Early Childhood Education Courses

ECHD-095A-E Foster Parent Skills Laboratory
.2-3 Units: 16.2-162 hours of laboratory, per term, CR/NC, ND These classes examine issues relating to adoption, foster parenting, and kinship/guardian care of children. May be repeated three times.

ECHD-096A-E Independent Living Skills Laboratory
.2-3 Units: 16.2-162 hours of laboratory, per term, CR/NC, ND This course is designed to teach youth skills that are necessary for living on their own. The course content includes the development of self-help skills, employability, communication and ways to recognize and deal with unfair societal practices such as racism, sexism, etc. May be repeated three times.

ECHD-099 Occupational Work Experience
1-4 Units: 18-72 hours of work experience, per term, LR, DG, CSU Prerequisite: Employment in career-related field. For more information on this course, refer to Cooperative Education. Units are determined by number of hours worked. This course offers on-the-job learning experiences for employed students, whether paid or volunteer, in cooperation with their employers. If students' career goals are directly related to their work experience, they can earn up to four units per term. Students must be enrolled in at least seven units, including their cooperative education units (proportionately fewer in summer session). May be repeated three times.

ECHD-100 Topics in Early Childhood Education
.5-4 Units: 9-72 hours of lecture and/or 27-216 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG, CSU This course covers topics in Early Childhood Education. Topics will be chosen to supplement and serve as additions to current offerings in the area, and will be announced each term in the current schedule of classes. May be repeated nine times.

ECHD-101A-E Workshops in Early Childhood Education
.2-1 Unit: 3.6-18 hours of lecture, per term, CR/NC, ND The course content and unit value will vary depending upon the length and content of the workshop, conference or special community activity. Topics will cover relevant and current issues in the field of early childhood education. Each section may be repeated three times.

ECHD-119 The Autonomous Child
2 Units: 36 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG This course will provide opportunities to examine your attitudes as they relate to the way you communicate, view and plan for young children. This course will look at children's behavior and the many factors that affect the way they respond to adults and the environment. Students will have opportunities to observe, discuss and implement guidance techniques that encourage control in the young child.

ECHD-120 Introduction to Early Childhood Education
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course will help students understand the history and philosophy of early childhood education, evaluate the various kinds of preschool programs, child care services, and possibilities for employment; provide information on state certification; and give students practical experience in a preschool setting. This course will include a study of early childhood education curriculum, environment, equipment, routines, and teaching techniques. Not repeatable.

ECHD-121 The Development of the Young Child (DS1)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course presents the development of the young child with specific attention to physical, social, emotional language and cognitive growth. Observation and study of children will be included. Not repeatable. Section 6633, Instructor Judy Kahn's Course Slide Shows>>

ECHD-123 Creative Activities (DS3)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course is designed to introduce the student to a variety of ways for enhancing the growth and development of artistic expression in young children. The content and emphasis is multicultural, affording the participant an opportunity to see how various cultures express their identity artistically. The creative process is examined with special emphasis on the developmental processes of preschoolers. Methods of planning an early childhood art program are covered. The emphasis in this course is practical. Participants are required to practice skills and techniques in class. Not repeatable.

ECHD-124 Basic Subjects (DS3)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course explores the principles of teaching basic subjects in early childhood education programs, and includes training to present language, pre-reading, dramatic arts, mathematics, and science activities to young children. Not repeatable.

ECHD-125 Introduction to Montessori Method and Curriculum: Philosophy and Practical Life
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG This course is designed to enable teachers and others who work with the preschool child to understand Montessori principles and philosophy, to develop curriculum ideas and activities based on Montessori practices, and to present them in a nursery school environment. The course will cover practical life experience. Not repeatable.

ECHD-126 Montessori Method and Curriculum: Sensorial, Art and Gross Motor
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG Students will focus on Montessori practices in sensorial experiences and language arts. The course also provides students with Montessori techniques in teaching art and gross motor activities. Not repeatable.

