Early Childhood Education

Associate of Arts Degree (A.A.)

Program Description

The mission of our Early Childhood Education program is to graduate students who demonstrate competency in professional knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values concerning: child development and the learning process; curriculum development and implementation; family and community relationships; assessment; and professionalism in order to effectively teach young children while involving the child’s family and community. Students who graduate with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood are qualified to teach in programs for young children including Head Start, child care centers, family child care homes, and in public schools as paraprofessionals.

Degree Objectives

Upon completion of the Associate of Arts degree, students will:

• Apply knowledge of how children develop and learn in order to support and promote the holistic development of children from birth to age 8.
• Apply cultural and linguistic knowledge to create environments, experiences and family relationships that affirm and respect diversity.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and instructional strategies based on knowledge of individual children, the community, and integrated curriculum goals and content.
• Utilize positive individual and group guidance and problem solving techniques in order to foster positive social and emotional development in children from birth to age 8.
• Establish and maintain physically and psychologically safe and healthy learning environments for children.
• Demonstrate positive communication skills in order to establish and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with families and other professionals.
• Engage in reflective practice and develop professional partnerships to advance practices in the field of early childhood education.

Requirements

Students must receive a “C” or better in all required courses while maintaining an overall grade point average of 2.0 to graduate. Students must submit to a federal background check for this program

Cindy O’ Dell
Education
Department Head
B.S., University of Oregon
M.S., Montana State University

Email: cindy_odell@skc.edu
Phone:

Location:

Mathias Building