Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education is a comprehensive program of both theory and practical experiences designed to prepare you to work with young children. Many of the courses may be helpful to parents of preschool-age children and to persons working with families, children, and individuals. Graduates may qualify to be child-care aides, assistants, and teachers in preschools, day care centers, kindergartens, Head Start programs and therapeutic relief nurseries.

Articulation agreements with Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Western Oregon University allow Early Childhood Education graduates to enroll with third-year standing. See advisor for details.

You may select individual courses to meet your needs, or you may work toward an Associate of Applied Science degree or a Certificate of Completion. Students in the program must earn grades of C or better in all Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Human Development and Family (HDF) courses. In order to enroll in certain courses, students will be required to pass a criminal records check. A valid first-aid card is required for graduation in both the one-year and two-year programs.

You may be interested in our Cooperative Work Experience program, which allows you to earn college credit for work relating to your program. With the approval of the program chair, you may enroll in ECE280A-L Cooperative Work Experience and earn college credit hours. For more information, look under Cooperative Work Experience in the catalog index.

Program outcomes

Students completing the Certificate will:

• Apply principles and skills in observing children birth to eight to select guidance techniques to promote autonomy.
• Plan and implement nutrition plans.
• Practice appropriate communications skills with supervisors, colleagues, and parents, both written and verbal.
• Plan and implement activities to work with children of diverse ages, backgrounds and abilities based on developmentally appropriate theories and observations.

Students completing the AAS will:

• Plan and implement curriculum in early childhood education settings that support the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of all young children from birth to age eight, based on knowledge of children's development.
• Use communication strategies to establish positive, collaborative relationships with families and colleagues.
• Self-assess and evaluate professional practices based on a theoretical framework of child development.
• Practice standards for professional ethics as applied to the early childhood workplace environment.

Getting Started

The first step to entering the following programs is to take part in an assessment process which includes taking the college's free placement test and meeting with Counseling and Career Services staff. You may need to complete pre-program courses. Then, your advisor will help you develop an individualized program of study, which may include one or more of the following:

If you have questions about the requirements, call Counseling and Career Services at 503.399.5120 or 503.399.6077. Failure to be assessed may delay your entry into program classes.

Early Childhood Education
^{Certificate of Completion}

In addition to tuition, estimated costs for students who complete the one-year program listed below are books, $456; class fees, $35; universal fee, $330; equipment and supplies, $36; immunization fees, $10; basic first-aid card, $35; food handler card, $10; criminal records check, $3-70; conference registration, $100. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 503.399.5018 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs.

You may earn a Certificate of Completion by successfully completing the required 55 credit hours with a grade of C or better in all ECE and HDF courses.

Early Childhood Education
^{Associate of Applied Science}

Once an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education is completed, a student is eligible to take advantage of the transfer agreements with Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Western Oregon University.

In addition to tuition, estimated costs for students who complete the entire program listed below are books, $924; class fees, $55; universal fee, $570; equipment and supplies, $72; immunization fees, $10; basic first-aid card, food handler card, $10; $35; criminal records check, $3-70; and conference registration, $100. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 503.399.5018 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs.

You may earn an Associate of Applied Science degree by successfully completing the required 95 credit hours with a grade of C or better in all ECE and HDF courses.

Chemeketa Community College Catalog 2006-2007

Updated March 2007 by the College Advancement Department.