ECHD-127 Montessori Method: Language and Physical Science
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG Students will focus on Montessori practices in language arts and learn to use Montessori principles to teach science to young children. Not repeatable.

ECHD-128 Montessori Method: Arithmetic, Biological and Social Sciences
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG Students will learn to use Montessori principles and materials to teach arithmetic, biological and social sciences to young children. Not repeatable.

ECHD-129 Montessori Method: Student Teaching/ Practicum A
1-4 Units: 18-72 hours of lecture, and/or 54-216 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG Prerequisite: ECHD 121 and 125 This course is the first of a two part series that is a requirement for student teaching. This practicum experience will provide the student with an opportunity to work with children in a Montessori classroom. The course includes a weekly seminar and specified hours of supervised classroom teaching.

ECHD-133 Health, Nutrition and Safety (DS7)
2 Units: 36 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course covers the three main components of health information, nutrition, education and safety standards for children, family and staff members in a child care facility. The course will identify and discuss health and safety needs/issues and the planning and establishment of a nutrition education/ information component with the child care program. Not repeatable. Section 6637, Instructor Barbara Grillo, Course Slide Shows>>

ECHD-139 Montessori Method: Student Teaching Practicum B
1-4 Units: 18-72 hours of lecture, and/or 54-216 hours of laboratory, per term, SC, DG, CSU Prerequisite: ECHD 129 This is the last half of a required student practicum experience in which students will have an opportunity to work with children in a Montessori classroom. This course consists of a weekly discussion seminar and specified hours of supervised classroom teaching. Not repeatable.

ECHD-140A-E Parent Education
1-3 Units: 18-54 hours of lecture, and/or 54-162 hours of laboratory, per term, CR/NC, DG, CSU This course will consist of class discussions and lectures in the area of parent education. Class time will provide opportunities to gain an understanding of the behavior of young children. Topics of discussion will include, but not be limited to, growth and development issues, positive discipline techniques and effective communication skills to use with children. Students are encouraged to suggest topics of discussion to the instructor. May be repeated two times.

ECHD-142 The Special Child
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course is designed to give students a general overview of the needs of the special child. Emphasis will be given to understanding the special needs child within the context of the family. Not repeatable.

ECHD-144 Affirming Cultural Diversity
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course will take an in-depth look at how our actions and words shape the attitudes of children as they learn about people and the world. Students will define, clarify and discuss topics associated with biases that permeate our daily lives. Topics of study will include racism, sexism, ageism and handicapism. Students will study methods to use with young children that will empower them to think critically about the unfairness of biases they see and hear. Not repeatable.

ECHD-145 Development of the School Age Child
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU This course will include information that covers middle and late development within a cultural context for children between the ages of 5-14 years. The course content will include the study of physical, cognitive and social/emotional development in both the middle and adolescent years. Not repeatable.

ECHD-146 School Age Curriculum
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU Advisory: ECHD 145 This course will include information that will assist with planning and implementing school age curriculum for children between the ages of 5-14 years. Course content will include such areas as program organization, human relations, environment and anti-bias education. Not repeatable.

ECHD-150 Infant Care and Development (DS4)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course will provide an overview of infant development from the newborn to two years of age. Designed for parents as well as for those who work in childcare centers, it provides an introduction to the behavior and development of the infant, with special emphasis on the growing body of research that has transformed this field of study. This course will introduce students to concepts of child growth from a developmental perspective, using literature from the fields of developmental psychology and child development. Techniques for developing quality care will be discussed. Not repeatable.

ECHD-152 Toddler Care and Development
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course provides an overview of the development of the older infant (toddler) from the ages of 16 to 36 months of age. Using literature from the fields of developmental psychology and child development, it introduces students to principles of growth and development of toddlers. It will cover group care of toddlers, and the special role of the caregiver in helping the toddler develop the social, emotional, cognitive and physical competency appropriate to this stage of development. Designed for parents as well as for those who work in child care centers. Not repeatable.

