analysis. Focuses on the cycle of inquiry as well as formal and informal assessment systems. Applies knowledge of the assessment cycle to produce a professional artifact that contributes to the Early Childhood field.
Special Note: May require an experiential field placement.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing
May Be Stacked With: EDEC A407

EDEC A608 Analysis of Children's Literature: Early Childhood Years 3 Credits

Intensive study of various genres of children's literature. Analyzes and critiques major historical and contemporary works of children's literature for use in classrooms while selecting, interpreting, and using quality literature with young children.
Registration Restrictions: Graduate standing
May Be Stacked With: EDEC A408