Early Childhood Education Courses
Use this course listing to view descriptions of the courses offered for the term indicated as well as other course information such as prerequisites (if applicable) dates, times and campus location when available. Some courses are offered only in specific terms.
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This course provides a study of the techniques used in art, music, storytelling and dramatic activities with young children, birth through age eight, with emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Students plan, implement and evaluate experiences that will contribute to the creative, motor, affective, perceptual, cognitive and aesthetic development of the young child.
This course describes how children acquire language and literacy and how teachers can design classrooms to promote oral and written language development. The course will stress planning for individual children, including children with special needs and English language learners as well as understanding the importance of the child's family in language and literacy development. Up to 10 hours of field observation is required.
This course examines child development from conception to age eight by considering the complex interaction between heredity and environmental factors. Children's physical, social, emotional and cognitive development are discussed as well as the implications for developmentally appropriate practice. It includes the theories of Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in a child care setting for up to 10 hours.
Students will be introduced to the theory of the Montessori method, including evolution, relationship to Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg, Vygotsky and others, Montessori's definition of sensitive periods of development, the role of teacher as directress, the importance of the prepared environment and the process of normalization will be discussed so that the student will gain an appreciation of the Montessori philosophy and method of teaching.
This course provides students with the opportunity to observe children, to gain experience working with children and to discuss what they see and learn with someone qualified to interpret behavior and to expose students to current knowledge about child development. Students will gain more understanding of the Code of Ethical Conduct and demonstrate the use of this code through their writings and reflections. While in the course, the student will develop a teaching portfolio, participate in professional employment scenarios and be observed in a childcare or public-school setting for the Florida Staff Credential. Students must have departmental approval before registering. This is a capstone course intended for the student to take the final semester. The field experience is composed of 80 clock hours conducted in an early childhood setting. To comply with Florida State Law, Chapter 402.305 2 (a), each prospective student must be fingerprinted and undergo a FDLE Level II background screening. The cost of these procedures is the responsibility of the student. Information received is confidential and is required to determine the eligibility of the prospective student to work with children. Department consent is required prior to registering for this course. Contact the Early Childhood Education Department for additional information about this requirement. Phone: 407 708-2673 or email: childdevelopment@seminolestate.edu.
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This course introduces the concept of inclusion of young children with special needs in early care and education settings. The course will present a model for effective inclusion; raise awareness of adult personal attitudes toward inclusive care and present theories of play development. Course content also includes the organization of the environment, provision of emergent literacy opportunities, management of challenging behaviors and the development of partnerships among parents, professionals and community agencies. It will focus on social and emotional behaviors and development. Required lab hours provide opportunities to observe and work with children in diverse programs that serve children with exceptionalities.
This course will explore administrative issues relating to leadership in early childhood education, including management styles, staff development and supervision, teacher training, staff collegiality, retention and evaluation as well as collaboration with parents and community. This course meets the director credential requirements for the foundational level.
This course is designed for the early childhood professional to develop basic knowledge, skills and positive dispositions needed to work in partnership with families and other professionals in order to gather data that documents the developmental progression, individual needs and progress toward learning within the classroom. An understanding of goals, benefits of documentation and other effective assessment strategies will be discussed. Up to 10 hours of observation in a childcare or VPK center is required.
This course provides child guidance and group management techniques to foster the development of self-esteem, self-control and social skills in young children. Positive reinforcement and problem resolution will be emphasized when discussing child play problems. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in an early childhood setting.
This course provides students with the opportunity to observe children, to gain experience working with children and to discuss what they see and learn with someone qualified to interpret behavior and to expose students to current knowledge about child development. This is a capstone course intended for the student to take the final semester. The field experience is composed of 40 clock hours conducted in an early childhood setting. To comply with Florida State Law, Chapter 402.305 2 (a), each prospective student must be fingerprinted and undergo a FDLE Level II background screening. The cost of these procedures is the responsibility of the student. Information received is confidential and is required to determine the eligibility of the prospective student to work with children. Department Consent is required prior to registering for this course. Contact the Early Childhood Education Department for additional information about this requirement. Phone: 407 708-2413 or email: childdevelopment@seminolestate.edu.
This course will explore developmentally appropriate practices for inclusive preschool settings. Participants will develop a framework for planning, implementation, organization and evaluation of activities in content areas such as art, math, science, music, language arts and play. The course will emphasize high-quality, developmentally appropriate practices aligned with state and national standards and guidelines. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in a child care setting for up to 10 hours.
This course is a choice of two courses required at the Florida Childcare Director's Credential advanced level. Topics include developmentally and culturally appropriate environment and curriculum professional standards, child observation, assessment, documentation and referral, health, safety and nutrition practices and alliances and families. This course may be taken for renewal of the Florida Director’s Credential.
