Early Childhood Education

EDU 118 Teacher Associate Principle and Practices 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers the teacher associate's role in the educational system. Topics include history of education, professional responsibilities and ethics, cultural diversity, communication skills, and identification of the optimal learning environment. Upon completion, students should be able to describe the supporting professional role of the teacher associate, demonstrate positive communication, and discuss educational philosophy.

EDU 119 Intro to Early Child Education 4 0 4
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

This course covers the foundations of the education profession, the diverse educational settings for young children, professionalism and planning developmentally appropriate programs for children. Topics include historical foundations, program types, career options, professionalism, and creating inclusive environments and curriculum that are responsive to the needs of children and families. Upon completion, students should be able design career plans and develop appropriate schedules, environments and activity plans while incorporating adaptations for children with exceptionalities.

EDU 131 Child, Family, & Community 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers the development of partnerships between families, inclusive programs for children/schools that serve young children with and without disabilities, and the community. Emphasis is placed on requisite skills and benefits for successfully establishing, supporting, and maintaining respectful collaborative relationships between today's diverse families, centers/schools, and community resources. Upon completion, students should be able to describe appropriate relationships with parents/caretakers, center/school colleagues, and community agencies that enhance the educational experiences/well-being of all children.

EDU 144 Child Development I 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers the theories of child development, developmental sequences, and factors that influence children's development, from conception through pre-school for all children. Emphasis is placed on sequences in physical/motor, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development and the multiple influences on development and learning of the whole child. Upon completion, students should be able to identify typical and atypical developmental characteristics, plan experiences to enhance development, and describe appropriate interaction techniques and environments.

EDU 145 Child Development II 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers theories of child development, developmental sequences, and factors that influence children's development, from pre-school through middle childhood for all children Emphasis is placed on sequences in physical/motor, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development multiple influences on development and learning of the whole child. Upon completion, students should be able to identify typical and atypical developmental characteristics, plan experiences to enhance development, and describe appropriate interaction techniques and environments.

EDU 146 Child Guidance 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course introduces practical principles and techniques for providing developmentally appropriate guidance for all children with and without disabilities, including those at risk. Emphasis is placed on encouraging self-esteem, cultural awareness, effective communication skills, direct/indirect techniques/strategies and observation to understand the underlying causes of behavior. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate appropriate interactions with children and families and promote conflict resolution, self-control, self-motivation, and self-esteem in children.

EDU 151 Creative Activities 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers planning, creation and adaptation of developmentally supportive learning environments with attention to curriculum, interactions, teaching practices and learning materials. Emphasis is placed on creating and adapting integrated, meaningful, challenging and engaging developmentally supportive learning experiences in art, music, movement and physical skills, and dramatics. Upon completion, students should be able to create, manage, adapt and evaluate developmentally supportive learning materials, experiences and environments.

EDU 153 Health, Safety, & Nutrition 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course focuses on promoting and maintaining the health and well-being of all children. Topics include health and nutritional guidelines, common childhood illnesses, maintaining safe and healthy learning environments, recognition and reporting of abuse and neglect and state regulations. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of health, safety, and nutritional needs, implement safe learning environments, and adhere to state regulations.

EDU 157 Active Play 2 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

EDU 186 Reading and Writing Methods 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers concepts, resources, and methods for teaching reading and writing to school-age children. Topics include the importance of literacy, learning styles, skills assessment, various reading and writing approaches, and instructional strategies. Upon completion, students should be able to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate reading and writing experiences. This course is a unique concentration requirement in the Teacher Associate concentration in the Early Childhood Associate program.

EDU 221 Children with Exceptional 3 0 3
Prerequisites: EDU 144 and EDU 145 or PSY 244 and PSY 245
Corequisites: None

This course, based on the foundation of typical development, introduces working with children with exceptionalities. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics and assessment of children and strategies for adapting the learning environment. Upon completion,students should be able to recognize atypical development, make appropriate referrals, and collaborate with families and professionals to plan, implement, and evaluate inclusion strategies.

EDU 234 Infants, Toddlers, & Two's 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers the skills needed to effectively implement group care for infants, toddlers, and two-year olds. Emphasis is placed on child development and developmentally appropriate practices. Upon completion, students should be able to identify, plan, select materials and equipment, and implement and evaluate a developmentally appropriate curriculum

EDU 235 School-Age Development and Program 2 0 2
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

This course presents developmentally appropriate practices in group care for school-age children. Topics include principles of development, environmental planning, and positive guidance techniques. Upon completion, students should be able to discuss developmental principles for children five to twelve years of age and plan and implement age-appropriate activities.

EDU 251 Exploration Activities 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course covers discovery experiences in science, math, and social studies. Emphasis is placed on developing concepts for each area and encouraging young children to explore, discover, and construct concepts. Upon completion, students should be able to discuss the discovery approach to teaching, explain major concepts in each area, and plan appropriate experiences for children.

EDU 259 Curriculum Planning 3 0 3
Prerequisites: EDU 112, EDU 113 or EDU 119; and RED 090
Corequisites: None

This course covers early childhood curriculum planning. Topics include philosophy, curriculum, indoor and outdoor environmental design, scheduling, observation and assessment, and instructional planning and evaluation. Upon completion, students should be able to assess children and curriculum; plan for daily, weekly, and long-range instruction; and design environments with appropriate equipment and supplies.

EDU 261 Early Childhood Administration I 3 0 3
Pre-requisite: None
Corequisites: None

This course covers the policies, procedures, and responsibilities for the management of early childhood education programs. Topics include implementation of goals, principles of supervision, budgeting and financial management, and meeting the standards for a NC Child Day Care license. Upon completion, students should be able to develop program goals, explain licensing standards, determine budgeting needs, and describe effective methods of personnel supervision. Pre-requisite: ENG 090.

EDU 262 Early Childhood Administration II 3 0 3
Pre-requisite: EDU 261.
Corequisites: None

This course provides a foundation for budgetary, financial, and personnel management of the child care center. Topics include budgeting, financial management, marketing, hiring, supervision, and professional development of a child care center. Upon completion, students should be able to formulate marketing, financial management, and fund development plans and develop personnel policies, including supervision and staff development plans.

EDU 271 Educational Technology 2 2 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course introduces the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning in all educational settings. Topics include technology concepts, instructional strategies, materials and adaptive technology for children with exceptionalities, facilitation of assessment/evaluation, and ethical issues surrounding the use of technology. Upon completion, students should be able to apply technology enhanced instructional strategies, use a variety of technology resources and demonstrate appropriate technology skills in educational environments.

EDU 275 Effective Teacher Training 2 0 2
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

This course provides specialized training using an experienced-based approach to learning. Topics include instructional preparation and presentation, student interaction, time management, learning expectations, evaluation, and curriculum principles and planning. Upon completion, students should be able to prepare and present a six-step lesson plan and demonstrate ways to improve students' time-on-task.

EDU 280 Language & Literacy Exp 3 0 3
Prerequisites: RED 090 or appropriate placement test score
Corequisites: None

This course explores the continuum of children's communication development, including verbal and written language acquisition and other forms of communication . Topics include selection of literature and other media, the integration of literacy concepts throughout the classroom environment, inclusive practices and appropriate assessments. Upon completion, students should be able to select, plan, implement and evaluate developmentally appropriate literacy experiences.

EDU 285 Internship Experience School-Age 1 0 1
Prerequisites: ENG 111
Corequisites: COE 121 or 122

This course provides an opportunity to discuss internship experiences with peers and faculty. Emphasis is placed on evaluating and integrating practicum experiences. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate competence in early childhood education.

Course Description