Course Descriptions

Degrees and Programs Index


Early Childhood

EC 100 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring (TVC)
As Demand Warrants (Rural Sites)
Introduction to Early Childhood (2.75+.5)

Introduction to the early childhood profession, including historical foundations, current issues, future predictions, exploration of needs of children and families, career opportunities, educational requirements, standards for jobs in the field, and personal professional goals. Includes seven hours lab.


EC 110 (3 Credits) Spring
Nutrition, Health and Safety (3+0)

Establishing and maintaining physically and psychologically safe and healthy learning environments for children, including common illnesses, preventive health care, nutritional needs, safety aspects of caring for young children, and Alaska laws and regulations relating to nutrition, health, and safety of the young. (Alternative: EC 111, 112 and 113.)


EC 111 (1 Credit) Spring
Nutrition for Young Children (1+0)

Appropriate ways to meet the nutritional needs of infants and young children, including laws, regulations, and appropriate practices relative to food handling service. (Alternative to EC 110 when taken with EC 112 and 113.)


EC 112 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Healthy Environment for Young Children (1+0)

Establishing and maintaining a physically and psychologically safe environment for children, including common illnesses, preventive health care and Alaska laws and regulations relating to the health of young children. (Alternative to EC 110 when taken with EC 111 and 113.)


EC 113 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Safe Environment for Young Children (1+0)

Establishing and maintaining a physically and psychologically safe environment for children, including safety aspects of caring for young children and Alaska laws and regulations relating to safety. (Alternative to EC 110 when taken with EC 111 and 112.)


EC 120 (4 Credits) Fall, Spring
Curriculum and Activities for Young Children (3.75+.5)

Curriculum and activities to advance the physical, cognitive, communicative and creative competencies of young children, including teacher techniques and attitudes for establishing integrated, meaningful and relevant experiences within indoor and outdoor environments. Developmentally appropriate methods of facilitating individual and small group experiences, teacher-directed times, transitions and assessment are included. (Alternative: EC 121, 122, 123 and 124.)


EC 121 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Physical Activities for Young Children (1+0)

Essentials of creating an environment which provides space, materials, equipment, and activities to promote the physical development of children. (Alternative to EC 120 when taken with EC 122, 123 and 124.)


EC 122 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Cognitive Activities for Young Children (1+0)

Curriculum planning and facilitation of activities and experiences which encourage questioning, probing, and problem-solving skills appropriate for different developmental levels and various learning styles of young children. (Alternative to EC 120 when taken with EC 121, 123 and 124.)


EC 123 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Communicative Activities (1+0)

Curriculum planning and facilitation of activities that help children acquire and use language as a means of communicating their thoughts and feelings. Includes nonverbal communication and understanding of others. (Alternative to EC 120 when taken with EC 121, 122 and 124.)


EC 124 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Creative Activities for Young Children (1+0)

Curriculum planning and facilitation of activities which provide a variety of experiences and media that stimulate children to explore and express their creative ability. (Alternative to EC 120 when taken with EC 121, 122 and 123.)


EC 125 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Learning Mathematics (1+0)

Overview of how children construct mathematical meanings. Introduction to mathematical learning principles and experiences for children, 3 - 8 years. (Prerequisite: EC 245 or concurrent enrollment.)


EC 130 (2 Credits) Fall
Culture, Learning and the Young Child (2+0)

Ways each child within a culture comes to know, accept and take pride in himself or herself. Maintaining a culturally appropriate, open, friendly and cooperative caring relationship with each child's family. (Alternate courses: EC 131 and 132.)


EC 131 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Developing Positive Self-Concepts in Young Children (1+0)

Methods for helping children develop a sense of awareness and self-esteem. Emphasis on providing success-oriented activities, encouraging acceptance and expression of children's feelings and developing pride as an individual and as a member of a cultural/ethnic group. (Alternative to EC 130 when taken with EC 132.)


EC 132 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Positive Home-Center Relationship (1+0)

The importance of a positive and productive relationship between families and the child development centers. Emphasis on using this relationship to coordinate child rearing efforts of both the family and the educator. (Alternative to EC 130 when taken with EC 131.)


EC 140 (3 Credits) Spring
Classroom Management and Guidance (2.5+.5)

Managing a classroom of young children, 3 years and older, in ways that encourage play and exploration and enhance learning; space, relationships, materials and routines as resources for constructing an interesting, secure and enjoyable environment; strengthen social and emotional development of children, as well as skills necessary to provide appropriate guidance and discipline. Includes teacher-directed times, transitions and child-initiated experiences. (Alternate: EC 141, 142 and 143.)


EC 141 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Guidance and Discipline (1+0)

Explores skills needed to provide an environment in which children can begin to learn and practice appropriate and acceptable behaviors as individuals and as a group. (Alternative to EC 140 when taken with EC 142 and 143.)


EC 142 ( 1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Social Development of the Young Child (1+0)

Explores skills which help each child feel accepted in the group, help children learn to communicate and get along with others, and encourage feelings of empathy, and mutual respect among children and adults. Alternative to EC 140 when taken with EC 141 and 143.)


EC 143 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Learning Environments (1+0)

Space, relationships, materials, and routines as resources for constructing interesting, secure, and enjoyable environments that encourage play, exploration, and learning. (Alternative to EC 140 when taken with EC 141 and 142.)


