Course Descriptions
Building an Inclusive Classroom (EDU-150)
This course provides a comprehensive introduction of best strategies for creating and planning an inclusive and diverse environment to meet the individual needs of children using research-based practices. Topics include adaptations and accommodations to the indoor/outdoor classroom environments, materials, schedules, learning experiences, and assistive technologies. Upon completion, students should be able to make adaptations to environments, materials, schedules, learning experiences, and assistive technologies to create inclusive classroom settings.
Creative Activities (EDU-151)
This course introduces developmentally supportive, diverse, equitable, and inclusive creative learning environments with attention to divergent thinking, creative problem-solving, evidence-based teaching practices, and open-ended learning materials and activities that align with the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development. Emphasis is placed on best practices providing process-driven culturally diverse, learning experiences in art, music, creative movement, dance, and dramatic play integrated across all domains and academic content in indoor/outdoor environments for every young child age birth through age eight. Upon completion, students should be able to observe, examine, create, adapt, and advocate for developmentally appropriate creative learning materials, experiences, and environments for children that are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.
Health Safety and Nutrition (EDU-153)
This course covers promoting and maintaining the health and well-being of every child. Topics include health and nutritional guidelines, common childhood illnesses, maintaining safe and healthy learning environments, health benefits of active play, recognition and reporting of abuse/neglect, and state regulations. Upon completion, students should be able to apply knowledge of NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development for health, safety, nutritional needs and safe learning environments.
Social-Emotion-Behavior Development (EDU-154)
This course covers the emotional/social development of young children and the varied causes, expressions, prevention methods and management strategies of challenging behaviors. Emphasis is placed on culturally responsive and supportive caregiver/family/child relationships, positive emotional/social environments, developmental concerns, risk factors, and planning culturally responsive, equitable, developmentally appropriate intervention strategies. Upon completion, students should be able to identify factors that influence emotional/social development, utilize screening measures, and design positive behavioral supports for children and the environment, as well as effective teaching strategies.
Active Play (EDU-157)
This course introduces physical activities to promote the development of children with diverse abilities, birth through middle childhood. Topics include active play, outdoor learning, design of the environment, development of play skills, loose parts play, nature play, risk/benefit assessment, advocacy, and family/community connection. Upon completion, students should be able to discuss the stages of play, the role of teachers in play, active play environments, advocate for the child's right to play, and plan and assess culturally responsive, equitable and developmentally appropriate experiences using NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development.
Healthy Lifestyles-Youth (EDU-158)
This course covers maintaining the health and well-being of all school-age children. Topics include health, safety, nutrition, physical activities, and environments that promote development, fitness, and healthy lifestyles. Upon completion, students should be able to plan developmentally appropriate, safe/healthy physical activities that support the healthy development of school-age children, be able to plan and identify healthy eating choices that support healthy development as well as design safety policies and procedures and environments that promote healthy lifestyles.
Health and Safety for Early Childhood (EDU-159)
This course covers maintaining the health and safety of young children in licensed child care facilities. Topics include universal precautions, emergency preparedness, early childhood mental health, safety regulations, child maltreatment, shaken baby syndrome, CPR/First Aid, ITS-SIDS, playground safety, medication administration, communicable diseases, immunizations, and transportation. Upon completion, students should be able to safely prevent/manage infectious diseases, medications, food/allergic reactions, transporting children, response to natural disasters, universal precautions, CPR/First Aid, child maltreatment, safety regulations from licensing and sanitation, and foster resilient environments.
Introduction to Exceptional Children (EDU-161)
This course covers children with exceptionalities as life long learners within the context of the community, school and family. Emphasis is placed on inclusion, legal, social/political, environmental, and cultural issues relating to the teaching of children with exceptionalities. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of identification processes, inclusive techniques, and professional practices and attitudes.
Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education (EDU-162)
This course introduces the research, benefits, goals, and ethical considerations associated with observation and formative assessment in early childhood education. Emphasis is placed on the implementation of multiple observation/assessment strategies including anecdotal records, event samples, rating scales, and portfolios to identify specific needs of individual children with diverse abilities and to create appropriate learning experiences. Upon completion, students should be able to practice responsible assessment and effectively use tools to assess the child, teacher practices and indoor and outdoor environments to enhance programming; and explain the importance of assessment partnerships with families and other professionals.
Classroom Management and Instruction (EDU-163)
This course examines classroom management and evidence-based instructional strategies that create supportive learning environments to provide culturally, linguistically and developmentally appropriate guidance for school-age populations. Topics include classroom management and organization, teaching strategies, individual student differences and learning styles, ongoing systematic observation, and developmentally appropriate classroom guidance techniques. Upon completion, student should be able to utilize developmentally appropriate behavior management, utilize high-quality instructional strategies that enhance the teaching/learning process and promote students' academic success.