Early Childhood Development - A.A.S. Degree (Career)
Application Code 89
For curriculum information, contact the Social Sciences and Teacher Education Division—Room ST-149—443-518-1620.
In our society where often both parents are working full-time outside the home, the need for qualified child care providers is growing rapidly. This curriculum is designed to provide the student with a well-rounded background in early childhood development. As part of their career education, many courses assign students to off-campus child care settings where they will interact with young children under the supervision of professionals in the field. Graduates of this area of study, under current State of Maryland regulations, will have the skills necessary to become a Director of a Child Care Center licensed for more than forty children provided that they have two years of experience in an early childhood program and are at least 21 years of age.
General Education Requirements
English Composition
Arts & Humanities
| SPCH-105 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Biological & Physical Sciences
Mathematics
Required Courses Related to Major
| EDUC-111 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| EDUC-112 | Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDUC-113 | Working With Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| EDUC-130 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDUC-140 | Child Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 |
| EDUC-151 | Practicum in Early Childhood Development | 5 |
| EDUC-160 | School Age Child Care | 3 |
| EDUC-200 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| EDUC-201 | Processes and Acquisition of Reading | 3 |
| EDUC-212 | Advanced Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDUC-230 | Child Care Center Administration and Management | 3 |
| EDUC-251 | Advanced Practicum in Early Childhood Development | 5 |
A graduate should be able to
- 1. Explain the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to the development of children and young adolescents to construct learning opportunities that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation.
- 2. Execute the fundamental daily skills and routines of high-quality child care.
- 3. Demonstrate familiarity with the regulations governing child care, and the various quality evaluation systems in place under the Maryland State Department of Education.
- 4. Demonstrate understanding of ethical and professional behavior in the field of child care and the impact of teachers’ and directors’ behavior on children and families; seek continued opportunities to grow professionally.
- 5. Use knowledge and understanding of effective verbal, non-verbal, and exploratory techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the child care classroom.
- 6. Understand the use of formal and informal assessment strategies to plan, evaluate, and strengthen instruction that promotes continued cognitive, physical, and emotional-social development for each child.
- 7. Understand the importance of establishing and maintaining positive collaborative relationships with families to promote the physical, cognitive, and emotional-social growth of children.
Total Credit Hours: 60