This course studies the philosophy, history and development of early childhood programs. You'll examine the teacher-child relationship and how existing programs meet the needs of preschool children and review programs to evaluate how they meet the criteria of a quality learning environment. You'll get a chance to see how ECE programs operate in the real world by attending mandatory field observations at sites designated by the instructor.

Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to

• Describe the history of early childhood education
• Discuss various guiding principles among early childhood educators
• Know the differences among early childhood programs and how they are evaluated by checklists
• Identify the differences among developmental stages of children

Topics include:

• History of early childhood education
• Types of programs
• Defining the young child
• Developmental and learning theories
• Teaching: A professional commitment
• Curriculum: Creating a context for learning and play
• Issues and trends in early childhood education