Early Childhood Education Diploma - Special Needs Specialization

Students will explore current trends, resources and advocacy on behalf of young children with special needs. They will examine their role in supporting and advocating for young children with special needs and their families.

Prerequisites: Foundations of Child Development; Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction; Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Course ID: EC250
Credits: 4

Students will learn strategies for promoting and supporting an inclusive classroom. They will analyze environmental restrictions and explore how to support young children with special needs in the early childhood setting.

Prerequisites: Foundations of Child Development; Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction; Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Course ID: EC251
Credits: 4

This course is designed to explore the benefits of inclusion in the early childhood setting. Students will develop an understanding of exceptional development. Students will identify the parties relevant to exceptional development and their roles as resources in support of the child and their families.

Prerequisites: Foundations of Child Development; Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction; Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Course ID: EC252
Credits: 4

Students will explore how to adapt developmentally appropriate curriculum to support the development of children with special needs. They will learn strategies for effective partnering with other professionals and parents to ensure the achievement of developmental goals.

Prerequisites: Foundations of Child Development; Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction; Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Course ID: EC253
Credits: 4

This course teaches students basic to advanced computer concepts and skills, including creating and modifying Word documents, designing databases, spreadsheet creation and analysis, using the Internet and E-Commerce tools, and creating presentations with enhanced features and web tools.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: D132
Credits: 3

In this course, students will use a variety of Rasmussen College library & World Wide Web resources to develop and hone information literacy skills. Students will be expected to use these skills in all other courses at Rasmussen College.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: E170
Credits: 2

This course is intended to help students develop their ability to write and express ideas in an organized, unified, coherent manner that reflects an appropriate awareness of purpose and audience. Through writing, reading, and discussion, students will learn to synthesize their thoughts as they communicate more effectively. Course concepts are applied to essays, research projects, and specialized writing. Regular writing and revision will improve students' grammar, punctuation and usage skills.

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Reading and Writing Strategies or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G124
Credits: 4

The course will introduce students to basic models and theories of the communication process. Students will learn about a variety of elements involved in communication. They will also explore how factors such as race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, and gender influence communication. Students will focus on developing an awareness of the effects of various types of communication on themselves and others. They will also develop practical skills for improving their ability to communicate in personal, social and professional contexts. Specific topics will include perception, self-concept, verbal and non-verbal communication, effective listening and communicating in culturally diverse settings.

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Reading and Writing Strategies or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G141
Credits: 4

This course provides students with the skills to achieve mastery of algebraic terminology and applications including, but not limited to, real number operations, variables, polynomials, integer exponents, graphs, factoring, quadratic equations, and word problems.

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Foundations of Math or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G233
Credits: 4

The course is designed to study the personal and professional characteristics necessary for obtaining and maintaining suitable employment. The student will assemble a complete job-seeking portfolio including his/her resume and references, letters of application and appreciation, documentation of work and educational history, and demonstration of skills through examples of student work. The course includes an in-depth study of self-marketing approaches, job interviewing techniques and professionalism as well as participation in a mock interview.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: E242
Credits: 2

This course will explore characteristics of children at different ages, children's developmental needs, and the foundation of early childhood education. Students will learn the fundamentals of developmentally appropriate practice as it relates to child development, individual needs, building self-esteem in children, and using interpersonal skills and communication within the classroom and center. Students will study the function of the family, and the cultural, social, class, and ethnic variations in the family as a social system.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: EC100
Credits: 4

This course promotes the development of young children in the academic, social, and emotional domains. It examines developmentally appropriate methods for writing and assessing behavioral objectives, lesson plans, and activity goals. Various curriculum models will be reviewed. Strategies to enhance parent and family involvement will be emphasized.

Prerequisite: Foundations of Child Development

Course ID: EC110
Credits: 4

This course examines the role of early childhood professionals working in the field via the policies and procedures governed by the state. Students will learn guidelines for establishing safe environments. They will also learn strategies for implementing health policies, controlling disease, establishing proper nutrition, and responding to children's special health concerns. Students will carry out a 2-hour field observation in the field of education.

Prerequisite: Foundations of Child Development

Course ID: EC120
Credits: 4

Under externship supervision, the student will observe and implement developmentally appropriate practices while interacting with children and adults.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: EC180
Credits: 6

Students continue their externship experience in an early childhood setting. The focus is on developmentally appropriate practices and leadership.

Prerequisite: Knowledge: Externship I

Course ID: EC181
Credits: 6

Students will complete their externship experience in an early childhood setting. The focus is on developmentally appropriate practices and leadership.

Prerequisite: Application: Externship II

Course ID: EC182
Credits: 6

Students will explore effective strategies for observation and assessment in early childhood education. They will understand the observation, assessment, and planning cycle and its impact on promoting children's development.

Prerequisites: Foundations of Child Development; Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction; Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Course ID: EC200
Credits: 4

Students will integrate the knowledge and skills gained from coursework in the Early Childhood Education program. They will complete a capstone project that integrates knowledge and skills in child development, health and nutrition, curriculum and instruction, observation and assessment, and other areas relevant to the field.

Prerequisite: Early Childhood Education student in last or second-to-last quarter.

Co-requisite: Freshman Seminar

Course ID: EC290
Credits: 2

This course develops students' reading and writing skills in preparation for college-level coursework. Through review of grammar, punctuation, and the writing process, students will enhance their ability to compose sentences, paragraphs, and short essays. The study of active reading strategies will provide students with the tools necessary for comprehending collegiate level texts.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by placement test score.

Course ID: B080
Credits: 4

This course is a study of the fundamentals of mathematics in the following areas: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and percentages.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by placement test score.

Course ID: B099
Credits: 4