rasmussen.edu | 888-5-RASMUSSEN COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 104 EEC2272 The Inclusive Classroom 40 hours, 4 credits Students will learn strategies for promoting and supporting an inclusive learning environment. Students will explore how inclusion occurs with children with physical and cognitive needs, dual- language learners, children from diverse cultures, economic backgrounds, and gender identity. Students will consider environmental and policy adaptations and explore how educators support the development of all young children in an inclusive early childhood setting. Prerequisite: EEC1700 Foundations of Child Development EEC2329 Parent Education and Support 40 hours, 4 credits This course explores how educators employ supportive resources responsive to individual family needs. This course will examine how family education and resource allocation are informed by culture, experience, family structure, and socio-cultural changes in both home and early education settings. Prerequisite: EEC1700 Foundations of Child Development EEC2401 Dynamics of the Family 40 hours, 4 credits This course will focus on a family’s influence on their child’s development and how early educators can support families with effective, responsive engagement practices. The course will explore how cultural, economic, and societal factors influence a family’s structure and systems, parenting preferences, values, and engagement in their child’s development and learning. Strategies for how educators can support a family’s success through communication, developmentally appropriate practices, ethics and active involvement in early childhood education programs will be explored. Prerequisite: None EEC2403 Advocating for Children with Special Needs 40 hours, 4 credits Students will explore types and components of advocacy, especially when supporting exceptional children and their families. Students will consider how to advocate for an individual child or family, a community or group of children or at a regional or national level. Students will examine their own perspectives and role in supporting and advocating for young children with exceptional needs and their families. Prerequisite: EEC1700 Foundations of Child Development EEC2500 Infant and Toddler Development 40 hours, 4 credits In this course, students will explore the developmental continuum for children from birth to 3 years of age in the physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional domains. Theories regarding attachment and temperament will be discussed along with how those theories interact with development. Students will explore how development guides environmental, curriculum and care decisions in infant/toddler group childcare. Prerequisite: EEC1700 Foundations of Child Development EEC2613 Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education 40 hours, 4 credits 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. Prerequisite: None EEC2935 Summative Project for Early Childhood Education 20 hours, 2 credits This course culminates a student’s learning from throughout their early childhood education program. Students will assemble a cumulative philosophy to share their competence with the Transferable Skills in the areas of family engagement, observation and assessment, behavior guidance, culturally responsive practices, curriculum development, and advocacy in the early childhood education field. Prerequisite: Expected to be the final lower-level core course completed EEC3000 Early Childhood Education: Understanding Mental Health in the Early Years 40 hours, 4 credits This course examines the impact of mental health issues on a child’s well-being. Students will focus on attachment theory, brain development, and the importance of executive function on lifelong learning. This course will challenge students to explore the effects of economics, family structure, and the environment on a child’s emotional and social development. Students will also be able to evaluate social support systems. Prerequisite: EEC1700 Foundations of Child Development EEC3005 Communication and Connections in Early Childhood Education 40 hours, 4 credits This course examines the best formal and informal communication practices with children, families, and professionals. Using a lens of diversity and inclusion, this course will examine strategies for developing positive communication strategies among families, colleagues, and communities within the early childhood setting. Students will learn specific tools to promote and enhance communication, including tools to increase communication, resolve conflicts, and develop the team within the setting. Prerequisite: None EEC3007 Organizational Management in Early Childhood Education 40 hours, 4 credits This course provides a foundation for operational management of high-quality early childhood programs. Students will experience practical application related to policies, procedures, budgets, personnel management and planning in the context of establishing best practices for children and families. Students will assess strategies for continual program improvement, including licensing, accreditation, and quality rating assessments. Prerequisite: EEC3005 Communications and Connections for Early Childhood Professionals EEC3011 Empowering Contemporary Families 40 hours, 4 credits This course explores various types and structures of families. Students will explore how a program’s role in supporting families has evolved and the major social issues contemporary families face. This course emphasizes resiliency by strengthening families through an anti-bias, family-centered approach to effective programming practices. Prerequisite: None EEC3015 Observation and Assessment for Effective Curriculum Planning 40 hours, 4 credits This course provides a framework for using best practices in observation and assessment in the early childhood classroom. Emphasis will be given to the necessity of high-quality observation and assessment techniques for effective teaching. Students will examine assessment tools as well as learn about documenting children’s learning. Prerequisite: EEC1202 Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction EEC3020 Positive Behavior Guidance for Young Children 40 hours, 4 credits This course is an advanced approach to positive behavior guidance in which students will examine environmental and interpersonal strategies that foster prosocial and equitable practices in early childhood education settings. This course also emphasizes how using positive interactions and relationships will support the development of executive function skills for children birth to age 8. Prerequisite: None EEC3026 Technology and Developmentally Appropriate Practices 40 hours, 4 credits In this course, students will explore technology use as a part of the world in which children, families, and early childhood professionals live. Students will explore how Universal Design for Learning Principles and developmentally Appropriate Practices relate to the use of technology in early childhood programs. Using the Department of Education’s Guiding Principles for Use of Technology with Early Learners, students will explore how technology can be a tool for learning, can increase access to learning for all children, and can strengthen relationships. Students will also gain experience with technology tools integral to their future work in the virtual education world. Prerequisite: None EEC3171 Beyond the Basics of Health, Safety and Nutrition 40 hours, 4 credits This course is the study of child health, nutrition, and safety practices that support children’s abilities to learn and grow. Topics include the connection between health, safety and nutrition practices, maltreatment of children and protective factors, the importance of healthy nutrition and implementing safe practices for play. This course will prepare students to recognize development as a continuum and to create and implement healthy and safe practices with all children. Prerequisite: None EEC3220 Child Development Ages Birth–3 40 hours, 4 credits This course is the study of children ages birth–3. It places focus on the in-depth study of the learning domains including the cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical domains. Topics include how child development theories apply, the influences environmental factors, interactions, and relationships have on the development of children, and learning across domains. This course will prepare students to identify the unique ways in which in children learn from ages birth–3. Prerequisite: None EEC3225 Child Development Ages 3–5 40 hours, 4 credits This course is the study of children ages 3–5. It places focus on the student’s previous knowledge of the growth and development patterns of children age birth–3 to build upon and explore the continuum across the cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical domains in children age 3–5. Topics include how early child development theories apply; the influences environmental factors, interactions, and relationships have on the development of children; and learning across domains. This course will prepare students to identify the unique ways in which in children ages 3–5 learn. Prerequisite: EEC3220 Child Development Ages Birth–3 EEC3318 Intentional Teaching Practices 40 hours, 4 credits Students will explore how being intentional in their teaching practices supports children’s learning. Educational approaches including Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Project Approach, Creative Curriculum, and Reggio Emilia will be investigated. Students will explore how intentional interactions and conversations support intentional teaching in various early childhood settings and with various educational approaches. Prerequisite: None ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM
