Degrees & Certificates
Early Childhood Education AAS
Early Childhood Education Fundamentals certificate
Early Childhood Education Curriculum certificate
Early Childhood Education and Family Studies certificate
Early Childhood Educator I Career Pathway certificate
Early Childhood Education
Associate of Applied Science Degree: 94 Credits
Credits to Complete Degree
Academic Discipline | Credits |
---|---|
Early Childhood Education (ECE) | 52 |
Health Education (HE) | 4 |
Consumer & Family Studies (HEC) | 10 |
Education (ED) | 3 |
Writing (WR) | 8 |
General Education Electives | 8 |
Mathematics (MTH) | 4 |
ECE Degree Electives | 4 |
College Guidance & Success (CG) | 1 |
Credit Total | 94 |
Career Description
The Early Childhood Educaiton AAS degree is equivalent to a Step 9 in the Oregon Registry and qualifies students for a variety of positions within the field of early childhood education including Family Advocate, Parent Educator, Head Teacher, Quality Improvement Specialist, Child Care Center Director,and many others.
Program Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this degree will be able to:
- Use multidimensional knowledge to make evidence-based decisions for creating and implementing curriculum, teaching practices, and learning environments that are safe, healthy, respectful, culturally and linguistically responsive, supportive and challenging for each.
- Use knowledge of family structures, positive parental and family development, available community resources, and a variety of communication and engagement skills to establish and sustain respectful, reciprocal relationships that affirm and respect family diversity and engage families in their child's development and learning as collaborative partners.
- Use observation, documentation, and assessment to inform instruction and planning in early learning settings in ways that are ethically grounded and developmentally, culturally, ability, and linguistically appropriate to promote positive outcomes for each child in partnership with families and professional colleagues.
- Create an inclusive classroom culture, maintain supportive relationships and interactions with young children and use a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant, anti-bias and evidence-based teaching skills and strategies that reflect the principles of universal design for learning and meet the needs of each child.
- Use knowledge of child development and early learning standards to describe how young children learn across core content areas and use this understanding to select or create curriculum that counters biases and stereotypes, fosters young children's interest in the content areas, and facilitates individual and group learning.
- Use collaborative, reflective, and intentional practice in their work with young children and as members of the early childhood profession.
- Use knowledge of history, current issues, the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, the mission of the early childhood education profession, and college-level speaking and writing skills to support and advocate for young children, families and the profession.
Course of Study
The AAS degree provides graduates with the ability to know and apply the depth and breadth of all six professional standards and competency areas recognized nationally across the birth through age 8 continuum and settings, with a dedicated focus on young children in birth through age 5 settings.
The degree runs seven consecutive terms, fall of year one through spring of year two. It is designed for full-time students but can also be completed part-time. All required courses and competencies mastered for the ECE Fundamentals and ECE Curriculum certificates apply to the AAS degree.
Students must also meet Associate degree comprehensive requirements and Associate of Applied Science degree requirements.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of RD 115 with a grade of "C" or higher, placement into WR 115, and placement into MTH 65 or MTH 98, or equivalent placement assessment scores.
Coursework
Course | Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
CG 101 | College Survival & Success | 1 |
ECE 101 | Exploring the ECE Field | 1 |
ECE 120 | Introduction to Early Education | 3 |
ECE 121 | Guidance and Classroom Management: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 122 | Environments & Curriculum: Birth to Age 8 | 4 |
ECE 124 | Anti-Bias Practices | 3 |
ECE 126 | Early Childhood Development: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 130A | Practicum Orientation | 2 |
ECE 130B | Practicum Seminar 1 | 1 |
ECE 130C | Practicum Seminar 2 | 1 |
ECE 134 | Practicum 1 | 2 |
ECE 135 | Practicum 2 | 2 |
ECE 200 | Professionalism & Advocacy | 3 |
ECE 221 | Observation, Documentation & Assessment | 3 |
ECE 222 | Resilience & Wellness for Educators | 3 |
ECE 223 | Supporting Dual Language Learners: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 232 | S.T.E.A.M.: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 234 | Inclusion of Children with Special Needs | 3 |
ECE 235 | Art, Music & Movement: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 236 | Language & Literacy in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
ECE 237 | Trauma-Informed Care and Education: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ED 219 | Civil Rights & Multicultural Issues in Educational Settings | 3 |
HEC 201 | Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections | 3 |
HEC 202 | Contemporary Families in the US¹ | 3 |
HEC 226 | Child Development¹ | 4 |
HE 113 | First Aid & CPR/AED/Professional Rescuers/Healthcare Providers2 | 1 |
HE 262 | Children's Health, Nutrition, & Safety | 3 |
MTH 65 or MTH 98 (or higher) |
Beginning Agebra II or Quantitative Math (or higher) |
4 |
WR115 (or higher) |
Introduction to Expository Writing (or higher) | 4 |
WR121 (or higher) |
English Composition (or higher) | 4 |
Early Childhoon Education Electives | 4 | |
General Education Electives (Arts & Letters) | 4 | |
General Education Electives (Science, Mathematics & Computer Science) | 4 | |
