Catalog 2021-2022 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood Education, AAS


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90 CREDITS

Program Admission Dates: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Program Mission: The Early Childhood Education AAS degree prepares students to develop competencies necessary to plan, implement, and evaluate a quality program for children, following National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards.

This program prepares students to seek new employment or update professional skills and knowledge as a family care provider; program supervisor of a child care center; child care manager; and lead and support teacher in early childhood programs. Theoretical knowledge is gained through traditional, hybrid, and online classroom lectures; practical experience takes place in college labs and in family and center-based programs where students may be employed.

Early Childhood Education AAS degree graduates will:

  • be prepared for a lead teacher or entry level management position in the early care and learning field
  • plan, implement, and evaluate children’s programs using current child development knowledge
  • apply developmentally appropriate guidance techniques
  • document children’s skill development and plan programs based on documented observations
  • be prepared to create a learning environment that fosters language, social, cognitive, and motor skills in young children
  • be prepared to communicate in verbal and written format with the parents
  • be prepared to plan and monitor food service in an early childhood program
  • be able to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment, both indoors/outdoors
  • follow the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) as it relates to early childhood programs
  • demonstrate critical thinking, teamwork, communication, intercultural appreciation, and information literacy skills
  • meet Social Science, Humanities, Written Communication, and Quantitative Reasoning distribution area outcomes

Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with a college or program advisor. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.

Program Requirements


Recommended Course Sequence

The courses listed below are a suggested sequence; as long as prerequisites are met, courses may be taken in a different order.

Technical Electives - 3 Credits


Select one 3 credit course from the following courses:


General Education Requirements - 20 Credits


Diversity and Social Justice Requirement


Within the degree requirements, students must complete a 3-5 credit course that meets the college’s Diversity and Social Justice (DSJ) requirement. DSJ courses are designated in the college schedule and are designed to meet other general education or technical requirements simultaneous to meeting the DSJ requirement (e.g., ENGL& 101D meets both the ENGL& 101 requirement and the DSJ requirement).

Visit the DSJ requirement webpage to view the current list of general education and technical courses that meet the requirement.

Total Program Credits: 90


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