Early Childhood Development Certificate

Program Start Date: Fall and Spring terms
Minimum Program Length: 32 academic weeks; 2 terms; 28 credits
Program ID:  CT.ECD
Curriculum Code: 70454

Program Description

Early childhood development students acquire specific skills to create engaging learning experiences to promote the social, emotional, physical, and mental development of children, both in and out of the classroom.

Practical Experience

Students gain early childhood development skills through studies of best practices in child development centers, private and public kindergartens, and special facilities.

Professional Opportunities

Graduates may work as teacher’s aides in special education facilities or child development centers, or as a teacher in a child development facility. Graduates may work as a teacher or teacher’s aide in child development centers, preschool programs, and after-school programs. 

Unique Aspects

Student entering the program must have a criminal background investigation (CBI) and health form completed during ECD 102 . Any positive CBI check within the last seven (7) years will result in the student being dismissed from the Early Care and Education Program.

A minimum of a grade C or higher is required in all courses.

EEDA Career Cluster:

Education and Training

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Synthesize child development research, developmental theory, early learning theory, and best practices in early childhood education to support the unique holistic developmental trajectory of each child through the design of culturally relevant, respectful, healthy, challenging, and inclusive early learning environments and curriculum. (NAEYC Standard 1)
2. Construct respectful and collaborative relationships with families and community organizations that honor family and community diversity and promote engagement as partners in young children’s development and learning. (NAEYC Standard 2)
3. Utilize ethically grounded and developmentally appropriate observation, documentation, and assessment strategies to inform teaching practice, document children’s developmental progression, and establish assessment partnerships with families and colleagues to promote positive outcomes for every child. (NAEYC Standard 3)
4. Demonstrate developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, anti-bias, reflective, and evidence-based teaching practices that reflect universal design for learning principles by establishing play as a core teaching practice, differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all children, and engaging in positive, supportive, and responsive interactions. (NAEYC Standard 4)
5. Incorporate knowledge of early learning standards, developmentally appropriate content knowledge across the academic disciplines in early childhood curriculum, and pedagogical methods that inform teaching practice and curriculum development to design, implement, and evaluate learning experiences that are engaging and meaningful for each child. (NAEYC Standard 5)
6. Establish oneself as a professional in the early childhood education field through informed advocacy, upholding ethical and professional standards of conduct, utilizing professional communication skills to effectively work with children, families, and colleagues, and engaging in collaborative learning and reflective practice to promote professional development. (NAEYC Standard 6)