¹ May be used as General Education. | ||
² Students with valid CPR card may receive non-traditional credit. |
Approved Electives
Course | Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
ECE 177 | Multi-age Groups | 1 |
ECE 179 | Child Portfolios in ECE | 1 |
ECE 185 | Field Trips in Early Childhood | 1 |
ECE 187 | Cooking Experiences for Young Children | 1 |
ECE 188 | Block Play and Woodworking for Young Children | 1 |
ECE 238 | Administration of ECE Programs | 3 |
WR 122 | English Composition | 4 |
ED 101 | Teachers Make a Difference: Exploring the K-5 Classroom | 1 |
BA 188 | Customer Service Skills | 2 |
CAS 103W | Introduction to Computers: Using Windows | 1 |
CAS 109 | Digital Presentation | 1 |
CG 209 | Job Finding Skills | 1 |
Up to three credits of foreign language | ||
Up to 3 credits of Physical Education (PE) | ||
Up to 3 credits (30 hours) of Set Three Community-based Training |
Early Childhood Education Fundamentals
Career and Technical Certificate: 33 Credits
Credits to Complete Degree
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE | CREDITS |
---|---|
Early Childhood Education (ECE) | 28 |
College Guidance & Success (CG) | 1 |
Health Education (HE) | 1 |
Consumer & Family Studies (HEC) | 3 |
Credit Total | 33 |
Career Description
The ECE Fundamentals certificate is designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to begin a career in Early Childhood Education. It prepares student for a variety of positions in the ECE field, but the main emphasis is on supportive roles, such as classroom or teacher assistants, in settings that serve children birth through age eight.
Program Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this certificate will be able to:
- Use introductory knowledge of early childhood development and of individual children in the implementation of early childhood curriculum, teaching practices, and learning environments that are safe, healthy, respectful, culturally and linguistically responsive, developmentally appropriate, supportive and challenging for each child.
- Use knowledge of family structures and available community resources to establish respectful, reciprocal relationships that affirm and respect family diversity and engage families in their child's development and learning as collaborative partners.
- Use observation, documentation and assessment to inform instruction and planning in early learning settings in ways that are ethically grounded and developmentally, culturally ability, and linguistically appropriate to promote positive outcomes for each child in partnership with families and professional colleagues.
- Use supportive relationships and interactions with young children along with developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant, anti-bias and evidence-based teaching skills and strategies to meet the needs of each child.
- Use critical thinking and problem solving to apply knowledge of child development and early learning standards to the implementation of curriculum across content areas, facilitating individual and group learning.
- Use collaborative, reflective, and intentional practice in their work with young children and as members of the early childhood professions.
- Use knowledge of history, current issues. the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, and the mission of the early childhood education profession to support and advocate for young children, families and the profession.
Course of Study
The certificate is equivalent to a Step 8 in the Oregon Registry. (The Oregon Registry Steps are a sequence of 12 steps that ECE professionals can ascend as they increase their training and education in the early childhood care and education field. As an ECE professional reaches specific steps they qualify for higher positions in the field.) It addresses all six of the professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators at an introductory to intermediate level. The certificate also provides students with the 120 hours of training needed to sit for the nationally recognized exam to earn the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
The ECE Fundamentals certificate runs four consecutive terms, fall through summer. It is designed for part-time students but can be combined with the Early Childhood Education Curriculum ceertificate to achieve full-time enrollment status. All certificate courses may be applied towards the Early Childhood Education AAS degree.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of RD 90, WR 90, or equivalent placement assessment scores.
Coursework
COURSE | NAME | CREDITS |
---|---|---|
CG 101 | College Survival & Success | 1 |
ECE 101 | Exploring the ECE Field | 1 |
ECE 120 | Introduction to Early Education | 3 |
ECE 121 | Guidance & Classroom Management: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 122 | Environments & Curriculum: Birth to Age 8 | 4 |
ECE 124 | Anti-Bias Practices | 3 |
ECE 126 | Early Childhood Development: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 130A | Practicum Orientation | 2 |
ECE 130B | Practicum Seminar 1 | 1 |
ECE 134 | Practicum 1 | 2 |
ECE 200 | Professionalism & Advocacy | 3 |
ECE 221 | Observation, Documentation & Assessment | 3 |
HEC 201 | Family Partnerships in Education | 3 |
HE 113 | First Aid & CPR/AED/Professional Rescuers/Healthcare Providers¹ | 1 |
¹ Students with a valid CPR card may submit a form to request non-traditional credit. |
Early Childhood Education Curriculum
Career and Technical Certificate: 23 Credits
Credits to Complete Degree
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE | CREDITS |
---|---|
Early Childhood Education (ECE) | 12 |
ECE Electives | 3 |
College Guidance & Success (CG) | 1 |
Health Education (HE) | 3 |
Writing (WR) | 4 |
Credit Total | 23 |
Career Description
For students not yet working in the field, it is recommended that this certificate be taken alongside or immediately after completing the ECE Fundamentals certificate. Upon completion of both certificates, students will be qualified for teaching positions in private licensed child care programs.