EC 170 (1 - 3 Credits) Fall/Spring
Practicum I (.5+varied)

A guided student teaching experience in working with a group of 3 - 8 year old children. Students apply skill in providing quality child care based on the knowledge of early childhood theories and approved practices. Assumes increasing responsibility for planning and lead teaching. Prerequisites: EC 245, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 and permission of the instructor.


EC 171 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Program Management (1+0)

The importance of coordination and communication among staff in the classroom. Emphasis on effective group planning, using resources, improving communication, sharing information about children, maintaining records, and establishing and following policies, rules and regulations.


EC 172 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Professionalism (1+0)

Awareness of one's own personal qualities, feelings, and values that affect the teaching atmosphere; one's relationships with children; one's own teaching style.


EC 210 (1 Credit) Alternate Fall
Family Day Care Home Provider Training (1+0 )

Operation of safe, successful day care home or family day care program. Overview of laws and regulations, business practices, parental concerns, health and safety, activities, space planning, snack and meal service, community support, and provider concerns. (Next offered: 2001 - 02.)


EC 220 (2 Credits) Spring
Infant and Toddler Care (1+2)

Developmentally appropriate care and nuturance of infants and toddlers, including activities to stimulate development and learning and support communication, guidance and health. Weekly practice labs (14 hours) required. (Prerequisites: EC 245 or concurrent enrollment.)


EC 230 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Introduction to the Exceptional Child (3+0)

An overview of categories of exceptionality includes hearing and visual impairments; learning, speech and language disabilities; emotional disturbances; physical handicaps; mental retardation; and the gifted and talented. (Prerequisite: EC 245 or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2001 - 02. Alternate: EC 240 or EC 231, 232 and 233.)


EC 231 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Screening (1+0)

Activities which help the teacher to understand the purpose of screening young children and to know how to use good screening procedures. (Alternative to EC 230 or EC 240 when taken with EC 232 and 233.)


EC 232 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Assessment/Recording (1+0)

Activities that will help the teacher to understand assessment of young children, recording of assessment information, and staffing. Alternative to EC 230 or EC 240 when taken with EC 232 and 233.)


EC 233 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Mainstreaming Young Children with Special Needs (1+0)

Activities that help the teacher to understand the concept and purpose of mainstreaming special needs preschool children into the regular classroom. Emphasis on rights of special needs child to service and procedures for providing service under Public Laws 94-142 and 99-457. (Alternative to EC 230 or EC 240 when taken with EC 231 and 232.)


EC 240 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Mainstreaming Exceptional Children (3+0)

Developmental, social, educational and legal (PL94-142 and 99-457) issues related to the education of young handicapped children including the role of the teacher in identifying, assessing, and individualizing educational programs for the young handicapped child in the mainstreamed setting. (Prerequisites: EC 245 or instructor permission. Next offered: 2000 - 01.)


EC 245 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Child Development (3+0) s

Study of development from prenatal through middle childhood including cognitive, emotional, social and physical aspects of the young child. Includes child observations. Emphasis on the roles of heredity and environment in the growth process. (Prerequisite: PSY 101 or permission of the instructor.)


EC 250 (1 Credit) Alternate Spring
Activities for School-Age Child Care (1+0)

For child care staff who work in after-school and/or summer programs. Focus on daily activity schedules and appropriate, fun, challenging activities and projects for young school-age children. (Next offered: 2001 - 02.)


EC 270 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Practicum II (.5 +11.5)

An advanced guided field experience in working with a group of young children in a school or center. May include teaching in a team situation and working with families. (Prerequisites: EC 250 and instructor's permission.)


EC 299 (1 - 3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Practicum for CDAs

A practical application of all previous CDA competency courses. The student will assume responsibility for children in an approved early childhood setting. (CDA curriculum.)


EC 301 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Parents as Partners in Education (2.75+.5)

Study of strategies that will assist those who work with children and/or families to facilitate supportive partnerships with parents. Includes partnerships, contemporary issues, school and home-based programs, rights and responsibilities, professional ethics, and parents with special or unique needs. (Prerequisite: EC 245 or PSY 240 or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2001 - 02.)


EC 340 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Financial Management of Early Childhood Programs (2.75+.5)

The financial aspects of managing a day care center or preschool program. Includes budgeting, program resource management, marketing, purchasing, pay and compensation, and fee collection issues important to maintaining quality programs for young children. (Prerequisite: EC 245 or permission of instructor.)


EC 341 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Personnel Management of Early Childhood Programs (2.75+.5)

Management of personnel of child care programs, including recruitment, hiring, in-service training, staff meetings and communication, supervision, evaluation, motivation, burnout prevention and termination of employees. Focus on maintaining quality programs for young children. (Prerequisite: EC 245 or permission of instructor.)


EC 342 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Family Relationships (3+0)

Examination of relationships in contemporary family life. Focus on the changing family, gender roles, living together, and relationships with children and grandchildren. Includes current family research and issues within and effect of public policy on families in our multicultural society. (Prerequisites: SOC 242 and EC 245 or PSY 240 or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2000 - 01.)


EC 442 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Family Resource Management

Management of resources which help families meet and alter the increasing complexities of life. Involves purposeful actions which affect the use of time, money, energy, skills, talents and knowledge. Roles, goals, and decision-making within our multicultural society throughout the life cycle. (Prerequisite: SOC 242, EC 245 or PSY 240 and upper division status, or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2000 - 01.)