Early Childhood Education Courses
Early Childhood Education (ECHD)
ECHD-095B,D,E Foster Parent Skills Laboratory
.037-3 Units: 2-162 hours of laboratory, per term, P/NP, ND
These classes examine issues relating to adoption, foster parenting, and kinship/guardian care of children. Petition to repeat for maximum units.
ECHD-099 Occupational Work Experience
1-4 Units: 60-360 hours of work experience, per term, LR, DG, CSU
Prerequisite:Employment in a career-related field is required. Units are determined by the number of hours worked. See the Cooperative Education Handbook.
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, they can earn credit for jobs they hold during the term. Students must be enrolled in at least seven units, including their cooperative education units (proportionately fewer in summer session). Students who volunteer for this assignment will earn 1 unit for every 60 hours of volunteer work experience and 1 unit per 90 hours of paid work experience. Petition to repeat for a maximum of 16 units.
ECHD-100 Topics in Early Childhood Education
.5-4 Units: 9-72 hours of lecture and/or 27-216 hours of laboratory, per term, SC, DG
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.
ECHD-101A-E Workshops in Early Childhood Education
.17-1 Unit: 3-18 hours of lecture, per term, P/NP, 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. Petition to repeat for a maximum of 1.0 unit for each topic focus.
ECHD-109 Observation, Assessment, and Child Guidance
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG (C-ID: ECE 200)
This course covers the appropriate use of assessment and observation strategies to document motor, cognitive and social-emotional development in order to join with families and professionals in promoting children’s success. Recording strategies, rating systems, portfolios, and multiple assessment methods are explored as well as how to interpret observational data to inform teaching responses, strategies and planning. Emphasis is placed on using observation to inform, prevent and solve problems in behavior management through the identification and application of appropriate child guidance strategies.
ECHD-120 Introduction to Principles & Practices of Early Childhood Education
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU (C-ID: ECE 120)
This course is an examination of the underlying theoretical principles of developmentally appropriate practices applied to programs, environments, emphasizing the key role of relationships, constructive adult-child interactions, and teaching strategies in supporting physical, social, creative and intellectual development for all young children. This course includes a review of the historical roots of early childhood programs and the evolution of the professional practices promoting advocacy, ethics, and professional identity.
ECHD-121 Child Growth and Development (DS1)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU (C-ID: CDEV 100)
This course examines the major physical, psychosocial, and cognitive/language development milestones for children, both typical and atypical, from conception through adolescence. There will be an emphasis on interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors. While studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe children, evaluate individual differences and analyze characteristics of development and various stages.
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.
ECHD-124 Curriculum Development (DS3)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU (C-ID: ECE 130)
This course presents an overview of knowledge and skills related to providing appropriate curriculum and environment for young children from birth to age 6. Students will examine a teacher’s role in supporting development and engagement for all young children. This course provides strategies for developmentally-appropriate practice based on observation and assessments across the curriculum, including 1) academic content areas, 2) play, art, and creativity, and 3) development of social-emotional, communication, and cognitive skills.
ECHD-125 Introduction to Montessori Method and Curriculum: Philosophy and Practical Life
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU
This course is designed to enable teachers who work with the preschool child to understand the Montessori philosophy and method of education, to develop curriculum ideas and activities based on Montessori practices and to present them in an early childhood education environment. The curriculum focus will be on practical life and art.
ECHD-126 Montessori Method and Curriculum: Sensorial, Music and Gross Motor
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG
This course is designed to enable students to expand their knowledge of and practice in the Montessori Method. It will cover the Montessori philosophy and approach to perceptual-motor development in young children. The curriculum focus will be on sensorial, music and gross motor activities.
ECHD-127 Montessori Method and Curriculum: Language, Geography, and Social Science
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG
This course is designed to enable students to expand their knowledge of and practice in the Montessori Method. It will focus on the Montessori language program, covering a wide range of developmentally appropriate activities leading up to and including writing and reading. It will also cover the curriculum areas of geography and social sciences, including activities designed to promote problem solving, cultural awareness, and peace education.
ECHD-128 Montessori Method and Curriculum:
Mathematics, Biological and Physical Sciences
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG
This course is designed to enable students to expand their knowledge of and practice in the Montessori Method. It will focus on the Montessori Math program, covering all activities ranging from one to one correspondence to the fur basic operations. It will also cover the curriculum and activities designed to teach botany, zoology and the physical sciences. A main theme throughout the course is that of promoting a scientific attitude towards the solution of problems.