This course introduces the teacher candidate to principles of math and science that are necessary for early childhood instruction. Students examine the content necessary to teach mathematical principles such as cardinality and counting, classification and sorting, balance, shapes, and numerical representations. An introduction to the process skills of science are included, enabling students to think scientifically in environmental science, life science and physical science areas. This course may be used as a renewal for Florida Staff Credential.
This methods class provides students with the knowledge of developmentally appropriate social studies and creative expression concepts for children birth through eight and techniques for incorporating them throughout the curriculum. Topics include culture, time, people, places, individual and global, identify sense of community, dramatic play, music, art and creative movement. The course also includes assessment of development as well as designing appropriate accommodations to meet the needs of all children enrolled in the early childhood program.
Upon completion of this course, students will understand how to guide and encourage learning by ensuring that the environment is rich with materials and equipment that invite active exploration. Various curriculum approaches will be reviewed with a concentration in creating lesson plans and activities that are appropriate for children under the age of eight years of age. Students will develop a framework for planning, implementation, organization and evaluation for activities in content areas such as art, math, science, music, language arts and active play. The course will emphasize intentionality in teaching using high-quality, developmentally appropriate practices aligned with state school readiness standards. Up to 10 hours of observation in a group care setting is required.
In this course, guided readings, culturally diverse group activities and guest speakers from a variety of community resource agencies will broaden students' horizons regarding the diverse characteristics that make up a family. Students will explore how a child's development and learning is influenced by the family and the community where they live. The student will design and implement family involvement activities following research-based best practices. Community field experiences are integrated into the course (up to 10 hours).
This course is designed to provide current and future child care administrators the opportunity of satisfying one of the educational requirements for the Advanced Level Child Care and Education Administrator Credential as defined by the state of Florida. It is intended to present the needed skills and information in the following areas: organizational structure and dynamics, ethics and professionalism, leadership personnel policies and relationships and the evaluation and retention involved in staff development.
This three-credit course is designed to satisfy one of the educational requirements for the Advanced Level Child Care and the Educational Administrator Credential as defined by the state of Florida. The goal of this course is to develop and enhance skills in legal and financial planning and on-going monitoring, budgeting and accounting, compensation and benefits, facilities and equipment, financial resources and marketing, technology and record-keeping, legal obligations, tax law, insurance and licensure, regulatory requirements and personnel law.
This course will serve as a vehicle to deepen student knowledge of infant/toddler development by becoming familiar with play-based curriculum designed to provide caregivers with explicit ideas for creating loving, playful and stimulating experiences for young children from birth through age three. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in an infant toddler setting for up to 10 hours.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the nutrition, health and safety needs of young children. It is designed to give future and current teachers practical and easy-to-understand information that will prepare them to serve diverse young children and their families in the preschool or early elementary school setting.
This course will serve as a vehicle to either deepen student knowledge of subjects addressed in Early Childhood Education introductory courses or explore issues outside the traditional curriculum. May be repeated for credit.
This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to apply classroom theory to practical, work-related applications. Seminars may be a component of this course and regular contact with the assigned faculty advisor is required. Students may earn cooperative education credits based on the completion of the required work experience and satisfactory completion of assignments including, but not limited to, seminars and a project. This course may be repeated based upon the student’s academic program.
This course will focus on children with special needs in early childhood settings. Based on a developmental perspective, course content includes the various areas of exceptionality in terms of causes, characteristics and general intervention, strategies for adapting the learning environment, modifying instruction and making curriculum accessible to all children through inclusion of those with special needs. Attention will be given to state and federal legislation, the referral process, community resources and effective ways to work with families. Note: This course was formerly listed as EEX 2010 and is the required course for Early Childhood Education students. This course is not intended for students pursuing K-12.
In this course students will cover developmentally appropriate practices when working with children ages birth through age eight, acquire competence in the areas of creating a successful developmentally appropriate curriculum and lesson plans, develop the ability to motivate children, recognizing cultural differences when planning activities including children with special needs. Professionalism and advocacy will be imbedded within the program to better inform students of the role the early childhood provider plays within the childcare community. Department permission required.
This course presents developmentally appropriate music and movement experiences for young children. Students will be involved in singing, creating, listening to and learning about making music and encouraging children to move to music. Students will develop an understanding of the importance music plays in the early childhood curriculum and how to incorporate it into the daily routine to accomplish a variety of curriculum goals.
This course is designed to have students acquire skills in order to plan and implement creative music and movement education experiences for all children from infancy through age eight including children with disabilities, delays, language and/or cultural differences.. Areas of exploration will include singing, listening to music, rhythmic activities, chants, creating music, using instruments with children, multicultural music, dance and movement, musical games, and using music spontaneously in the classroom. The main goals of the course are to develop an understanding of the importance of music and movement education experiences in an early childhood environment, the role that music plays in the growth and development of young children, and how these experiences can be creatively planned, implemented and integrated throughout the daily curriculum. All students will build a repertoire of music and movement education experiences.