ECH/301 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education

Course Description

This course provides an overview of early childhood education for children, birth through age 8. Topics include theories and history of early childhood education, play theories, program types and models, and public policy trends. The course examines the significance of developmentally-effective learning experiences throughout early childhood programs.

This undergraduate course is 5 weeks.

PLEASE NOTE:
Attendance and participation are mandatory in all university courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

This course is not available for students residing Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming and individuals who live outside the United States are not eligible to enroll in this course.

Course Objectives

Week 1

• Analyze appropriate early childhood terminology.
• Identify historical and theoretical developments in early childhood education.
• Examine the role of early childhood education in contemporary society.

Week 2

• Examine professional standards, qualifications, preparation programs, and continuing education opportunities related to early childhood education.
• Review public policies related to early childhood education.
• Examine codes of ethics guiding the early childhood educator, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct.

Week 3

• Examine theories and models of early childhood education.
• Describe the significance of play theories for learning.
• Evaluate the implications of brain-based research for early childhood education.

Week 4

• Identify characteristics of a developmentally-appropriate early childhood learning environment.
• Examine how the learning environment affects the physical, motor, cognitive, and affective development of young children.
• Describe assessment strategies that guide teaching and learning in early childhood settings.

Week 5

• Identify local, state, and national trends and issues in early childhood education.
• Examine the use of technology in early childhood education.
• Analyze current topics in early childhood education.

Disclaimers

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses.

Although our continuing education for teacher’s courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing education for teachers’ courses is not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.

While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. More information about eligibility requirements, policies, and procedures can be found in the catalog or please check with a University Enrollment Representative.