Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma (ECC2)  Diploma


Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Diploma program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the field of early childhood education. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application as well as limited general core competencies necessary for successful employment. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers and Head Start.

The ECCE program adheres to the Technical College System of Georgia Program Standards utilizing off-campus, community-based internship sites, or on-campus laboratory preparation in the Child Care Center located at the Swainsboro campus. Students must have their own reliable transportation when traveling to off-campus internship sites. Students must complete a Comprehensive Fingerprint Records Check and receive a satisfactory determination by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

The standard curriculum for the Early Childhood Care and Education program is designed for the semester system. Students may enter any semester. The program generally takes four (4) to five (5) semesters to complete. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 53 credit hours.

Requirements

  • Submit a completed application;
  • Be at least 16 years of age;
  • Submit official high school/high school equivalent transcripts;
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
  • Satisfy Placement Testing requirements.

Program Costs

Costs are estimates and are subject to change.

  • Tuition/Fees: $7,055
  • Books/Supplies: $2,200
  • Course Supply Fees:
    • ECCE 1121 Practicum Liability Insurance: $12
    • ECCE 1105 Health, Safety, & Nutrition CPR/First Aid Vouchers: $27
    • ECCE 1112 Curriculum and Assessment: $10
    • ECCE 1113 Creative Activities for Children: $20
    • ECCE 2115 Language and Literacy: $10
    • ECCE 2116 Math and Science: $10
    • ECCE 2245 Internship I Liability Insurance: $12
    • ECCE 2246 Internship II Liability Insurance: $12
  • Hepatitis B Vaccination: Approximately $260. Some internship and practicum sites require a Hepatitis B Vaccination.
  • CPR/First Aid is a requirement for ECCE 1105 Health Safety and Nutrition. All students are required to be certified in CPR/First Aid before exiting this course.
Curriculum Outline (53 hours)
General Core (11 hours) 11
COLL 1040

(Prerequisite: None) This course is designed to provide tools to assist students to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success in their chosen occupational/technical program of study. Topics include: Computer Applications/Technology Skills, Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Styles, Time and Money Management, Study and Test Taking Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Communication Skills, and Career Exploration.

3
EMPL 1000

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Emphasizes human relations and professional development in today's rapidly changing world that prepares students for living and working in a complex society. Topics include human relations skills, job acquisition skills and communication, job retention skills, job advancement skills, and professional image skills.

2
ENGL 1010

(Prerequisite: ENGL 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score AND READ 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score) Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills.

3
MATH 1012

(Prerequisites: MATH 0097 OR Appropriate arithmetic placement test score.) Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, geometric concepts, technical applications, and basic statistics.

3
Occupational Courses (42 hours) 42
ECCE 1101

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Introduces concepts relating the responsibilities and procedures involved in a variety of early childhood care situations. Topics include: historical perspectives, professionalism, guidance, developmentally appropriate practices; learning environment including all children), cultural diversity, and licensing accreditation and credentialing.

3
ECCE 1103

(Prerequisites: Provisional admission) Introduces the student to the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of the young child (prenatal through 12 years of age). The course provides for competency development in observing, recording, and interpreting growth and development stages in the young child; advancing physical and intellectual competence; supporting social and emotional development; and examining relationships between child development and positive guidance. Topics include developmental characteristics, prenatal through age 12, developmental guidance applications, observing and recording techniques, ages and stages of development, and introduction to children with special needs.

3
ECCE 1105

(Prerequisites: Provisional admission) Introduces the theory, practices, and requirements for establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment. Topics include CPR and first aid, health issues, safety issues, child abuse and neglect, and nutritional needs of children. A $10 fee is associated with this course due to the cost of CPR/first aid card and training.

3
ECCE 1112

(Prerequisites: ECCE 1103) (Co-requisites: ECCE 1103) Provides student with an understanding of developmentally effective approaches to teaching, learning, observing, documenting and assessment strategies that promote positive development for young children. The course will enable the student to establish a learning environment appropriate for young children and to identify the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment in the development of curriculum for young children. Topics include observing, documenting, and assessing; standards; learning environments; development of curriculum plans and materials; curriculum approaches; and instructional media. A $10 fee is associated with this course due to the cost of supplies for activities required in courses.

