Child Dev in Diverse Ed Contexts, Birth-8 This course focuses on historical and contemporary psychological and psychosocial theories of development of young children from Birth to Age 8. It covers the relationship of development and early learning to: biological factors; child and family factors; early schooling; and other socio-cultural factors, particularly in diverse educational contexts. Students will evaluate children's physical, cognitive, communicative, social and emotional development as both contributors to, and as consequences of, early experiences.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Major Restrictions:
Restricted to majors of CURI, READ

Approaches to ECED Ped, Birth-8: This course focuses on current methods and practice for teaching young children, Birth to Age 8. It covers major approaches to Early Childhood Education, including their historical, theoretical and pedagogical basis. Students will analyze various approaches to Early Childhood Education pedagogy through the lenses of: Notions of Quality & Best Practice; Play-based and Inquiry-based learning theories; DCAP (Developmentally and Culturally Appropriate Practice); and the Funds of Knowledge premise, with an emphasis on helping all children to become contributing members in a diverse society.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Current Topics in Early Childhood Education (3-0) This course focuses on selected topics in Early Childhood Education. Topics covered fluctuate; it may be repeated for credit when the topic varies. Students will appraise the selected topic and its relationship to effective Early Childhood Education in diverse educational contexts.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Prerequisite(s): (ECED 5348 w/C or better)

Early Lit/Multi-Lit Dev & Curr, Birth-8: This course focuses on the early language and literacy acquisition of young children, taking a broad view of early literacy. It covers the components and linguistic underpinning of emergent literacy, Birth to Age 8. It further explores how young children create meaning in multimodal ways and the use of a wide range of cultural, linguistic, communicative, and technologically diverse teaching practices to support early literacy/biliteracy learning. Students will synthesize differing views of early language and literacy pedagogy and current research to create curricula that supports diverse literacy learners in the Early Childhood classroom.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Prerequisite(s): (ECED 5348 w/C or better)

Early STEM/STEAM Development & Curriculum, Birth-8: This course focuses on the early STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Art, Engineering, Mathematics) learning of young children and the use of culturally sustaining teaching methods and materials to support early STEM/STEAM learning. It covers how environmental interactions, sociocultural relationships and STEM/STEAM practices form the basis of early STEM identity development, early problem solving and domain-relevant conceptual development. Students will synthesize differing views of STEM/STEAM learning, inquiry-based learning pedagogy and current research to create curricula that supports diverse STEM learners in the Early Childhood classroom.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Prerequisite(s): (ECED 5348 w/C or better)

Justice/Equity Ed & Multi Lit, B-8: This course focuses on how the use of multicultural literature in the Early Childhood classroom impacts young children's beliefs and knowledge of diversity, equality, social justice and fair treatment in our diverse, contemporary society. It covers conceptualizations of justice-oriented/ equity education, multicultural education and multicultural literacy as applied to teaching and learning in the early years. Students will explore the creation, critique and utilization of children’s literature by/about various cultures, as well as literature by/about groups traditionally defined by class, religion, (dis)ability, gender or sexuality.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Prerequisite(s): (ECED 5348 w/C or better)

Early Childhood Ed Pedagogy, Birth to 8 This course focuses on current methods and practice teaching young children, Birth to Age 8. It covers major approaches to Early Childhood Education, including their historical and theoretical bases. Students will analyze Early Childhood Education pedagogy through the lenses of: Play-based and Inquiry-based learning theories; DCAP (Developmentally and Culturally Appropriate Practice); and the Funds of Knowledge premise, with an emphasis on helping all children to become contributing members in a diverse society.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Major Restrictions:
Restricted to majors of CURI

Prerequisite(s): (ECED 5348 w/C or better)

This course focuses on play, games and toys, with an emphasis on historical and contemporary discourses of their role in Early Childhood Education. It covers diverse theories and research on patterns/processes of play related to the social and cognitive development of children from Birth to Age 8, as well as research on the affordances/ challenges of play-based teaching practices. Games and toys are critiqued in terms of their sociocultural construction, pedagogical usage, and in how they may contribute to the creative, language, social, emotional and identity development of young children.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Relations & Child Guide, Birth- 8: This course focuses on responsive relationships and their impact on the brain and social-emotional development of young children, Birth to Age 8. Relationship building is explored, encompassing the system of relationships (interconnected and reciprocal) between the child, teacher, family, peers and community. Also covered is notions of care, discipline and child guidance strategies from infancy to early elementary school, as well as the design of learning environments. Students will explore multiple frameworks to both understand and challenge traditional ideas of "classroom management".

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Asset & Art-based Teach, Birth-8: This course focuses on Asset and Arts-based teaching, Birth to Age 8. It covers the role of children's inherent and inherited (cultural/linguistic) capacities and strengths in designing effective and impactful curriculum, and early education approaches that emphasize the importance of nurturing children's unique talents and creative processes. Students will analyze the relationship between artistic engagement/behaviors and all domains of development, as well as how the Arts can be used to design culturally sustaining, student-centered, multimodal, interdisciplinary early learning experiences.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours

Advanced Teacher Capstone,Birth-8: This course is the culminating experience in the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education program. It provides students the opportunity to synthesize and apply core content knowledge gained throughout their course of study. Through the completion of a guided case study project conducted in an early childhood setting, students will be expected to demonstrate their academic and professional skill development as advanced early childhood teacher- leaders. Earning a grade of "pass" in the capstone course is a degree requirement for graduation.

Department: Early Childhood Education

3 Credit Hours
3 Total Contact Hours
0 Lab Hours
3 Lecture Hours
0 Other Hours