Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education program prepares students to work with young children from birth to 5 and their families.  The curriculum is organized around a core of courses that provide skills and knowledge needed by early childhood educators.  

Students with a current CDA (Child Development Associate) credential (without ECED 190 credit) may apply for 4 credits of ECED 193/ECED 194 Early Childhood Field Experience 1A/1B after taking 12 credits of UHMC courses.  The student will receive “credit” and no grade for the class, per the policy Prior Learning Assessment - Credit for Non-Collegiate Instruction.  See program coordinator to initiate the process. Students are strongly encouraged to regularly meet with the program coordinator to prepare an education plan and get approval to take ECED 193, ECED 194, and ECED 295.

The Associate of Science (A.S.) Early Childhood Education program at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The current accreditation term runs from July 2015 through July 2022.

For more program information, contact the Program Coordinator, Julie Powers, at 808-984-3291 or by email at juliepow@hawaii.edu

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Use knowledge of child development and of individual children to create healthy, challenging learning environments and experiences
  2. Build respectful partnerships with children, families, and their communities.
  3. Observe, document and assess children’s development and learning in partnership with families.
  4. Build positive relationships and guide children through supportive interactions.
  5. Plan, implement, and assess learning experiences using appropriate content, concepts, and methods.
  6. Base decisions and actions on ethical and other professional standards.
  7. Advocate for children and their families within the program.

Degrees and Certificates

Classes

ECED 110 : Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Introduces concepts of developmentally appropriate practice and the importance of play. Provides an overview of and experience with the knowledge and skills necessary for working with children birth through age eight, including children with special needs.

Credits

3

ECED 115 : Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child

Introduces theories and practices for creating and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment for young children and adults in group settings. Introduces guidelines and practices for providing for the nutritional needs of young children and adults in group settings.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better, or placement at ENG 100, or consent.

ECED 131 : Early Childhood Development: Theory into Practice

Introduces principles of human development from conception through age eight and how this informs practice. Focuses on the relationships between physical, cognitive, emotional and social aspects of the individual during this period.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better, or placement at ENG 100, or consent.

ECED 140 : Guiding Young Children in Group Settings

Addresses positive ways to support children’s social-emotional development. Focuses on adult-child and child-child interactions and relationships. (No longer crosslisted as FAMR 140, effective Spring 2020.)

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better or placement in ENG 100 or consent.

ECED 170 : Introduction to Working with Infants and Toddlers

Provides an overview of the basic skills needed for working with infants and toddlers and their families in group care settings. Focuses on interactive aspects of child development. Introduces infant-toddler caregiving routines and environments, and caregiver roles.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better, or placement at least ENG 100, or consent.

ECED 175B : Introduction to Home Visiting

Explores child growth and development from birth to five with emphasis on establishing a partnership with families to encourage their involvement in enhancement of the child’s self-esteem; self-discipline; intellectual development; and physical, social, and emotional competence. Introduces principles of adult learning and effective communication skills.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 19 with grade C or better, or placement at least ENG 22, or consent.

ECED 175C : Home Visiting: Assessment & Recordkeeping

Introduces and explores assessment, record keeping, and case-management skills required for home visitor programs. Examines action plans based on identification of the child and adult needs and progress.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 19 with grade C or better, or placement at least ENG 22, or consent.

ECED 175D : Home Visiting: Professionalism

Explores community resources, professional ethics, personal boundaries, confidentiality, and professional development for the home visitor to meet the needs of community agencies that employ home visitors.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 19 with grade C or better, or placement at least ENG 22, or consent.

ECED 193 : Early Childhood Field Experience IA

Provides a supervised work experience in an early childhood education and care setting. Supports students in integrating content knowledge with practice. Designed for those who have little or no experience in early childhood programs. Students take ECED 193 or ECED 194 as their first field experience course. Students should consult with program coordinator to determine which course to take. (Cannot be audited.) (Formerly ECED 190)

Credits

4

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor; and ECED 110 and ECED 131, both with grade C or better, and ENG 22 or placement at ENG 100. Note: Students may be required to obtain a physical or doctor’s note and to be fingerprinted, all at the student’s expense.