3
ECCE 1113

(Prerequisites: Provisional admission) Introduces the concepts related to creativity in art, music, movement and creative drama, and facilitating children's creative expression across the curriculum. Topics include concepts of creativity and expression; theories of young children's creative development; facilitation of children's creative expression, media, methods and materials across the curriculum; appreciation of children's art processes and products; appreciation of children's creativity in music, movement and dance; appreciation of children's creative expression in play and creative drama; and art and music appreciation.  A $10 fee is associated with this course due to the cost of supplies for activities required in courses.

3
ECCE 1121

(Prerequisites: ECCE 1105) (Co-requisite: ECCE 1105) Provides the student with the opportunity to gain a supervised experience in a practicum placement site allowing demonstration of techniques obtained from course work. Practicum training topics include: promoting child development and learning, building family and community relationships, observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families, teaching and learning; becoming a professional; and guidance techniques and classroom management.

3
ECCE 2115

(Prerequisites: ECCE 1103) (Co-requisite: ECCE 1103) Develops knowledge, skills, and abilities in supporting young children's literacy acquisition and development, birth through age twelve. Topics include developmental continuum of reading and writing, literacy acquisition birth to five years of age, literacy acquisition in kindergarten, literacy acquisition in early grades, and literacy acquisition in children who are culturally and linguistically diverse. A $10 fee is associated with this course due to the cost of supplies for activities required in courses.

3
ECCE 2116

(Prerequisites: ECCE 1103) (Co-requisite: ECCE 1103) Presents the process of introducing science and math concepts to young children. Includes planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate activities and development of math and science materials, media and methods. Topics include inquiry approach to learning; cognitive stages and developmental processes in developing math and science concepts with children birth to five; cognitive stages and developmental processes in developing math and science concepts with children in kindergarten and primary grades; planning math and science activities; and development of math and science materials, media and methods. A $10 fee is associated with this course due to the cost of supplies for activities required in courses.

3
ECCE 2202

(Prerequisites: Provisional admission) Enables the student to become familiar with the social issues that affect families of today and to develop a plan for coping with these issues as they occur in the occupational environment. Students are introduced to local programs and agencies that offer services to those in need. Topics include: parent education and support, teacher-parent communication, professional responsibilities, family/social issues, community resources, community partnerships, social diversity and anti-bias issues, transitioning the child, and school family activities.

3
ECCE 2203

(Prerequisites: ECCE 1103) (Co-requisite: ECCE 1103) Examines effective guidance practices in group settings based upon the application of theoretical models of child development and of developmentally appropriate practices. Focus will be given to individual, family, and cultural diversity. Topics will include developmentally appropriate child guidance (birth through 12); effective classroom management, including preventive and interventive techniques; understanding challenging behaviors; and implementing guidance plans.

3
ECCE 2245

(Prerequisites: ECCE 1101, ECCE 1103 and ECCE 1105)(Co-requisites: ECCE 1105) Provides the student with the opportunity to gain a supervised experience in an actual or simulated work site allowing demonstration of techniques obtained from course work. Internship topics include promoting child development and learning; building family and community relationships; observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families; using developmentally effective approaches; using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum; and becoming a professional. A $12 Liability Insurance fee is required for this course.

6
ECCE 2246

(Prerequisites: ECCE 1101, ECCE 1103)(Co-requisites: ECCE 1105, ECCE 2245) Provides the student with the opportunity to gain a supervised experience in an actual or simulated work site allowing demonstration of techniques obtained from course work. Internship topics include promoting child development and learning; building family and community relationships; observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families; using developmentally effective approaches; using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum; and becoming a professional. A $12 Liability Insurance fee is required for this course.

6
Faculty
Advisor

Early Childhood Care & Education Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Building A, Office 314/316

Advisor

Early Childhood Care & Education Instructor
Swainsboro Campus - Building 2, Office 2125/2126

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