kindergarten classEarly Childhood Education

Whether you want to earn a short-term certificate and begin work in a childcare facility or you want to complete an associate or bachelor's degree for a career in teaching, Centralia College has options that work for you.

espanolOptions in Early Childhood Education

  • Two-year Degree Programs - The three associate degrees available in Early Childhood Education provide students with the skills and information necessary to compete for jobs in early childhood education or in a school system as a teacher’s aide. Students receive the opportunity to observe early childhood classrooms and practice working with children in the on-campus Children’s Lab School.
  • Certificate Programs - The Early Childhood Education Certificate program prepares students to compete for entry-level employment in the child care field. Students explore child development from birth through age eight. Students receive the opportunity to observe early childhood classrooms and practice working with children in the on-campus Children’s Lab School.
  • Bachelor's Degree Option - Centralia College offers an applied bachelor's degree in Teacher Education (K-8). You can easily turn a two-year degree into a bachelor's degree at CC!

 

Looking for Child Care or ECEAP Preschool?

Visit the Resources section for information on college Early Learning Programs, including free ECEAP preschool and the campus child care center (Children's Lab School).

Completion of the Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education prepares students to become teachers in child care centers, family day care homes, cooperative and private preschools, ECEAP, or Head Start.

To successfully complete field experience in ECED& 105: Introduction to Early Childhood Education, ECED& 120: Practicum - Nurturing Relationships, and ECED 233: ECE Practicum 2, students will volunteer in a Head Start, school or ECEAP, Child Lab School, or other approved classroom. This requires a Washington State Patrol background check, tuberculosis test, and proof of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination.

Students completing field experience in EDUC& 205: Introduction to Education w/field experience will need a Washington State Patrol background check to successfully complete field experience in a K-12 classroom.

Students must earn a 2.0 or better in all EDUC and ECED coursework to apply for the ECE degrees or certificates.

Emphasis: Early Childhood Education
Degree: Associate in Applied Science – Transfer
Total Credits: 93-95

First Year  
Fall Quarter
  • ECED& 105 Introduction to Early Childhood Education - 5 credits
  • ECED& 107 Health/Safety/Nutrition - 5 credits
  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I - 5 credits
Winter Quarter
  • ECED& 120 Practicum - Nurturing Relationships - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 130 Guiding Behavior - 3 credits
  • ENGL& 102 Composition II - 5 credits
  • EDUC&115 Child Development - 5 credits
Spring Quarter
  • BTEC 120 Applied Business Math OR Quantitative Skills Distribution - 5 credits
  • CMST& 220 Public Speaking - 5 credits
  • ECED& 180 Language/Literacy Development - 3 credits
  • Education Elective - 5 credits
Second Year  
Fall Quarter
  • EDUC& 150 Child/Family/Community - 3 credits
  • HR 110 Human Relations in the Workplace - 5 credits
  • Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits
  • Health and Fitness Distribution - 3 credits
Winter Quarter
  • ECED& 170 Environments-Young Child - 3 credits
  • ECED& 190 Observation/Assessment - 3 credits
  • Humanities Distribution - 5 credits
  • Natural Science Distribution- 5 credits
Spring Quarter
  • ECED& 160 Curriculum Development - 5 credits
  • ECED 233 ECE Practicum 2 - 5 credits
  • Social Science Distribution - 5 credits

Recommended Education Electives: ECED& 134, ECED& 138, or ECED& 139, OREDUC& 136, EDUC& 204, or EDUC& 205

Recommended Natural Science Distribution: Lab Science, Life Science, or Physical Science courses with at least one lab

Recommended Social Science Distribution: History, PNW History, or Western Civilization

Degree: Associate in Applied Science
Emphasis: Early Childhood Education
Total Credits: 91-96

First Year  
Fall Quarter
  • ECED& 105 Introduction to Early Childhood Education - 5 credits
  • ECED& 130 Guiding Behavior - 5 credits
  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I OR WRT 105 Writing in the Workplace - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 150 Child/Family/Community - 3 credits
Winter Quarter
  • ECED& 120 Practicum - Nurturing Relationships - 5 credits
  • ECED& 190 Observation/Assessment - 3 credits
  • EDUC&115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • HR 110 Human Relations in the Workplace - 5 credits
Spring Quarter
  • ECED& 107 Health/Safety/Nutrition - 5 credits
  • ECED& 160 Curriculum Development - 5 credits
  • BTEC 120 Business Math OR Quantitative Skills Distribution - 5 credits
Second Year  
Fall Quarter
  • EDUC& 132 Infant and Toddler - 3 credits
  • Education Elective - 3-8 credits
  • Humanities Distribution - 5 credits
  • Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits
Winter Quarter
  • ECED& 170 Environments-Young Child - 3 credits
  • ECED& 204 Exceptional Child - 5 credits
  • Health and Fitness Distribution - 3 credits
  • Social Science Distribution- 5 credits
Spring Quarter
  • ECED& 180 Language/Literacy Development - 3 credits
  • ECED 233 ECE Practicum 2 - 5 credits
  • Natural Science Distribution w Lab - 5 credits

