Early Care and Education Associate of Applied Technology Degree / Associate in Applied Science – T Degree
Prepares students for careers in the Early Care & Education field as child care directors, teachers, leads, and assistant child care providers.
To obtain the degree, a student must complete the required courses and elective credits. Students participate in practicum experiences at the Hayes Child Development Center on the Lakewood Campus or in an approved local early learning program.
Students will complete four practicum experiences. The fourth practicum will be in an area of the student’s choice: Leadership in ECE; Child Development – Infant/Toddler; Child Development – School Age; Family Childcare Professional; or Special Needs. Degree candidates may petition for credits based on possession of a current CDA credential.
Students are required to develop a program portfolio to be completed and presented prior to graduation.
All courses must be completed with a minimum of a “C” grade to graduate. The Washington State ECE Stackable Certificate is embedded in the degree program, so students may earn stepping-stone credentials on their way to completing an associate degree.
Proficiency in reading, writing, and an understanding of the English language are required. ENGL& 101 must be completed by the end of the fourth quarter. Students are required to meet with an ECE faculty advisor. All degree students must fulfill portfolio requirements, which must be completed by the time of graduation from the program.
Students pursuing an AAT or AAS-T degree must complete all college degree requirements prior to graduation.
Employability Requirements
To become a licensed child care provider in Washington, you must participate in a Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) licensing orientation and apply for and receive licensure. State law requires DCYF to run background checks on anyone who is authorized to care for or has unsupervised access to children in licensed child care facilities.
Program Length
This program is approximately 6 quarters long, depending on the time students need to satisfactorily complete all graduation requirements and hours of enrollment. All courses must be completed with a minimum of a “C” grade to graduate.
Admission Dates
Program starts every fall. Students can enroll summer, fall, winter, and spring quarters.
Program Outcomes
• Use child development theories to promote optimum learning outcomes for children.
• Build family and community relationships in an inclusive learning environment.
• Use observation techniques, assessment tools, documentation and planning procedures for all learners.
• Implement a developmentally appropriate assessment cycle which plans for the needs of each child.
• Apply developmentally and culturally appropriate teaching and guidance theories, principles, and practices in an early childhood setting.
• Create curriculum content to foster optimum growth and development of learners.
• Demonstrate professional standards related to early childhood best practice.
Completion Requirements
Prerequisite(s)
none
Program Course List
| ECED 105 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| ECED 107 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 5 |
| | |
| EDUC 115 | Child Development | 5 |
| EDUC 130 | Guiding Behavior | 3 |
| ECED 132 | Infants & Toddlers - Nurturing Care | 3 |
| | |
| EDUC 150 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| ECED& 170 | Environments for Young Children | 3 |
| ECED 180 | Language and Literacy Development | 3 |
| ECED 190 | Observation and Assessment | 3 |
| | |
| ECED 160 | Curriculum Development | 5 |
| ECS 151 | ECE Curriculum: Math, Science & Technology | 3 |
| ECE 292 | Theories of Child Development | 3 |
ECE
| Practicum IV Elective | 3 |
| | |
| ECS 178 | Practicum: Environments | 5 |
| ECE 230 | Inclusion in ECE | 3 |
| ECE 245 | Diversity Awareness & Curriculum Development | 3 |
| ECE 290CAP | Portfolio Adventure | 2 |
| | |
| ECS 185 | Practicum: Domains of Development | 5 |
| ECS 161 | ECE Curriculum Music, Movement, and Creativity | 3 |
| ECS 277 | Professionalism & Ethics | 2 |
ECE
| Electives | 4-6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 74-76 |
ECE Practicum: Specialization choices: See list below (3 credits)
ECE Electives: See list below (4-6 credits)
AAT Degree Requirements
| Technical Course Requirements | 74-76 |
| ECE AAT General Education Requirements | 18 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 92-94 |
ECE AAS-T Degree General Education Requirements: See list below
AAS-T Degree Requirements
| Technical Course Requirements | 74-76 |
| AAS-T Degree General Education Requirements | 23 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 97-99 |
AAS-T Degree General Education Requirements: See list below
ECE Practicum: Specialization choices
(Students must choose one of the following Practicum: Specialization Courses)
| ECE 217 | Practicum Specialization: Infant/Toddler | 3 |
| ECE 220 | Practicum Specialization: Responsive Caregiving for Infants & Toddlers | 3 |
| ECE 286 | Practicum Specialization: Leadership | 3 |
| ECE 287 | Practicum Specialization: Child Development | 3 |
| ECE 288 | Practicum Specialization: Family Child Care Professional | 3 |
ECE Electives
(Students must complete a minimum of 4-6 elective credits)
| ECE 126 | Nature and the Outdoor Classroom | 2 |
| ECED 120 | Practicum: Nurturing Relationships | 2 |
| ECED& 134 | Family Child Care | 3 |
| EDUC 136 | School Age Care Management | 3 |
| ECED 139 | Administration of Early Learning Programs | 3 |
| ECS 221 | Curriculum & Environments for School Age Programs | 3 |
| ECS 235 | Issues & Trends | 2 |
| ECS 260 | Curriculum for Family Child Care | 2 |
| ECS 266 | Leadership in Early Childhood | 4 |
| ECS 290 | Mentoring in ECE | 1 |
| CAS 115CL | Introduction to Computing | 3 |
General Degree Requirements
In addition to the program course requirements, students must also complete the general education requirements for the degree they seek to obtain. The two degree options in this program are the Associate of Applied Technology (AAT) or the Associate in Applied Science – T (AAS-T). The different requirements for each degree are listed below
AAT Degree General Education Requirements (18 credits)
AAS-T Degree General Education Requirements (23 credits)
All AAS-T degrees must have a minimum of 20 credits of transferable general education. These credits replace the academic courses required for the AAT degree. Required credits include:
5 credits in communication
5 credits in quantitative reasoning
5 credits in social science
5 credits in social science, humanities, or science
Per program and industry outcomes suggested options: SOC& 100 Sociology or ASL& 121 American Sign Language
Choose one from the following:
3 credits in College Success
College Success (COLL 102) should be taken early in the program. Ideally in the first quarter.