Early Childhood Education

College of Rural and Community Development
Bristol Bay Campus 907-842-5109
Chukchi Campus 907-442-3400
Interior-Aleutians Campus 907-474-5207
Kuskokwim Campus 907-543-4500
Northwest Campus 907-443-2201
Tanana Valley Campus 907-455-2883
www.tvc.uaf.edu/programs/e-childhood/

Certificate; A.A.S. Degree; minor

Minimum Requirements for Certificate: 31 – 34 credits; for Degree: 60 credits

This program prepares students for employment as early childhood and child care providers and improves the skills of those already employed in the field. Graduates pursue opportunities with child care centers, head start programs, early childhood education programs, child welfare service agencies, scouting services, staff training, program licensing and public school teacher aide programs. This program meets standards specified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and leads to state certification as an Early Childhood Education Associate II.

The certification program in early childhood is for students enrolling in college for the first time as well as for those who are educated in other subject areas but desire retraining for employment in this field. Through course work, students gain the knowledge and skills they need to pursue the field-based Child Development Associate Credential and to meet state of Alaska requirements for employment as directors or teachers in licensed centers. Course work also fulfills minor or concentration requirements for degrees in other disciplines.

Students entering either the A.A.S. degree or certificate program should meet with an early childhood advisor to discuss a specific course of study. The required early childhood courses offered by any of the UAF campus sites may be used to meet graduation requirements for the certificate or degree.

An agreement between the UAF College of Rural and Community Development and the University of Alaska Southeast allows students in rural locations to take courses in early childhood education and obtain an A.A.S. degree via distance delivery. Students should contact their advisor for assistance with the selection of general education courses and electives that meet the degree requirements of their campus. The courses for the certificate and A.A.S. degree lay the foundation for the B.A. in Child Development and Family Studies.

Certificate Program

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the following certificate requirements:
    1. Complete the following communication courses:
      ENGL F111X—Introduction to Academic Writing—3 credits
    2. Complete one of the following computation courses:
      ECE F117—Math Skills for Early Childhood Educators—3 credits
      Any MATH course at the F100-level or above—3 credits
    3. Complete the following human relations course:*
      ECE F245—Child Development (3)
      or ABUS F154—Human Relations—3 credits
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    ECE F101—Introduction to Early Childhood Profession—3 credits
    ECE F118—Nutrition, Health, and Safety (3)
         or ECE F111—Nutrition (1)
         and ECE F112—Healthy Environments for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F113—Safe Environments for Young Children (1)—3 credits
    ECE F132—Young Child and the Family—1 credit
    ECE F140—Positive Social Development (3)
         or ECE F141—Class Management (1)
         and ECE F142—Social Development of the Young Child (1)
         and ECE F143—Developing Positive Self-Concepts inYoung Children (1)—3 credits
  4. Complete 6 credits of child development classes, birth through age 8, from the following, or other advisor-approved credits**:
    ECE F220—Infant and Toddler Care (3)
         and ECE F245—Child Development (3)
    or ECE F104—Child Development I: Prenatal, Infants and Toddlers (3)
         and ECE F107—Child Development II: Preschool and the Primary Years (3)—6 credits
  5. Complete 6 credits of curriculum from the following or other advisor-approved credits**:
    ECE F120A—Curriculum I (3)
         or ECE F105—Developmentally Appropriate Practice (1)
         and ECE F121—Physical Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F123—Language and Literature Activities for Young Children (1)
    and ECE F120B—Curriculum II (3)
         or ECE F122—Cognitive Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F124—Creative Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F125—Math Activities (1)
    or ECE F127—Language and Creative Expression (3)
         or ECE F121—Physical Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F123—Language and Literature Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F124—Creative Activities for Young Children (1)
    and ECE F128—Thinking, Reasoning and Discovery (3)
         or ECE F105—Developmentally Appropriate Practices (1)
         and ECE F122—Cognitive Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F125—Math Activities (1)—6 credits
  6. Complete 3 credits of practicum and reflection from the following or other advisor-approved credits**:
    ECE F170—Practicum I*** (3)
    or ECE F115—Responsive and Reflective Teaching (3)
         or ECE F171—Program Management (1)
         and ECE F172—Professionalism (1)
         and ECE F173—Reflective Teaching (1)—3 credits
  7. Minimum credits required 31-34

* Only students taking ECE F104 and ECE F107 towards a degree should take ABUS F154 to meet Human Relations requirement.

** Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

*** Students holding a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) may enroll in ECE F170—Practicum I for 1 credit. Students without a CDA must enroll for 3 credits.

Major — A.A.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the A.A.S. degree requirements. (As part of the A.A.S. degree requirement, complete ECE F117 or any course at the F100-level or above in mathematical sciences for the computation requirement, and ECE F245* for the human relations requirement.)
  3. Complete the following:**
    ECE F101—Introduction to Early Childhood Profession—3 credits
    ECE F118—Nutrition, Health and Safety (3)
         or ECE F111—Nutrition (1)
         and ECE F112—Healthy Environments for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F113—Safe Environments for Young Children (1)
    ECE F140—Positive Social Development (3)
         or ECE F141—Class Management (1)
         and ECE F142—Social Development of the Young Child (1)
         and ECE F143—Developing Positive Self-Concepts in Young Children (1)—3 credits
    ECE F210—Child Development and Guidance—3 credits
    ECE F235—Screening, Assessment and Recording—2 credits
    ECE F240—Inclusion of Children with Special Needs—3 credits
    ECE F242—Child and Family Ecology—3 credits
         or ECE F301, ECE F342, or other advisor approved family
    ECE F270—Practicum II—3 credits
  4. Complete 6 credits of child development birth through age 8 from the following or advisor approved**:
    ECE F220—Infant and Toddler Care (3)
         and ECE F245—Child Development (3)
    or ECE F104—Child Development I: Prenatal, Infants and Toddlers (3)
         and ECE F107—Child Development II: Preschool and the Primary Years (3)—6 credits
  5. Complete 6 credits of curriculum from the following or advisor approved**:
    ECE F120A—Curriculum I (3)
         or ECE F105—Developmentally Appropriate Practice (1)
         and ECE F121—Physical Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F123—Language and Literature Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F120B—Curriculum II (3)
    or ECE F122—Cognitive Activities for Young Children (1)
    and ECE F124—Creative Activities for young children (1)
    and ECE F125—Math Activities (1)
         or ECE F127—Language and Creative Expression (3)
    or ECE F121—Physical Activities for Young Children (1)
    and ECE F123—Language and Literature Activities for Young Children (1)
    and ECE F124—Creative Activities for Young Children (1)
         and ECE F128—Thinking, Reasoning and Discovery (3)
    or ECE F105—Developmentally Appropriate Practices (1)
    and ECE F122—Cognitive Activities for Young Children (1)
    and ECE F125—Math Activities (1)—6 credits
  6. Complete 3 credits of practicum and reflection from the following or advisor approved**:
    ECE F170—Practicum I***(3)
    or ECE F115—Responsive and Reflective Teaching (3)
         or ECE F171—Program Management (1)
         and ECE F172—Professionalism (1)
         and ECE F173—Reflective Teaching (1)—3 credits
  7. Electives approved by advisor 7-10
    ECE F271—Seminar (1) – Recommended
  8. Minimum credits required—60 credits

* Only students taking ECE F104 and ECE F107 towards a degree should take ABUS F154 to meet Human Relations requirement.

** Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

** Students holding a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) may enroll in ECE F170—Practicum I for 1 credit. Students without a CDA must enroll for 3 credits.

Minor

  1. Complete the following:
    ECE F101—Introduction to Early Childhood Profession—3 credits
  2. Complete 15 ECE credits, including a minimum of 6 upper-division ECE credits and excluding special topics (ECE X93) or current issue (ECE F249) courses. 15*
  3. Minimum credits required—18 credits

* Students majoring in the B.A. in Child Development and Family Studies may not use courses in the major to meet the requirements for the minor.