Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education

In this foundational course, students explore the principles necessary for achieving personal and career success. GEN 101 serves as a road map, guiding students as they begin their academic journey. Through self-discovery, surveying available resources, connecting with UAGC groups, and engaging with Career Services, students learn the essential skills of planning and goal setting. Students apply their personal strengths, skills, and lifelong learning strategies to develop essential career competencies. By making these meaningful connections students gain a deeper understanding of how their education relates to their desired career path.  Congratulations on embarking on this college journey filled with growth, exploration, and endless possibilities! This course is not available for non-degree seeking students and is not available as an elective.

This course offers an overview of digital fluency as it applies to personal, academic, financial, and professional success. Students will analyze the impact of digital technology on personal, social, and diversity issues and will develop digital skills that will assist in achieving academic, personal, and career goals. An overview of digital media is introduced with practical strategies for application in personal and professional life.

Learn and use key, practical skills that are applicable at home, at work, and in all UAGC courses! As UAGC students progress in their academic journey, strategies for personal, professional, and academic success continue to develop. This introductory course takes a two-pronged approach to setting students on a path to success. It merges fundamental informational literacy concepts with essential resources and skills that prepare students for college and career. Students learn how to identify, locate, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information obtained through UAGC Library databases and internet search engines. By applying the research process, students sharpen critical thinking skills and learn to use information ethically. The final project is a practical and relevant opportunity for students to apply their learning in personally, professionally, and academically meaningful ways.

ENG 121 is designed to introduce students to the standards of writing in both academic and professional settings. The class will operate by first introducing, and then allowing students to practice, several written communication skills. Throughout, we will work to understand writing as a process, one that is strengthened through critical thinking, deepened by research, and built on a foundation of professional standards. Students will articulate a sense of their own skills and goals, and engage in collaborative conversations with peers and their instructor so as to be able to express their ideas more effectively. During the course, students will use the writing process to scrutinize their own perspectives while challenging them to embrace a wider conversation.

This course is designed to expand students’ appreciation of film and knowledge of how films are made. Through analysis of storytelling in a visual medium, students will examine the ways in which movies are shot, develop characters, evoke emotion, depict physical reality, reflect society, and have the power to influence it. Though the focus of the course is film itself, students will gain deeper intercultural fluency while growing their skills in critical thinking, written communication, and visual analysis.

This course is a study of correct and incorrect reasoning involved in everyday activities. The fundamentals of language and argument, deductive and inductive reasoning and other aspects of practical reasoning are examined. 

This course examines and evaluates theories and arguments concerning ethics and moral reasoning from a philosophical perspective. By engaging with historical and contemporary sources, students will analyze theories about the meaning, nature, and justification of ethical concepts; determine and assess how different forms of moral reasoning apply to contemporary moral issues; become more reflective and informed about their own moral beliefs; and develop their capacity for critical practical reasoning.

In this course, students will develop and expand their research and writing skills to communicate ideas in informed, ethical, and persuasive written documents intended for a range of audiences across a range of situations and contexts. Students will receive instruction and practice in synthesis and analysis, bolstering their written communication skills with a thorough understanding of academic research while honing critical thinking skills and effective work habits. Through writing well-structured, logical, and effective academic essays, students will explore tools and develop topics in a way that is meaningful to academic and professional lives. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 121 or equivalent with a grade of “C-” or better.

This course is designed to aid students in understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns among people in personal, social, academic, and professional settings will be examined, within and between cultures, including both face-to-face and technologically mediated channels.  The nature of these interactions will be evaluated using contemporary communication theory. The course will enable students to identify their interpersonal communication skills and behaviors and to more critically evaluate their own oral communication and that of others. The primary goals of the course are to improve the quality of students’ communication in their personal and professional relationships, to enhance students’ experience and. confidence with oral communication, and increase awareness of the importance of interpersonal communication that is inclusive and equitable.

A survey of government at the national level. Emphasis is placed on the constitutional basis of American government, federalism, the sources and forms of political behavior, the operation of the three branches of government, and the making of national policy.

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of social sciences and some of the disciplines that comprise this field, including anthropology, psychology, economics, sociology, political science, and history. In this course, students will learn important social science concepts and theoretical approaches, along with the research methods that social scientists use to study human behavior. They will also learn how research and findings from the social sciences can be applied broadly throughout society. Throughout the course and through a summative assignment, students will examine how social factors shape social behavior and some of the consequences of current social problems.

In this course, learners deepen their understanding of the importance of natural resources to mankind. Students explore physical, biological, and ecological principles, examine how human alterations affect the environment, and reflect on the controversies surrounding various approaches to addressing environmental problems and the steps some communities have taken to address these challenges.

In this course, students will explore a wide range of Algebra topics. Topics will include study of linear equations, linear relationships, slope, polynomials, and functions, including graphing relations and solving systems of equations. Emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of historical and current uses of algebra in real life settings, in various careers, and in solving important societal problems.

The capstone serves as an opportunity to reflect upon, integrate, and showcase learning achievement. Through discussions and course-embedded assessments, students will demonstrate a mastery of essential general education competencies as they relate to their personal and professional lives and provide evidence of growth through application of competency related skills to real-world situations. A minimum grade of “C-“ is required to meet course requirements. Prerequisite: 75 completed credits or permission of the student’s college or dean.

