You currently viewing the 2023 - 2024 Academic Catalog/Student Handbook. The current catalog is located here.

Early Childhood Education

Curriculum Description

Early Childhood Education
Career Cluster:      Education and Training
Pathway:               Teaching/Training

Program Major    Early Childhood Education

Pathway Description

The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from birth through eight in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers.

Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Students will foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children.

Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.

Program Major Description

A program that prepares individuals to promote child development and learning, work with diverse families and children, observe, document and assess to support young children and families, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, and use developmentally effective approaches in collaboration with other early childhood professionals. Potential course work includes instruction in all areas of child development such as emotional/social/health/physical/language/communication, approaches to play and learning, working with diverse families, and related observations/student teaching experiences.

The following represents one way in which the diploma can be completed. Students who aren’t able to follow the recommended curriculum model below should consult their academic advisor to be sure that they take courses in the best order for their success. (CTE-Y D55220P1)

Diploma

D55220
NC CIP: 13.1210
Day and Evening
POS Approved: Fall 2022

Fall Semester

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
COM 231 Public Speaking 3 0 0 3
EDU 119 Intro to Early Child Educ 4 0 0 4
EDU 144 Child Development I 3 0 0 3
EDU 153 Health, Safety and Nutrition 3 0 0 3
ENG 111 Writing and Inquiry 3 0 0 3
  Total: 16 0 0 16

Spring Semester

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
EDU 131 Child, Family, and Community 3 0 0 3
EDU 145 Child Development II 3 0 0 3
EDU 146 Child Guidance 3 0 0 3
EDU 151 Creative Activities 3 0 0 3
Select one:
General Psychology 3 0 0 3
  OR        
Introduction to Sociology (3) (0) (0) (3)
  Total: 15 0 0 15

Fall Semester

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
EDU 221 Children With Exceptionalities 3 0 0 3
EDU 252 Math & Sci Activities 3 0 0 3
EDU 259 Curriculum Planning 3 0 0 3
EDU 280 Language/Literacy Experiences 3 0 0 3
EDU 284 Early Child Capstone Prac 1 9 0 4
  Total: 13 9 0 16

Total Credit Hours: 47

Additional Information

All prerequisites must be met before courses can be taken. See an EDU advisor concerning prerequisites.

D55220