Business Department - Midlands Technical College

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Contact Sandra R. Hackley at 822-3768 or hackleys@midlandstech.edu for additional information.

Overview:

Early childhood professionals work in a variety of settings for children ages birth through eight years, including child care centers, Head Start centers, family child care homes, morning preschool programs, after-school programs, programs for children with differing abilities, summer camp programs, private schools, and public schools. In addition, early childhood professionals also work with home visitation programs, parenting programs, and early intervention programs.

Click here for more information about this program. www.midlandstech.edu/ecd

Mission Statement:
Midlands Technical College’s Early Childhood Development Program empowers current and future early care and education professionals to inspire our youngest children to reach their fullest potential.

Goals:

1. Quality Instruction: To promote learning that develops individual potential and produces competitive graduates for the workforce. To utilize best practices and current research in the field of early childhood education.

2. Student Success: To prepare students for early childhood occupations or for transfer to four-year institutions. To enhance the base of knowledge for those already employed in the early childhood field.

3. Program and Curricula: To offer a curriculum that prepares graduates for the workplace and meets the needs of child care and early education employers. To design field experiences for students to ensure meaningful application of early childhood knowledge and skills. To provide opportunities to examine ethical decisions involving children, families, peers, and the community. To provide experiences to engage and support families within the context of culture, community, and society.

4. Technology: To produce students that can utilize current technology in the workplace.

5. Professional Development: To produce students that can communicate effectively and advocate to support best practices in the field of early childhood education. To develop the critical, logical, and analytical abilities of students. To work cooperatively in establishing articulation agreements with public, private and independent colleges and universities in order to maximize transfer opportunities.

Program Outcomes:
1a: Students will know and understand young children’s characteristics and needs.
1b: Students will know and understanding the multiple influences on development and learning.
1c: Students will use knowledge of development to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging environments.

2a: Students will know about and understand family characteristics.
2b: Students will support and empower families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.
2c: Students will involve families and communities in their children’s development and learning.

3a: Students will understand the goals, benefits and uses of assessment.
3b: Students will Know about and use observation, documentation and other appropriate assessment tools.
3c: Students will understand and practice responsible assessment.
3d: Students will know about assessment partnerships with families & other professionals.

4a: Students will know, understand, and use positive relationships and supportive interactions. 4b: Students will know, understand, and use effective approaches, strategies, and tools for early education.
4c: Students will know and understand the importance, central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines.
4d: Students will use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum to promote positive outcomes.

5a: Students will identify and involve themselves with the early childhood field.
5b: Students will know about and uphold ethical standards and other professional guidelines.
5c: Students will engage in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice.
5d: Students will integrate knowledgeable, critical & reflective perspectives on early education. 5e: Students will engage in informed advocacy for children and the profession.

Program Accreditation:
This program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Degree Awarded:
Graduates of this program earn an Associate Degree in Public Service. In accordance with College policy, students must have an overall "C" average (minimum 2.0 GPA) to graduate.

Special Requirements:
In order to complete any ECD certificate (Child Care, ECD, or Infant/Toddler) or the Associate Degree in Early Care and Education, students must obtain a "C" or better in all required courses and electives. In courses with lab components (ECD 107, ECD 132, ECD 237, ECD 243), students are required to obtain a SLED background check, a health assessment and a TB test. Before enrolling in any ECD courses, except ECD 101, students must successfully complete or test out of ENG 100 and RDG 100.

Program Plans:
To access a copy of the program plan click here.

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Please send any questions or comments regarding this website to
Janice Stoudemire at stoudemirej@midlandstech.edu
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