Early Child Care Workforce Certificate (C55820)

EDU 119 - Intro to Early Childhood Education

This course introduces the foundations of culturally responsive, equitable and inclusive early childhood education, planning intentional developmentally appropriate experiences, learning activities, and teaching strategies for indoor and outdoor environments for all young children, guidance techniques, and professionalism. Topics include theoretical foundations, national early learning standards, NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development, state regulations, program types, career options, professionalism, ethical conduct, quality inclusive environments, guidance techniques, and curriculum responsive to the needs of each child/family. Upon completion, students should be able to implement developmentally appropriate environments, guidance techniques, schedules, and teaching strategies across developmental domains to support culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse children and their families in inclusive settings, and design a personal career/professional development plan.

Class: 4.00
Credits: 4.00

EDU 130 - Social Environments for Children

This course introduces the impact of social environments on young children's development and the importance of developing supportive, reciprocal relationships across children's various social environments and family circumstances. Topics include recognizing the impact of family/community relationships on child development, respect for family differences, strategies for building/sustaining respectful, reciprocal relationships, resilience, strength-based strategies for working with families and identifying community resources to support children, families, and the classroom. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of how various family structures, environmental conditions, relationships, stressors, supports, and cultural values create the context for young children's lives by implementing strength-based strategies to support classroom interactions, and communications with families and communities.

Class: 3.00
Credits: 3.00

EDU 151 - Creative Activities

This course introduces developmentally supportive, diverse, equitable, and inclusive creative learning environments with attention to divergent thinking, creative problem-solving, evidence-based teaching practices, and open-ended learning materials and activities that align with the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development. Emphasis is placed on best practices providing process-driven culturally diverse, learning experiences in art, music, creative movement, dance, and dramatic play integrated across all domains and academic content in indoor/outdoor environments for every young child age birth through age eight. Upon completion, students should be able to observe, examine, create, adapt, and advocate for developmentally appropriate creative learning materials, experiences, and environments for children that are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.

Class: 3.00
Credits: 3.00

EDU 159 - Health and Safety for Early Childhood

This course covers maintaining the health and safety of young children in licensed child care facilities. Topics include universal precautions, emergency preparedness, early childhood mental health, safety regulations, child maltreatment, shaken baby syndrome, CPR/First Aid, ITS-SIDS, playground safety, medication administration, communicable diseases, immunizations, and transportation. Upon completion, students should be able to safely prevent/manage infectious diseases, medications, food/allergic reactions, transporting children, response to natural disasters, universal precautions, CPR/First Aid, child maltreatment, safety regulations from licensing and sanitation, and foster resilient environments.

Class: 2.00
Credits: 2.00

EDU 162 - Observation and Assessment in ECE

This course introduces the research, benefits, goals, and ethical considerations associated with observation and formative assessment in early childhood education. Emphasis is placed on the implementation of multiple observation/assessment strategies including anecdotal records, event samples, rating scales, and portfolios to identify specific needs of individual children with diverse abilities and to create appropriate learning experiences. Upon completion, students should be able to practice responsible assessment and effectively use tools to assess the child, teacher practices and indoor and outdoor environments to enhance programming; and explain the importance of assessment partnerships with families and other professionals.

Class: 3.00
Credits: 3.00

EDU 188 - Trends and Policies in Early Childhood

This course covers current topics and policies in the diverse and inclusive field of early childhood education that affect young children, families, communities, and professionals. Emphasis is placed on but not limited to advocacy, equity, bias and social justice, emerging research, professionalism, reflective practice, and legal/ethical concerns. Upon completion, student should be able to list, discuss, and explain current trends/policies in early childhood education as well as develop an advocacy plan based on course content.

Class: 3.00
Credits: 3.00