ECHD-133 Health, Nutrition and Safety (DS7)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LG, DG, CSU (C-ID: ECE 220)
This course will cover the introduction to the laws, regulations, standards, policies and procedures and early childhood curriculum related to child health safety and nutrition. The key components that ensure physical health, mental health and safety for both children and staff will be identified along with the importance of collaboration with families and health professionals. Focus on integrating the concepts into everyday planning and program development. This course meets the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing requirement, DS7. It also fulfills the requirement for the certificate and AS degree in Early Childhood Education.
ECHD-139 Montessori Method: Student Teaching
Practicum
4 Units: 18 hours of lecture, and/or 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG, CSU
Prerequisite: ECHD-121, ECHD-125
This course provides students with an opportunity to combine Montessori theory and practice. Students are required to work with children in a Montessori classroom under the supervision of a Montessori head teacher. They are evaluated by both their head teacher and the practicum faculty. In addition, students meet every two weeks for a seminar class covering the following topics: observation and assessment, record keeping, problem solving, positive discipline, classroom management, and curriculum development.
ECHD-142 The Special Child
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, 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.
ECHD-144 Teaching in a Diverse Society
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU (C-ID: ECE 230)
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 ableism. 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.
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.
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.
ECHD-150 Infant and Toddler Development
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU
This course is a study of infants and toddlers from pre-conception to age three including physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional growth and development. This course applies theoretical frameworks to interpret behavior and interactions between heredity and environment. This course emphasizes the role of family and relationships in development.
ECHD-152 Care and Education for Infants and Toddlers
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU
This course applies current theory and research to the care and education of infants and toddlers in group settings. This course examines essential policies, principles and practices that lead to quality care and developmentally appropriate curriculum for children birth to 36 months.
ECHD-161 Violence and Its Impact on Children and Families: An Early Childhood Education Counseling Perspective
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.
ECHD-162 Violence Intervention and Counseling
3 Units: 36 hours of lecture, 54 hours of laboratory by arrangement, 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 context 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. Teachers are expected to demonstrate skill development in an approved early childhood field based placement setting.
ECHD-220 The Child, Family and Community (DS2)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG, CSU (C-ID: CDEV 110)
This course is an examination of the developing child in a societal context focusing on the interrelationship of family, school and community and emphasizes historical and socio-cultural factors. The processes of socialization and identity development will be highlighted, showing the importance of respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families.
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.
ECHD-223 Administration and Management of Early
Childhood Programs (DS6)
3 Units: 54 hours of lecture, per term, SC, DG, CSU
This course includes learning about the principles, purpose, and function management and administration of child care centers. The content deals with funding and developing a program, personnel policies and issues, fulfilling licensing requirements, developing and implementing a budget and understanding the community and its regulatory agencies. This course satisfies a state certification requirement for the director’s license.
ECHD-290 Student Teaching/Practicum (DS3)
5 Units: 36 hours of lecture, 162 hours of laboratory, per term, LR, DG, CSU (C-ID: ECE 210)
Prerequisite: ECHD-109, 120, 121, 123, 124, 144, 161, and 220.
Corequisite: ECHD-133
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.
ECHD-291 Adult Supervision in Early Childhood Classrooms
2 Units: 36 hours of lecture, per term, LR, DG
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.
ECHD-298 Independent Study
.2-4 Units: 3.6-72 hours of independent study, per term, SC, DG
Prerequisite: Educational contract of study signed by an instructor, department chair and vice president. 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.
ECHD-840N Parent Education
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 indefinitely.
ECHD-875N Supervised Tutoring
This course provides individualized tutoring designed to assist students to increase their success in college. Students enrolled in this course receive reading, writing, and study skills support from trained tutors in one or more early childhood education courses per semester. Students must be enrolled in a college credit course and be referred by an instructor or counselor. May be repeated indefinitely.
ECHD-895N Foster Parent Skills
This class examines issues relating to adoption, foster parenting, and kinship/guardian care of children. Topics of discussion vary throughout the semester and are dependent upon current issues that are relevant to the field of foster care. May be repeated Indefinitely.