Promoting Child Development and Learning

Students prepared in the Early Childhood Education degree program build a research-based understanding of child development and learning in the context of a Biblical worldview of early education. They use their understanding and knowledge of the young learner’s characteristics, needs, and multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, challenging, and Christ-honoring for each child.

Key elements

• Knowing and understanding, from the perspective of a Biblical worldview, young children’s needs and characteristics, from birth through age 8.
• Knowing and understanding the multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning.
• Using research-based, Biblically-grounded knowledge of child development to create learning environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, challenging, and Christ-honoring for each child.

Building Family and Community Relationships

Students prepared in the Early Childhood Education degree program understand that successful early childhood education depends upon partnerships with children’s families and communities.  They know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities. They use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower parents in their God-given role as their child’s primary educator, and to involve all families in their child’s development and learning. They introduce families to the Church community and other community resources to provide support and spiritual guidance.

Key elements

• Knowing about and understanding diverse family and community characteristics, integrating a Biblical vision of inclusiveness and God’s love for all people.
• Supporting and empowering families, communities, and churches through respectful, reciprocal, responsive relationships, honoring Christ and the God-given role of the family.
• Involving families, communities, and churches in young children’s development and learning.

Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families

Students prepared in the Early Childhood Education degree program understand that child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood professionals. They know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They know about and use systematic observation, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies responsibly, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence the development and learning of every child, uniquely created by God.

Key elements

• Understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment, including its use in development of appropriate goals, curriculum, and teaching strategies for young children.
• Knowing about and using observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches, including the use of technology in documentation, assessment and data collection.
• Understanding and practicing responsible assessment to promote positive outcomes for each child, uniquely created by God, including the use of assistive technology for children with disabilities.
• Knowing about assessment partnerships with families and with professional colleagues to build effective learning environments.

Using Developmentally Effective Approaches to Connect with Children and Families

Students prepared in the Early Childhood Education degree program understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children’s ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use Christ-honoring relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. They know, understand and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families to promote each child’s learning and development from a Biblical worldview, giving evidence of Christ’s love for each child and family.

Key elements

• Understanding Christ-honoring relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of their work with young children and families.
• Knowing and understanding developmentally effective strategies and tools for early education, including appropriate uses of technology.
• Using a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning approaches.
• Reflecting on their own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child, giving evidence of Christ’s love for each child and family.

Using Content Knowledge to Build Meaningful Curriculum

Students prepared in the Early Childhood Education degree program use their knowledge of academic disciplines and learning in the context of a Biblical worldview to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote Christ-honoring development and learning for each and every young child, uniquely created by God in His image. Students understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curriculum. They know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Students use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging, and Christ-honoring curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child.

Key elements

• Understanding content knowledge, resources, and a Biblical worldview in academic disciplines: language and literacy; the arts – music, creative movement, dance, drama, visual arts, mathematics; science; physical activity, physical education, health and safety; and social studies.
• Knowing and using the central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines.
• Using their own knowledge, appropriate early learning standards, God’s Word, and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally meaningful, challenging, Christ-honoring curriculum for each child.

Becoming a Professional

Students prepared in the Early Childhood Education degree program identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood education profession. They know and use Biblical principles, ethical guidelines, and other professional standards related to early childhood education practice. They demonstrate Christ-like behavior, honoring young children and the institution of the family. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources, in accordance with Biblical principles. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies for the benefit of the children and for the glory of God.

Key elements

• Identifying and involving oneself with the early childhood field.
• Knowing about and upholding Biblical principles, ethical standards and other early childhood professional guidelines.
• Engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice, using technology effectively with young children, with peers, and as a professional resource.
• Integrating knowledgeable, reflective, and critical, Biblical worldview perspectives on early education.
• Engaging in informed advocacy for young children, the early childhood profession, and the glory of God.

Course List

Code	Title	Units
General Educational Core Requirements		34
Early Childhood Major Requirements		27
Special Education Concentration		12
General Education Electives		47
Total Units		120

Early Childhood Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Units
ECED Major Core Requirements:
ECED-300	Guiding the Young Child's Behavior	3
ECED-301	Infant and Toddler: Development and Theory	3
ECED-316	STEM/STEAM: Math for the Young Child	3
ECED-322	STEM/STEAM: Science for the Young Child	3
ECED-327	STEM/STEAM: Arts and Creative Learning for the Young Child	3
ECED-405	Advanced Curriculum Design and Development in Early Childhood Education	3
ECED-430	Lang/Lit for Young Child Multi. Comm.	3
ECED-460	Advanced Practicum I	3
ECED-499	Capstone for Early Childhood Education Bachelor of Arts Degree	3
Total Units		27

 Special Education Concentration Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Emphasis Requirements 1
ECED-305	The Exceptional Child and the Inclusive Classroom	3
ECED-306	Exceptional Children: Teaching Language Arts, Math and Science for Students With Severe Disabilities	3
ECED-420	Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis: Autism	3
ECED-425	Functional Assessment and Evaluation for Exceptional Learners	3
Total Units		12

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Students enrolled in the Early Childhood program may choose to obtain a special education emphasis in their degree program.  Courses may be counted as elective courses for the Early Childhood Major Core Requirement.

A year-round course sequence calendar for all Early Childhood Education coursework can be found on the B.A. in Early Childhood Courses Sequences tab.