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Program Map

Early Childhood Education (Basic)

Career Pathway Certificate

About the Program

The Early Childhood Education program prepares students to work with young children from birth through 8 years of age and their families in a variety of settings including child care centers, family child care, preschools, Head Start, school age programs, home visiting, and parent education. It is planned to accommodate both full- and part-time students, including those currently employed in the field.

The program has as its foundation the one-term basic certificate which also fulfills the formal training requirement for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. The basic certificate prepares students to work in entry-level positions in child-care programs, Head Start, or other early childhood settings. Students may choose to complete the CDA assessment process to achieve the CDA credential. The early childhood basic certificate is the first step in the Early Childhood Education career pathway leading to the intermediate certificate, the one-year certificate, and the AAS degree.

For the corresponding relationship of the Early Childhood Education coursework to the Oregon Registry go to: Pathways to Professional Recognition in Childhood Care and Education, and click on Rogue Community College.

Program Learning Outcomes

The curriculum in RCC courses is derived from a set of identified learning outcomes that are relevant to the discipline. Program learning outcomes for the Early Childhood Education Basic Career Pathway Certificate are:

• Summarize stages of child development for ages birth through age 8, across developmental domains.
  
• Describe the importance of building family and community partnerships to support successful early childhood outcomes.
  
• Explain the purpose of child observation to assess and plan for individual developmental strengths and needs.
  
• Explain the importance of supportive and responsive interactions with young children as the foundation of an early educator’s work.
  
• Identify the elements of being a professional in the early childhood field.
  

Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the Placement Process to determine skill level and readiness in math, reading, and writing. As part of their training program, students must begin with the courses within their skill level as determined through the Placement Process.

Students must score above RD90 and WR90 in order to take ECE courses but no minimal score is required in math. For more information, call 541-956-7066.
Students are also required to provide information regarding their measles immunization status by completing the form found on the RCC Early Childhood and Elementary Education Department website and clicking on ECEE Department Requirements Completed forms must be submitted to a department secretary.

Students must also obtain an RCC student identification card. RCC photos will be taken on a scheduled basis through Student Affairs. Contact Student Affairs for more information. Students should take their schedules to obtain an identification card. Take the identification card each time an observation is scheduled in an early childhood setting.

Many courses in this department require participation in community schools, programs, and agencies for observation and practicum experiences. Some of these sites may require a background check in order for a student to participate. Future employment serving children and families will require a background check. Students may wish to consider going through a background check process to be ready for potential observation, practicum, and employment experiences - check with an ECEE advisor for additional information.

For some classes, early childhood education students are required to use the Redwood Early Childhood Center, which is a Head Start site. Therefore, all students in the Early Childhood Education program must obtain prior clearance from Head Start. The process for doing this is on the Southern Oregon Head Start website, www.socfc.org. Click on “Volunteer” and then on “Download Volunteer Packet.” Required paperwork must be completed before observing or participating at a Head Start site.

Advanced Standing

Coursework from accredited colleges and universities will be accepted in accordance with college registration policies and the Early Childhood Education Department chair’s approval. In order to ensure that coursework is current, program courses over 10 years old must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate department chair before being accepted toward core requirements. Each College Now student must meet with the department chair to determine placement.

Credits earned in the successful completion of Career Pathway Certificates can be applied to other certificates and degrees in the Career Pathway. For more information, speak to a program advisor.

Completion Requirements

Students completing the required credits in this program with a grade of “C” or better will receive their certificates. Certain required courses are graded on a pass/no pass basis only. A grade of “P” for these courses indicates a student earned the equivalent of a “C” or better grade.

This guide lays out an optimal path to graduate. Where zero credits are listed in the prerequisites, students may place into a higher-level(s) based on designated placement score(s). Note, some prerequisites may be required for graduation. Please consult an advisor with any program completion questions.

For more information, contact the Early Childhood and Elementary Education Department.

Early Childhood and Elementary Education Department faculty and staff can also be reached by:
Phone: 541-956-7500
Email: [email protected]
Web address: www.roguecc.edu/ecee
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