This is an introductory course for students considering teaching as a career path or individuals seeking an increased understanding of the complexity and importance of education. The first focus is on topics in education that include, but are not limited to, teaching as a profession, diversity in the classroom, facilitation of student achievement and accountability, classroom management, and requirements for continuing professionalism in the field. The second focus of this course is on academic writing as a necessary component in the field of education. 

In this course, learners will be introduced to the developmental theories, learning models, issues, and trends that inform quality early childhood education programs and policies, as well as the qualifications, competencies, and professionalism required for different careers in the field. In addition, students will examine developmental domains, assessment, partnership between educators and families, and the relationship between developmentally appropriate practice and learning environments.

Introduction to Early Childhood Behavior Management will address age-appropriate behavioral expectations and the learning environment as a tool for promoting positive and prosocial behavior. Current research and theory related to managing young children’s behavior and strategies for communicating with and involving diverse families to support positive behavioral outcomes will be examined. Learners will apply knowledge of observing, collecting data, and recording children’s behavior to support and address behavioral challenges in the classroom and develop strategies for responding to challenging behavior.

This course will introduce students to strategies that support and encourage the involvement of families in promoting children's health, safety, and nutrition, as well as the importance of establishing a safe and healthy environment that fosters growth and development in young children. Learners will develop educator philosophies that prioritize children’s well-being and design activities that teach children about health, nutrition, and safety.

Professional Responsibilities in the Early Childhood Environment examines key topics related to ensuring high-quality early learning environments by examining what it means to be an early childhood professional. In this course, students will describe the professional standards and ethical behaviors necessary to maintain a high-quality learning environment. Students will also analyze the concept of professionalism within the context of early childhood education and examine administrative practices for running well maintained early childhood facilities. Additionally, students evaluate the importance of professional development, reflective practice, and lifelong learning for early childhood professionals. Finally, students develop a plan to foster advocacy in the field of early childhood education and care.

This course will provide students with a solid foundation of the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed by leaders in the field of early childhood education. The various diverse expectations, responsibilities, and duties of a leader in a high-quality early childhood education program will be explored.  The course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role of the early childhood educator leader in leading a quality early childhood education program. 

This course describes the stages of developmental growth from conception to early childhood. Students will evaluate theory and research that explains the development of young children. Students will describe how biological, environmental, protective, and adverse factors impact children’s development and learning. They will also analyze developmentally appropriate practices supporting growth and development in physical, cognitive, social and emotional, and linguistic domains. Finally, students will analyze how development and learning intersect across developmental domains.

This course examines the principles and practices of curriculum planning and design tailored for diverse young children, birth to age 8. Students will explore differentiated instruction, research-based curriculum, and pedagogical approaches across several content areas. Students will learn to create inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and challenging learning experiences and environments for diverse young children. The National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Council for Exceptional Children standards are integrated into the coursework.

This course provides an examination of educational approaches and their impact on the practice of creating inclusive learning environments for children with exceptionalities. Students will examine methods of assessment and apply evidence-based instructional methods and strategies to support children with diverse needs in inclusive settings. In addition, students will analyze the collaborative models in inclusive settings that support and serve children and their families. Finally, students will create a professional and ethics-based philosophy of inclusion for children with exceptionalities.

Students will examine factors that promote effective communication and collaboration between early educators, families of children, and the community. In additional, learners will identify resources to foster these partnerships.

This course explores developmental theory and the relationship to the socialization and education of young children in child rearing, caring, and education. Special emphasis will be placed upon exploring how the child is viewed in the context of his or her family and the community at large. 

This course offers an examination of language development in children from birth to age eight, emphasizing the integration of research-based strategies to support early language and literacy skills. Special focus is placed on creating developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environments that nurture both typical and atypical language learners. Students will explore methods for supporting dual language learners and collaborate with diverse families to promote strong language foundations.

In this course, learners will explore current research theories and the use of community and virtual resources supporting English language learners and their families. In addition, students will analyze instructional strategies that support learners of diverse cultural backgrounds, academic needs, and proficiency levels, and design learning activities that foster social interaction, linguistic skills, and literacy development for English language learners.

This course provides an overview of research-based concepts and instructional practices for teaching children how to read following the Science of Reading. In addition, the course will review assessments for evaluating the performance of developing readers, including phonemic awareness, letter-sound identification, word reading, and fluency. This course will also cover early literacy principles and the stages and components of early literacy development. Finally, the course will help students draw connections between oral language, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluent reading. Prerequisite: EDU 372.

The content in this course will allow students to analyze the purpose of assessment in supporting children across all developmental domains. Using this foundation, students will examine the practical application of assessment tools and utilize assessment strategies to enhance the growth and development of children. Finally, students will synthesize their learning by developing an assessment portfolio that contains a plan for interventions to meet the developmental needs of diverse children.

The course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role of the early childhood educator in supporting and promoting the development of children and positive partnerships with families from diverse backgrounds. This course explores the complex dynamics within families and communities and emphasizes the importance of cultural responsiveness, inclusivity, and equity in early childhood education.

College of Education Capstone is designed to equip students at the end of their academic journey with the tools and strategies necessary for a successful transition into the 21st-century workforce. This course provides essential guidance and support, empowering recent graduates to create a compelling message that showcases their skills and abilities, positioning them as valuable assets to potential employers. The curriculum addresses five key areas vital for students entering the job market: sharing one’s story, resume creation, interview skills, portfolio development, and embedding an elevator pitch and personal brand statement into an easily shared and accessed ePortfolio. By mastering these areas, students will be able to market themselves competitively and effectively navigate their career paths. Prerequisite: GEN 499 & majority of major coursework.