Early Childhood Education Home Page

Would you like to help children explore their world, deepen their thinking and develop their social relationships?  Consider a career in Early Childhood Education.

The Early Childhood Education Program at College of the Redwoods allows students to explore the most current and innovative theories and practices of Early Childhood Education in order to implement them in developmentally appropriate programs for children.  In addition to course work, students have opportunities to work directly with children in a child development setting.

CAREER OPTIONS

• Child Care Center Teacher                                                
• Head Start Teacher/VisitorHome 
• Infant-Toddler Caregiver
• School-Age Child Care Teacher
• Child Care Aide
• Family Child Care Provider
• Child Care Center Director
• Child Care Center Owner-Operator
• Resource and Referral Technician
• Respite Worker
• Transfer to a four-year university to pursue an elementary teaching credential or other field related to families and children.

EDUCATIONAL PATHS

Course work enables students to meet licensing requirements for teacher and director under Community Care Licensing Regulations (Title 22).  College of the Redwoods courses also allow students to meet the requirements for the Child Development Permit (Title 5) at the Associate Teacher, Teacher and Site Supervisor level.  Permits are issued by the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing.  Experience to meet requirements are gained in ECE 1, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, and CE 42.

Community Care Licensing - Title 22 Requirements

Teacher

• 12 units of ECE including ECE 2, 5 and 7 and 

• 6 months of experience (three hours per day for 50 days)

Director

• 15 units of ECE including those listed above for Teacher and ECE 12 or 13 and

• 4 years of experience (Three hours per day for 100 days per year)

OR

• A.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education and

• 2 years of experience (three hours per day for 100 days per year)

Child Care Permit - Title 5

Associate Teacher

• 12 units of ECE including ECE 2, 5, and 7 and

• 6 months of experience (three hours per day for 50 days)

Teacher

• 24 units of ECE including ECE 2, 5, and 7 and

• 16 units of General Education including:  English, Math or Science, Social Science and Humanities

• 175 days of experience (three hours per day completed in four years)

OR

• Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education

Site Supervisor

• A.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education

• 6 units of Childcare Administration (ECE 12 & 13)

• 2 units of Adult Supervision (ECE 20)

• 350 days of experience at three hours per day completed in four years.  At least 100 days must include supervision of adults.

For more information about the Early Childhood Education Program, Child Development Permit requirements, Licensing Requirements or transferring to a University call the Early Childhood Education Program at (707) 476-4338 or e-mail questions to:   Sydney-Larson@redwoods.edu

Early Childhood Education

Course Offerings & Major Requirements

(Select one of the following three)

(Select one of the following two)

Additional Courses:

*Starred Course Numbers Indicate a Prerequisite is Required.

A Certificate of Completion may be earned by completing ECE 1, 2, 5 and 7.

(Meets Title 22 Teacher course requirements.)

A.S. Degree Requirements

(Meets requirements for Child Development Permit-Teacher Level)

ECE 1, 2, 5 and 7 are offered each semester on the Eureka campus.  Other courses are offered once each year except ECE 12 and 13 that alternate each Spring Semester.  Classes Rotate between day and night time hours.

ECE 1, 7, 9, require three hours per week of fieldwork on campus at the Child Development Center.  ECE 11 and 15 Require three hours of field experience per week at a childcare site approved by the instructor.  ECE 10 requires six hours of field experience per week either on campus at the CDC or with a Mentor Teacher selected through the California Early Childhood Mentor Program.

Related sites: 

1.     Child Development Center

2.     Parent Handbook