Early Childhood Education

Students explore the connection between children’s intellectual growth and creative development via art, music, and movement. Using artistic materials, students take an in depth look at the methods and techniques used in developing creativity in the young child.

This course includes a study of the laws, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures of safety, health, and nutrition as they relate to the early childhood setting, home, and community for children ages birth through eight. Topics include hygiene, safe learning environments, childhood diseases, immunizations, universal precautions, first-aid and CPR, nutritional guidelines and meal-planning, state and local regulations concerning abuse and neglect, emergencies, disease/poison prevention, and referral procedures to utilize school and community resources to meet the needs of the young child. The course also addresses methods, materials, and developmentally appropriate activities for children and parent education as it relates to these areas.

This course includes a study of the requirements for the Child Development Associate National Credential (CDA). Students will acquire a working knowledge of child growth and development principles. Skills and strategies for managing an effective program and planning a safe, healthful learning environment are emphasized. Students will practice via class discussion, role play and other process oriented techniques the knowledge attitudes and skills for supporting and advancing child growth in physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development. 

This course focuses on the stages of the writing process and includes a formal research paper. A variety of writing and reading assignments are designed to develop analytical and critical-thinking skills.

- General Education Course

This course explores the general principles and theories of psychology, history and methodology, sensation, perception, learning, memory, motivation, emotion, intelligence, personality, and the physiological basis of behavior. 

This is a one-semester lecture and laboratory course designed for non-science majors for the study of the structure and function of all the body systems. It covers such current issues as genetic engineering and biotechnology and health concerns such as AIDS and cancer. Laboratory experiments include light microscopy, human anatomy and physiology, and representative dissections.

- General Education Course

This course expands on the student’s knowledge of child growth and development principles acquired during ECE 110, and focuses on the practical skills needed to become a Child Development Associate. They will complete the professional portfolio which is part of the CDA application process.

This course requires nine (9) hours a week of field experience via employment or volunteer service early childhood settings serving children from birth through five years of age. Students develop and demonstrate professional competencies and practical skills, as outlined by the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program. This course provides firsthand experience in integrating knowledge, skills, and techniques with teaching practice needed for the CDA Credential.135 fieldwork hours.

This course develops student prose by utilizing the writing process (drafting, revising and editing). Students are required to complete a process portfolio that includes 3-5 typed, revised, and edited MLA papers, reflective and low-stakes writing assignments, and at least one paper that demonstrates proper research techniques. All writing assignments must demonstrate and develop the writing process, critical thinking, and writing skills. Throughout the term, a variety of reading assignments and topics are introduced to develop interpretive and argumentative skills, while developing a critical understanding of well-crafted, professional prose.

- General Education Course

This course explores essential elements involved in setting the foundation for the mental health and development of infants and toddlers. It examines the importance of identifying and 
meeting their social/emotional needs and how these needs relate to the caregiver’s interactive process. The course integrates the implementation of developmental brain research with the interactive process of caregiving with a special focus on developmentally appropriate practices and techniques in the childcare setting.

This course includes six (6) hours a week of field experience in early childhood settings to allow students to apply knowledge and skills under the supervision of an early care and education professional. Emphasis is placed on designing, implementing and evaluating developmentally appropriate activities and environments for all children and demonstrating reflective and professional practices. Includes weekly seminar meetings. 90 fieldwork hours.

This course prepares students for effective public speaking presentations. Students research, organize, write, and deliver a variety of speeches designed to inform, persuade, motivate, and entertain in diverse public settings.

Supportive lab services are available to support students for the mastery of the art of public speaking.  The lab will provide opportunity for engagement, one-on-one coaching, mentoring and tutoring that will foster innovations in speaking publically, professionally and personally.  Materials used inthe lab will be comprised of the OER textbook and supplemental materials found on the Libguides.  

This course covers the study and application of the concepts of symbolic logic, sets, and finite and infinite mathematical systems.

This course examines the basic principles of observation and assessment of children in early childhood settings. It focuses on the appropriate use of observation tools such as anecdotal records, rating scales and checklists, in order to observe and document children’s growth, use of a variety of observational techniques, and standards-based performance assessments to inform instructional practice and ensure developmentally appropriate curriculum. Five (5) hours of unsupervised field observation are required outside of the three (3) credit lecture.

This course includes six (6) hours a week of field experience in early childhood settings to allow students to apply knowledge and skills at an advanced level under the supervision of an early care and educational professional. It is a capstone experience for the Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education degree. Emphasisis placed on designing, implementing and evaluating developmentally appropriate activities and environments for all children and demonstrating reflective and professional practices. Includes weekly seminar meetings. 90 fieldwork hours.

This course surveys the field of special education: etiology, societal attitudes, and federal and state laws including the I.D.E.A. and Section 504. It also covers the responsibility of the school and workplace to accommodate the exceptional student’s learning modalities and the needs of an individual with a disability. The identification and special needs of gifted/talented students are also covered. Current theories, programs, and services for educating exceptional children in the State of New Jersey and nationally are discussed.

This course explores human development from prenatal life through late adulthood with an emphasis on the biological, cognitive, social, and emotional patterns of development.