EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DIPLOMA CURRICULUM
Program Course Requirements

First Year - Fall Semester (15-16 credits)
CDEV 1102 Introduction to Early Childhood Education, 3 cr
CDEV 1104 Child Growth and Development, 3 cr
CDEV 1106 Child Health, Wellness, Safety, and Nutrition, 3 cr
CDEV 1114* Diverse Children and Family Relations, 3 cr
ENGL 1410 Composition I, 4 cr OR ENGL 1422 Practical Writing, 3 cr

First Year - Spring Semester (15-16 credits)
CDEV 1112  Child Behavior and Guidance, 3 cr
CDEV 1116  Integration of Play, 3 cr
CDEV 2106* Creative Activities and the Learning Environment, 3 cr OR
CDEV 2116 Infant and Toddler Development, Learning, and Responsive Relationships, 3 cr
CDEV 2206  Careers and Business Strategies in Early Childhood, 3 cr
CDEV 2210* Internship, 3-4 cr

GRADUATION REQUIREMENT - 31 CREDITS

Click here to download the Early Childhood Diploma Degree Program Planning Form (PDF)

Career Description: This program will prepare students for a wide range of careers, including the following: Nanny, Camp Counselor, Guardian ad Litem, Assistant Teacher, Child Care Center Director, Youth Worker, Recreation Leader/Director, Child Care Lead Teacher, Teacher’s Aide, Family Child Care Provider, School Age Child Care Provider. Graduates of this program are prepared to work at childcare centers, Head Start programs, school districts, preschools, family childcare and after school programs.

Program Information: The Early Childhood Education Diploma prepares individuals to independently provide a healthy, safe, developmentally appropriate learning environment in support of families and children. The program meets current hiring standards of center-based childcare programs, Head Start, and family childcare positions. Parents, future childcare providers, early childhood teachers and special educators: the CLC child development program includes courses that enable any and all early childhood and school-age career pathways. Enjoy the hands-on experiences on campus, access to latest research, and/or convenience of online learning.

Program Outcomes:
Graduates will be able to:

• Integrate child development theory with appropriate practice in early care and education settings;
• Plan, prepare, and implement effective instruction;
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communications with families, coworkers, agencies, and early childhood partners;
• Incorporate and demonstrate diverse teaching and guidance strategies appropriate to addressing the needs of children, families, and communities;
• Plan, prepare, and implement developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant activities to nurture cognitive, physical, language, social and emotional development;
• Recognize the importance of play to healthy child development and incorporate play based learning into early childhood environments;
• Demonstrate the skills of observation and record keeping of child development and learning;
• Apply professional behavior in daily work with children, families, co-workers and the community;
• Create and consistently maintain an appropriate, safe, healthy learning environment for children; and
• Recognize ethical, legal and professional responsibilities

Special Program Requirements:

In addition to the program requirements, students must meet the following conditions in order to graduate:

1. College Cumulative GPA Requirement: cumulative grade point average (GPA) of credits attempted and completed at CLC must be at least 2.0;
2. College Technical Core GPA Requirement: cumulative GPA of credits attempted and completed towards the technical core of the diploma or degree must be at least 2.0;
3. Residency Requirement: students must complete 25% of their credits at Central Lakes College.

Admissions:

The Early Childhood Education program requires students to pass a Minnesota background check to participate in all of the field experiences and internships. In addition, CLC is a member of E-LECT (e-learning for early childhood teachers), which offers an associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree online. Talk with an advisor for more details.

Career Titles: