Early Childhood Development B.A.

Program Director: Carol Gossett, M.A.

Overview

Mission Statement. It is the mission of the Early Childhood Development program to prepare students with the knowledge, theory and practical experience necessary to plan, implement and evaluate developmentally appropriate experiences for young children and their families in a variety of settings while nurturing Christian commitment through integration of faith, values and ethics.

Benefits/Careers. This degree prepares graduates to pursue a career in early childhood education, including positions in public and private preschools, churches and businesses that offer preschool for the children of their employees. Graduates are also prepared to pursue additional credentials and certificates to become educators in PreK, TK, and K through 2nd grade levels in elementary schools and special education programs.  The program offers a firm foundation for graduate studies towards positions such as career counselors with child and family services organizations and in the area of social work and similar post baccalaureate programs.

Special Features. Threaded throughout the ECD program are topics which address the needs of children with exceptionalities, the application of technology for best practices in the classroom and beyond. The application of various guiding documents within the field of early childhood education, including Preschool Learning Foundations and Frameworks from the California Department of Education, the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) the CA Common Core State Content Standards and others are applied through the program.

Description. The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Development is interdisciplinary and designed to help students better understand the growth and development of children from birth through age eight years. Courses focus on the total environment of the child as part of the learning experience by incorporating a strong foundation in theory and practice through a holistic, constructivist approach, which addresses the diversity and special needs of the young child. Coursework also prepares students to work with children with exceptionalities/special needs. Curriculum is aligned with the Learning Foundations published by the California State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards for baccalaureate degrees. Students meet subject matter competence in six categories identified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Admissions Requirements

• Application form and fee
• A minimum 2.4 GPA, below 2.4 can submit a petition
• Two years' postsecondary work experience.
  • Need a minimum of 6 transferable units, below 6 units can submit a petition
  • Note: need 60 units before starting the major

Program Student Learning Outcomes

FPU Early Childhood Development baccalaureate degree core program SLO's are based on NCATE national standards for initial licensure/baccalaureate degrees found at naeyc.org/files/ncate/file/initiallicensure.pdf

1. Students demonstrate their understanding of young children's characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning, by designing plans for environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for all children.
2. Students demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and value of the importance and complex characteristics of children's families and communities.  They use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children's development and learning.
3. Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding about the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment.  Students show evidence of how to use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence children's development and learning.
4. Students integrate their understanding of and relationships with children and families; their understanding developmentally effective approaches to teaching and learning; and their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for all children.
5. Students identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession.  They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice.  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.  They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.
6. Students will submit assignments following APA Format and ECD Writing Skills Guidelines as instructed in course materials.

Credit-Bearing Grades

Students must earn a C- or higher in all Early Childhood Development core courses to receive credit.

Program Length/Semester Starts

Eighteen-month program, starting in January and July.

Locations Offered

Online, North Fresno, Merced, Visalia Campuses