ECED 194 : Early Childhood Field Experience IB

Provides a supervised work experience in an early childhood education and care setting. Supports students in integrating content knowledge with practice. Designed for those already working in an early childhood program. Students take 193 or 194 as their first field experience course. Students should consult with program coordinator to determine which course to take. (Cannot be audited.)

Credits

4

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor; and ECED 110 and ECED 131, both with grade C or better; and ENG 22 with grade C or better or placement at ENG 100. Note: Students may be required to obtain a physical or doctor’s note and to be fingerprinted all at the student’s expense.

ECED 245 : Child, Family, and Community

Develops communication skills and other strategies for building effective relationships with diverse families and relevant community members. Introduces students to the local resources available for family referral. (No longer Crosslisted as FAMR 235, effective Spring 2020.)

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ENG 100 with grade C or better, or consent.

ECED 263 : Language and Creative Expression Curriculum

Addresses creative and language disciplines, stages of development for each, and how these relate to appropriate early childhood curriculum. Includes designing curriculum for language, literacy, literature, and creative expression (art, music, & creative movement/dance) based on observation of children. Students must have contact with preschool children in a formal setting for observation and implementation of course assignments.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ECED 110, ECED 131, and ENG 100, all with grade C or better, or consent.

ECED 264 : Inquiry and Physical Curriculum

Addresses physical development and inquiry disciplines, stages of development for each, and how these relate to appropriate early childhood curriculum. Includes designing curriculum for physical development, and inquiry (math, science, and social studies) based on observation of children. Introduces integrated curriculum based on science and social studies topics. Students must have contact with preschool children in a formal setting for observation and implementation of course assignments.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ECED 110, ECED 131, and ENG 100, all with grade C or better, or consent.

ECED 275 : Inclusion of Children with Special Needs

Introduces legal, historical, and research information about serving young children with special needs in inclusive environments. Introduces issues and practices associated with establishing partnerships with families and understanding collaborative relationships that contribute to meeting diverse needs of young children in inclusive settings. Facilitates development of skills to adapt and modify the learning environment in line with developmentally appropriate practice. Introduces traditional and alternative assessment and identifies skills necessary to facilitate successful transitions.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

ECED 131 and ENG 100, both with grade C or better, or consent.

ECED 281B : Early Childhood Program Admin: Licensing & Overview

Examines licensing and its role; organizations; and roles and responsibilities of the early childhood program administrator. Looks at and evaluates present vision and mission statements, and gives tools to develop vision and mission statements.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better, or placement at ENG 100, or consent.

ECED 281C : Early Childhood Program Admin: Staff Development

Examines hiring, grievance, and firing policies of early childhood programs. Examines and lets student develop a staff development framework for their program.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better, or placement at ENG 100, or consent.

ECED 282B : Early Childhood Program Admin: Budgets & Financial Management

Examines principles of profit and non-profit management, budgeting, and financial planning. Gives students tools to develop budgets and short- and long-term financial plans for early childhood programs.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better or placement at ENG 100, and MATH 82 with grade C or better or placement at least MATH 100, or consent.

ECED 282C : Early Childhood Program Admin: Recordkeeping

Examines and analyzes operating policies, recordkeeping practices, and staff and child evaluation procedures of early childhood programs.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better, or placement at ENG 100, or consent.

ECED 282D : Early Childhood Program Admin: Advocacy

Examines the various ways an administrator can be an advocate for the profession. Looks at programs, accreditation, and understanding and utilizing decision-making processes at the county, state, and federal levels.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

ENG 22 with grade C or better, or placement at ENG 100, or consent.

ECED 295 : Early Childhood Field Experience II

Provides a culminating supervised work experience in an early childhood education and care setting. Supports students in integrating content knowledge with practice. (Cannot be audited.)

Credits

4

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor; and ECED 105, ECED 140, ECED193 or 194, ECED 245, ECED 263 or 264 (or concurrent) and ENG 100, all with grade C or better. Note: Students may be required to obtain a physical or doctor’s note and to be fingerprinted, all at student’s expense.