ECED 3300 Introduction to Early Childhood: 3 semester hours.

Historical, philosophical, and social foundations of early childhood years to include: understanding the principles of underlying social and emotional developments of the young child and the nature of the learner. Observation is included.

ECED 3301 Health/Motor/Physical Development: 3 semester hours.

Fundamentals of health/motor/physical stages and characteristics of development in early childhood with emphasis on health problems common during early childhood; health and safety practices for young children; includes special needs related to young children.

ECED 4300 Communication and Language Development: 3 semester hours.

An overview of theories related to language development and communication usage to demonstrate diverse patterns of verbal and nonverbal communication in the development of the young child.

ECED 4301 Young Child/Cognitive Development: 3 semester hours.

An examination of theories and models in the development of cognition to include stages of development and their characteristics; special needs related to cognition and implications for young children.

ECED 4302 Program Organization: 3 semester hours.

A survey of programs for young children to include criteria for the selection and evaluation of the physical environmental needs of children; emphasis will be placed on legislation and public policy as it affects the school, children and their families.

ECED 4311 Instructional Strategies: 3 semester hours.

A study of instructional strategies for teaching content to include methodology, setting goals/objectives, evaluating, and creating a conducive learning environment. Emphasis will be placed on alternative instructional strategies and procedures. (15 clock hours of simulated and practical experiences included).

ECED 4312 Clinical Experiences: 3 semester hours.

Field-based experiences involving young children in a classroom setting to include 45 clock hours of classroom observation, recording behavior, planning activities, providing for individual needs, working with other professionals, understanding conference techniques, and professional ethics.

ECED 5301 Fundamentals of Administration and Organizational Change: 3 semester hours.

This course is a study of early childhood educational administration, basic concepts of administrative theory and practice, and the relationship of administrative practice to preschool organization and control.

ECED 5304 Maximizing Fiscal and Operational Resources: 3 semester hours.

Policy research and analysis are key components in each stage of the policy cycle design, enactment, implementation, and evaluation. Theory plays a prominent role in identifying logic, values that underpin how policy is understood and supported by analysts and researchers.

ECED 5311 Leveraging, Supervising, and Leading Early Childhood Teams: 3 semester hours.

This course examines the study of theories to provide the lens through which to understand the central questions, logics, and values that underpin how policy is understood and supported by analysts and researchers. Throughout the course, theory will be applied to real-world examples, providing concrete opportunities to examine different, sometimes competing, analytic approaches and the contexts in which they are applied for leveraging, supervising, and leading in early childhood.

ECED 5354 Critical Issues in Early Childhood Practices and Policy: 3 semester hours.

The course focuses on the practice of early childhood education and care (ECEC), as well as the role of families and policymakers in altering practices and policies.

ECED 5360 Early Childhood Leadership in Policy Internship: 3 semester hours.

Field-based and seminar experiences are designed to provide on-site school- and policy-related activities and the analysis of actual situations and problems to discern the elements most necessary for preparing individuals to fill early childhood policy roles.