Early childhood professionals currently working in the field as home visitors, assistants, or teahcers can apply this coursework towards their required professional development hours and to progress up the Oregon Registry Steps.
Program Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this certificate will be able to:
- Use intermediate knowledge of early childhood development and of individual children for creating and implementing curriculum, teaching practices, and learning environments that are safe, healthy, respectful, culturally and linguisticall responsive, developmentally appropriate, supportive and challenging for each child.
- Establish respectful, reciprocal relationships that engage families in their child's development and learning as collaborative partners.
- Use observation, documentation and assessment to inform instruction and planning in early learning settings.
- Create an inclusive classroom culture, maintain supportive relationships and interactions with young children and use a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant, anti-bias and evidence-based teaching skills and strategies that reflect the principles of universal design for learning and meet the needs of each child.
- Use knowledge of child development and early learning standards to select and create curriculum that counters biases and stereotypes, fosters young children's interest in the content areas, and facilitates individual and group learning.
- Use collaborative, reflective, and intentional practice in their work with young children and as members of the early childhood profession.
- Support and advocate for yourng children in their care.
Course of Study
The ECE Curriculum certificate is designed to build upon the fundamentals of ECE and provide additional knowledge and skills for creating and implementing a high-quality curriculum and an inclusive classroom culture for children birth through age eight.
The certificate addresses all six of the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators, with an emphasis on child development and learning in context (Standard 1), teaching practices that are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate (Standard 4), and the integration of academic content in the early childhood curriculum (Standard 5).
The certificate runs three consecutive terms, fall through spring. It is designed for part-time students but can be combined with the ECE Fundamentals certificate or additional ECE coursework to achieve full-time enrollment status. All certificate courses may be applied towards the Early Childhood Education AAs degree.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite/concurrent: RD 115, WR 115 or equivalent placement assessment scores. Recommended ECE 120
Coursework
COURSE | NAME | CREDITS |
---|---|---|
ECE 126 | Early Childhood Development: Birth to Age 8 | 3 |
ECE 234 or |
Inclusion of Children with Special Needs or Supporting Dual Language Learners: Birth to Age 8 |
3 |
ECE 235 or |
Art, Music & Movement: Birth to Age 8 or Trauma-Informed Care and Education: Birth to Age 8 |
3 |
ECE 236 or |
Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education or S.T.E.A.M.:Birth to Age 8 |
3 |
CG 101 | College Survival & Success | 1 |
HE 262 or |
Children's Health, Nutrition, & Safety or Resilience & Wellness for Educators |
3 |
WR 115 (or higher) |
Introduction to Expository Writing (or higher) | 4 |
ECE Electives | 3 |
Early Childhood Education Electives
COURSE | NAME | CREDITS |
---|---|---|
ECE 177 | Multi-age Groups | 1 |
ECE 179 | Child Portfolios in ECE | 1 |
ECE 185 | Field Trips in Early Childhood | 1 |
ECE 187 | Cooking Experiences for Young Children | 1 |
ECE 188 | Block Play and Woodworking for Young Children | 1 |
ECE 238 | Administration of ECE Programs | 3 |
ED 101 | Teachers Make a Difference: Exploring the K-5 Classroom | 1 |
BA 188 | Customer Service Skills | 2 |
CAS 103W | Introduction to Computers: Using Windows | 1 |
CG 209 | Job Finding Skills | 1 |
WR 122 | English Composition | 4 |
Up to 3 credits of Physical Education (PE) courses | ||
Up to 3 credits of Set Three Cummunity-based Training (1 credit per 10 hours) | ||
Up to 3 credits of foreign language |
Early Childhood Education and Family Studies
Career and Technical Education Certificate: 44 Credits
Certificate Suspended
The Early Childhood Education and Family Studies certificate is suspended as of July 1, 2020. CGCC will not be accepting new students into this program after spring term 2020. Students who enrolled in the certificate program prior to summer 2020 and are seeking to complete the certificate should contact their advisor for assistance. CGCC will work with students actively enrolled in the program to develop a "teach out" plan so that they may complete the program in a timely manner.
Early Childhood Educator I
Career and Technical Education Certificate: 23 Credits
Certificate Suspended
The Early Childhood Educator I certificate is suspended as of July 1, 2020. CGCC will not be accepting new students into this program after spring term 2020. Students who enrolled in the certificate program prior to summer 2020 and are seeking to complete the certificate should contact their advisor for assistance. CGCC will work with students actively enrolled in the program to develop a "teach out" plan so that they may complete the program in a timely manner.