Coursework is grounded in Montessori philosophy & practices, Anti-Bias-Anti-Racist Pedagogy and whole-child centered learning. By completing coursework through St. Kate’s, adult learners gain university credits within an Associate’s degree program. These credits could later be transferred into a Bachelor’s program, giving the student options for professional growth and all the implications that come with more advanced degrees including pay raises and more elevated positions. 
 

In this Associate Degree program, you can expect to: gain critical knowledge to help you be a more effective classroom teacher; to engage in critical self reflective activities to engage in personal transformation to become ethical and influential educational leaders informed by the philosophy of Maria Montessori and her vision of peace and social justice to develop a greater understanding of themselves, children, and the world. You will gain real world experience to prepare you to develop your teaching pedagogy with an individualized, anti-bias and anti-racist teaching approach influenced by Montessori philosophy that honors the whole child. In order to do this, you will also learn how to navigate the demands of teaching and learning; in order to be an effective teacher the mind, body, and spirit must be nurtured, supported, and integrated into all courses are strategies for sustaining yourself in the field through a holistic approach to the field of education. This includes a commitment to serving in, learning from, and collaborating with diverse communities who share a common vision of educational equity.

Through this program, you will deepen your understanding of key developmentally appropriate practices of the Preparation of the Adult and Observation skills with an Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist lens. Your courses are taught by instructors who are experts in the field of Early Childhood Education.

In addition to the program-required courses, students must complete the LIFE general education core curriculum.

The A.A.S. Early Childhood Education program requires a minimum of 61 credits.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ECED 1000	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 2040W	Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 2200	The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment	4
ECED 2300	Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards	1
ECED 2500	Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 2600	Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 3280	Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials	4
ECED 3350	Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood	4
INDI 3400	Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education	4
HHS 4100	Holistic Health in Communities of Practice	4
Total Credits		31

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Fall Term
ECED 1000	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
Spring Term
ECED 2040W	Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education	4
Fall Term
ECED 2200	The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment	4
Spring Term
ECED 2300	Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards	1
ECED 2500	Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 2600	Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education	1
Fall Term
ECED 3280	Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials	4
Spring Term
ECED 3350	Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood	4
Fall Term
INDI 3400	Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education	4
Fall Term
HHS 4100	Holistic Health in Communities of Practice	4
Total Credits		31