Recommended Education Electives: ECED& 134, ECED& 138, ECED& 139, EDUC& 136, or EDUC 205

Recommended Distribution Electives: MATH&131, CMST& 220, Natural Science with at least one lab: Physical Science: (Oceanography, Geology, Chemistry), Life Science: (Nutrition, Environmental Science, Biology)Social Science: U.S. History, PNW History

Degree: Associate in Arts
Emphasis: Early Childhood Education

First Year  
Fall Quarter
  • ECED& 105 Introduction to Early Childhood Education - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 130 Guiding Behavior - 3 credits
  • EDUC& 150 Child/Family/Communtiy - 3 credits
  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I - 5 credits
Winter Quarter
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • ENGL& 102 Composition II - 5 credits
  • Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits
  • Health and Fitness Distribution - 1 credits
Spring Quarter
  • ECED& 160 Curriculum Development - 5 credits
  • Social Science Distribution - 5 credits
  • Humanities Distribution - 5 credits
  • Health and Fitness Distribution - 1 credits
Second Year  
Fall Quarter
  • PSYC& 100 General Psychology - 5 credits
  • Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits
  • Quantitative Skills Distribution - 5 credits
Winter Quarter
  • CMST& 220 Public Speaking - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 205 Intro to Education w Field Experience - 5 credits
  • Natural Science Distribution - 5 credits
  • Health and Fitness Distribution - 1 credit
Spring Quarter
  • ECED& 180 Language/Literacy Development - 3 credits
  • Humanities Distribution - 5 credits
  • Social Science Distribution - 5 credits

Emphasis: Early Childhood Education
Degree: Initial State Certificate-ECE
Total Credits: 12

Courses

  • ECED& 105 Introduction to Early Childhood Education - 5 credits
  • ECED& 107 Health/Safety/Nutrition - 5 credits
  • ECED& 120 Practicum-Nurturing Relationships - 2 credits 

Emphasis: Early Childhood Education
Degree: Short State Certificate of Specialization-ECE
Total Credits: 20

Required Courses

  • ECED& 105 Introduction to Early Childhood Education - 5 credits
  • ECED& 107 Health/Safety/Nutrition - 5 credits
  • ECED& 120 Practicum-Nurturing Relationships - 2 credits
Additional Courses - Choose Courses in One of the Groupings Below  
Early Childhood Education (General)
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 130 Guiding Behavior - 3 credits
Infant and Toddler Care
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 132 Infants/Toddlers Care - 3 credits
School-Age Care
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 136 School-Age Care - 3 credits
Family Child Care
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • ECED& 134 Family Child Care - 3 credits
Administration
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • ECED& 139 Administration of Early Learning Programs - 3 credits
Home Visitor/Family Engagement
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits
  • ECED& 138 Home Visiting & Family Engagement - 3 credits

Emphasis: Early Childhood Education
Degree: State Early Childhood Education Certificate
Total Credits: 54

Course Plan  
Fall Quarter
  • ECED& 105 Introduction to Early Childhood Education - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 150 Child/Family/Community - 5 credits
  • WRT 105 Writing in the Workplace OR ENGL& 101 English Composition - 5 credits
  • EDUC& 130 Guiding Behavior OR ECED&132 Infants/Toddlers Care OR ECED& 134 Family Child Care OR ECED& 139 Administration of Early Learning Programs OR EDUC& 136 School Age Care - 3 credits
Winter Quarter
  • ECED& 120 Practicum-Nurturing Relationships - 2 credits
  • ECED& 170 Environments-Young Child - 3 credits
  • ECED& 190 Observation/Assessment - 3 credits
  • Quantitative Skills Distribution - 5 credits
Spring Quarter
  • BTEC 120 Applied Business Math OR HR 110 Human Relations in the Workplace - 5 credits
  • ECED& 160 Curriculum Development - 5 credits
  • ECED& 180 Language/Literacy - 3 credits
Summer or Fall Quarter
  • ECED& 107 Health/Safety/Nutrition- 5 credits
  • EDUC& 115 Child Development - 5 credits 

Contact

Career & Technical Education
Tech (TEC) Building, Room 114
360-623-8963
cte@centralia.edu