Early Childhood Education, Associate of Applied Science

Program Description

The Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science Degree program prepares students to work with infants, toddlers, and preschool aged children in both public and private school settings. Students completing the ECE Associate of Applied Science degree will achieve Step 9 on the Oregon Registry Steps for the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education. 

Program Outcomes

  1. Create healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging learning environments for young children based on knowledge of child development in context.
  2. Create respectful, reciprocal, and supportive family teacher partnerships and community connections that support and empower family involvement in student development and learning.
  3. Build effective and responsible assessment including observation, documentation, and other appropriate tools in partnership with families and professional colleagues to promote positive outcomes for each child.
  4. Demonstrate an array of developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning.
  5. Build curriculum designed to promote and assess meaningful, challenging, and comprehensive developmental learning outcomes for each child.
  6. Demonstrate their professionalism as an early childhood educator with behavior reflective of ethical guidelines and professional practices associated with early childhood careers.

Career Considerations

Graduates of the ECE AAS degree will learn specific skills and knowledge that are imperative in working with infants, toddlers, young children, and their families in a variety of early childhood education and care settings. These settings include both public and private infant toddler centers, preschools, private kindergartens, and in-home care settings.

The ECE AAS course work and practical work experience focuses on obtaining knowledge and understanding of the growth and development of young children, guidance skills, and curriculum planning that supports positive social/emotional, cognitive, mental, and physical development in children. Our ECE AAS degree program focuses on seven crucial learning outcomes to help prepare students for working with young children and their families.

Program Course Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First TermCredits
ECE 140 Intro to Early Childhood Ed 3
HDFS 225 Child Development 3
HDFS 228 Exceptional Child 3
WR 121Z Composition I 4
 Credits13
Second Term
ECE 101 ECE-Sem-Prac I 3
ECE 154 Lit and Language for Children 3
HDFS 226 Infant-Toddler Development 3
PSY 130 Understanding Child Behavior 3
SOC 210 Sociology of the Family 3
 Credits15
Third Term
ECE 102 ECE-Sem-Prac II 3
ECE 150 Creative Activities for Child 3
ECE 178 Observing-Guiding Behavior 3
ECE 244 Indiv Learning-Preschoolers 3
MTH 104 Math Literacy (or higher) 4
 Credits16
Fourth Term
ECE 235 Supporting Child Wellbeing 4 3
 Credits3
Second Year
First Term
ECE 230 Health Safety and Nutrition 3
MUS 2 3
Social Science Elective 1 4
Social Science Elective 1 4
 Credits14
Second Term
ECE 103 ECE-SEM-Prac III 3
ECE 240 Lesson and Curriculum Planning 3
ECE 247 Admin of Child-Care Centers 5 3
Elective 3 3
Social Science Elective 1 4
 Credits16
Third Term
COM 218Z Interpersonal Communication 4
ED 258 Culturally Responsive Ed 3
PSY 215 Lifespan Development 4
Elective 3 3
 Credits14
 Total Minimum Credits91
1

Choose three Social Science courses from the approved AAOT list. 

2

Choose a MUS course from the approved course list that is 3 credits or more.

3

Any course can be taken as an elective.

4

Typically offered Summer term only.

5

Typically offered in even years only.

Advising Notes

  • All courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Program Entrance Requirements

  • Enrollment in Oregon Central Background Registry
  • Verification of MMR vaccinations
  • Food Handler’s Certificate
  • Students will need to complete either ECE 140 Intro to Early Childhood Ed (3 cr.), or HDFS 225 Child Development (3 cr.) before beginning practicum courses