2019-2020 Spring Edition 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Spring Edition [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood Education Associate of Science


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This degree prepares students to be competent and effective teachers and caregivers for young children ages 0-8. Developmental and learning theory as well as appropriate strategies related to the unique care and education needs of young children will be studied and applied. Family collaboration and culturally responsive practice will be emphasized. Students who complete this degree meet the educational requirements for the Teacher level of the Child Development Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTCC) and can be employed in children’s settings such as child care centers, church schools, employee sponsored child care, and earlyHead Start as teachers and caregivers. With an appropriate general education pattern students are also prepared to transfer to Child Development and Early Childhood studies baccalaureate degrees. Additional work with children (175 days of 3+ hours per day within 4 years) is required to obtain the Teacher Permit.

A minimum grade of “C” in each course is required to receive the degree and/or qualify for the Child Development Permit.

Program Student Learning Outcomes


Students who complete this program will be able to:

  • Describe developmental milestones for children in the areas of physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and language development.
  • Identify environmental, cultural, familial, economic, political, and historical contexts that influence all children’s development.
  • Demonstrate a range of skills and knowledge related to the unique need of children ages 0-8.
  • Apply developmental theory, knowledge of child development, developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate practice (DCLAP), and research based teaching strategies to develop curriculum for the unique educational needs of young children individually and in group care settings.
  • Demonstrate developmentally appropriate observation, assessment, and documentation skills that can be applied to interpretations of growth and development, planning, and identification of individual needs.
  • Demonstrate professional skills including ethical practice, reflective practice, written and verbal communication, collaboration, advocacy, and identification of personal qualifications in relationship to state and national requirements for teachers of young children.

Total Units for the Major: 29


Associate of Science Degree


Complete a minimum of 60 units including the total number of units described above and the General Education requirements with an overall GPA of 2.0 toqualify for the Associate of Science degree. A minimum of12 units must be completed at Saddleback College.

General Education Requirements for Associate Degrees


Refer to the Graduation Requirements  or to the CSU-GE and IGETC patterns in this catalog for specific courses which meet general education requirements. Refer to ASSIST.org and to the transfer institution’s catalog for transfer requirements.


*Course has a prerequisite, corequisite, limitation, or recommended preparation; see course description.

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