ECHD-153 Signing Exact English
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course provides a basic vocabulary of 500 SEE (Signing Exact English) signs and instruction in finger spelling for parents, teachers and family members of the deaf/hearing impaired. These skills are useful to any student who may have an interest in the areas of special education, interpreting, and community service careers. Not repeatable.

ECHD-154 Signing Exact English II
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU Prerequisite: ECHD 153 Challenge: Final Exam for ECHD 153 will be administered by instructor. This course continues instruction of fingerspelling and S.E.E. sign skills begun in ECHD 153. The cumulative vocabulary will build to approximately 1000 words. Fingerspelling practice will continue to develop and increase in speed. These skills are useful to parents, family and caregivers of hearing impaired/ deaf, or others with communicative barriers. Students interested in Special Education, interpreting, community service careers, as well as those curious about sign language may also take this class. May be repeated three times.

ECHD-161 Violence and Its Impact on Children
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU This course is designed to explore violence in America and its impact on adults and children who experience it. The focus of the course is to give a student a perspective on violence and to understand causes of it. The course will also deal with violence intervention and counseling strategies that will be useful techniques to use with young children. Not repeatable.

ECHD-162 Violence Intervention and Counseling
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU Prerequisite: ECHD 161 This course is designed to provide an overview of different approaches to violence intervention and counseling techniques that are appropriate for use with young children. The course content will consist of counseling theory and practice that is designed for working with children and families who have experienced stress and chronic violence in their lives. Not repeatable.

ECHD-220 The Child, Family and Community (DS2)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course will study the effects the family and community have on a child's development. It will examine the powerful impacts on the child's environment such as home, early childhood environments and community agencies/resources. Students will learn to examine ways of building stronger partnership roles among parents and other adults who work with the young child. Not repeatable.

ECHD-222 Supervision and Management (DS6)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU This course will assist the students in developing the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage and supervise an early childhood education program. The focus will be on the study and the development of interpersonal and communication skills, management skills, and supervision. Students will learn not only to develop positive relationships with others but also to facilitate the development of positive interpersonal relationships with and among peers, subordinates, and others. Not repeatable.

ECHD-223 Administration and Management of Early Childhood Programs (DS6)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU This course will consist of lectures that deal with the duties and responsibilities of an individual who will manage programs for children between the ages of birth and 12 years. Study areas will include administration of programs, regulatory requirements, program planning and operation and professional development. Not repeatable.

ECHD-290 Student Teaching (DS3)
5 Units: 36 hours of lecture, 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, ND Prerequisite: ECHD 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 144, 161, and 220. Co-requisite: MUSIC 226 and ECHD 133 may be taken concurrently. This course has two sections. The field experience portion requires students to have practical experience with young children in a school environment. Students practice teach nine hours a week under the supervision of a head teacher and will be evaluated by the Practicum faculty. The second section of the course consists of a seminar to coordinate the assigned activities students perform at their sites. Not repeatable.

ECHD-291 Adult Supervision in Early Childhood Classrooms
2 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, ND Advisory: Before becoming a Mentor Teacher you must have completed a course of study in Early Childhood Education that included a supervised student teaching component. This course is a study of the methods and principles of supervising student teachers, assistant teachers, parents and volunteers in early childhood education/child development classrooms. Emphasis is on the role of classroom teachers who function as mentors to new teachers while simultaneously addressing the needs of children, parents, and other staff. Not repeatable.

ECHD-298 Independent Study
.2-4 Units: 3.6-72 hours of independent study, per term, LR, DG, CSU Prerequisite: Educational contract of study signed by an instructor, department chair and senior dean of instruction. Topics must extend beyond regular course offerings. This course is designed for selected students to pursue independent study in Early Childhood Education under the direction of an instructor. May be repeated nine times.