Santa Monica College

Early Childhood Education

Earn your certificate in Early Childhood Education. Qualify for the California Child Development Permit, the new Early Childhood Intervention Certificates or satisfy undergraduate requirements for transfer to four year institutions. Courses are offered year round, day and evening classes.

 

 

 

Mission Statement

 

Associate of Arts Degree and Certificate Programs

MISSION STATEMENT

  *As revised by Gwen Dophna, Wendy Parise, Laura Manson, Edie Spain

Spring 2001

The mission of the Early Childhood Education Program of Santa Monica College is to enable students to:

• Acquire the theoretical knowledge and to develop the competencies needed to enter a career and to continue professional growth in the care and education of children zero through nine years of age in various settings, such as: full and half-day early childhood settings, before and/or after-school child care programs, and family child care homes.
• Fulfill the state requirements for careers in licensed private, non-profit, and publicly funded programs for children.
• Transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
• Explore the range of careers available in the field of child development

  Philosophy                                                                        

    The Early Childhood Education Program is a vocational program with specific competencies as final objectives. It is concerned with observing and assessing student performance in order to maintain standards. In as much as careers in this field involve working with people, we are concerned not only with what is learned, but also with how it is learned. We are committed to enhancing the personal development of students by fostering self-esteem, facilitating the ability to form human relationships, and promoting a climate of acceptance for typically and atypically developing children of diverse backgrounds. We believe that the instructors in the Early Childhood Education Program must not only impart knowledge and facilitate development of skills, but also serve as role-models for desirable affective behaviors.

  * Carol Chamberilin, Pat Gardner, Betsy Hiteshew, and Dave Phillips developed the original, April 22, 1987

 

Associate of Arts Degree and Certificate Programs                

Depending on the individualized Early Childhood Education plan of study selected, the student can earn the:

• Early Childhood Educator Career Certificate
• Associate of Art Degree, ECE, ECE Intervention Assistant, ECE Intervention Teacher
• Early Childhood Intervention Assistant Certificate
• Early Childhood Intervention Teacher Certificate

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The ECE Program Offers:

• Course work which meets the California Child Development Permit Matrix and Department of Social Services requirements.  Day, evening and weekend classes are offered year round.
• Transfer opportunities to 4 year institutions

Support Services:

• Child Development Training Consortium (see Laura Manson)
• California Mentor Teacher Program (see ECE 48)
• Transfer Counseling Center
• Job Placement and Internship Referrals
• Early Childhood Education Training Consortium
• Cal WORKS
• Early Childhood Education Club ("Kids at Heart")
• Disabled Student Services
• Reggio Emilia Curriculum Approach (see ECE 51)

We can help you climb your career ladder!
Work in licensed early childhood public and private centers.
Operate your own family childcare.
Let our helpful, friendly faculty and staff advisors help you reach your goals.

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Santa Monica College