Early Childhood Education Certificate of Completion
46-48 credits
Program Description:
The Early Childhood Development Certificate meets the National Credentialing Program Child Development Associate (CDA) requirements which encompass working with Early Childhood Services (or other licensed/approved setting), 480 clock hours of field experience and 120 hours of professional education instruction. The students' assignments embed the CDA Portfolio, the 6 Competency goals and 13-functional areas. The ECED certificate is designed as a stackable step that transfers into the Associate of Arts Early Childhood Education degree. The goal of the certificate is to improve the quality of care and education by defining, evaluating and recognizing the competence of the childcare provider and home visitor. Students will become knowledgeable and skilled teachers of young children through direct classroom experience and instruction.
Career Opportunities
Candidates who graduate with an Early Childhood Education Certificate are qualified to teach in programs for young children including Early Head Start, Head Start, childcare centers, and family childcare homes. The ECED Certificate graduates have the opportunity to continue on to earn an Associate’s of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education preparing them to be professionals in the early childhood education field in such positions as a center-based teacher, assistant and home visitor.
Student Learning Outcomes
Early Childhood Education Certificate candidates will demonstrate skills, dispositions and knowledge in relationship to the National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional Standards for Preparing Early Childhood Practitioners, Montana's Early Learning Standards, as well as the Central Beliefs of the SKC Division of Education (indicated above). These candidates will build upon the foundation of skills, dispositions, and knowledge developed during participation in the Early Childhood Education Certificate.
Curriculum
Fall First Year
| ECED100 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| | |
| ECED111 | Safety, Health and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| OR | |
| EDUC207 | Health, Safety and Drug Awareness | 3 |
| | |
| ECED129 | Early Childhood Curriculum and Environments I | 5 |
| EDUC240 | Human Growth and Development | 4 |
| MATH132 | Mathematics for K-8 Teachers I | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Winter First Year
| ECED140 | Positive Guidance and Classroom Management | 3 |
| ECED141 | Positive Guidance Lab | 3 |
| ECED209 | Meeting the Needs of Families | 3 |
| ENGL101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| NASD101 | History of Indians in the United States | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring First Year
| ECED270 | Infant/Toddler Development and Group Care | 5 |
| | |
| PSYC110 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
| OR | |
| SCLG110 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 |
| | |
| SCID273 | Integrated Perspectives in Science for Educators 3 | 4 |
| OR | |
| SCID233 | Integrated Perspectives in Science for Educators 1 | 4 |
| OR | |
| SCID253 | Integrated Perspectives in Science for Educators 2 | 4 |
| OR | |
| SCID272 | Introduction to the Science of Indigenous Health and Well-Being | 5 |
| OR | |
| NASD210 | Introduction to Indigenous Science | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13-15 |
Total Credit Hours: 46-48