Course Descriptions

Early Childhood
COE 234, (406) 657-2338

The College of Education has designed its professional preparation programs to include a series of sequentially arranged field-based experiences.  Depending on the degree option, these field-based experiences may be referred to as internships, practica, clinics, or supervised field experiences.  Each field-based course requires, as a minimum, 45 contact hours per semester credit hour.  Some programs, due to national or state accreditation requirements or Departmental policy, may require additional contact hours beyond the minimum requirement.  Students should clarify requirements with their faculty advisor prior to registration.

All clinical and field-based experiences are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.  Students are encouraged to make application 12 weeks prior to the semester in which the clinical or field-based experience is to be completed.  Applications are available in the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice, Room 114, first floor COE.

EC/SPED 210 Adult/Child Interaction Skills 3 cr.  Provides the student with basic knowledge of adult-child interaction, support strategies, literacy development, and observation techniques.  A field experience is integrated into the course and assignments.

EC/SPED 283 Curriculum and Adaptations 3 cr.  Provides the student with an understanding of developmentally appropriate curriculum.  Curricular adaptations for individual learners including appropriate technology and equipment will be addressed.  A field experience is integrated into the course and assignments.

EC/SPED 289 Professional Roles and Expectations 3 cr.  Provides the student with an understanding of roles and responsibilities of professional staff and paraprofessionals when working with families.  Emphasis on professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality.  A field experience is integrated into the course and assignments.

EC 290 Internship V 1-6 cr.  Provides freshmen and sophomores with a supervised experience in a licensed setting providing services to young children and/or families.  The internship setting and requirements are arranged with the student’s advisor in conjunction with the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.  The student will spend 45 contact hours during the academic semester for each semester hour of credit.

EC 291 Independent Study V 1-6 cr. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and Department Chairperson.  Provides an opportunity for freshman and sophomore students to explore material not covered by the regular college courses.

EC 292 Seminar 3 cr.  Investigates topics pertinent to the area of Early Childhood Education.

EC 293 Workshop V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for study in an area of Early Childhood Education. 

EC 294 Clinic V 1-7 cr. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.  Provides freshmen and sophomores with an opportunity to explore and develop applications of study in a particular area.  Uses selected pupils for demonstration purposes.  In-field contact time is 45 hours per semester credit.  Field placements are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.

EC/RD 335 Cognitive and Language Development In Young Children 3 cr. (Lec.  2; Clinic 1 cr.) Prerequisite: EC 210.  Focuses on current theory and practice related to understanding and enhancing the young child’s cognitive and language development.  Provides the student with opportunities to apply child development and learning theory to assessment, curriculum, and interaction patterns with young children.  A field experience is integrated into the course experience and assignments.

EC 336 Social/Emotional Development In Young Children 3 cr. Prerequisite: EC 210.  Provides the student with a knowledge and experiential base related to the social and emotional development of young children, to include guidance techniques.  An emphasis will be placed on issues of the developing self while emphasizing the critical role of supportive and engaged adults.  Classroom observation and interaction with children required.

EC 437 Child In The Family System 3 cr.  Focuses on the reciprocal relationship between the child, family and environment.  This course includes knowledge and experience necessary to assist and support the parents (of both typically developing and children with special
needs) in their role as primary caregivers and informal teachers of young children.  A field experience is integrated into the course experience.

EC 490 Internship V 1-6 cr. Prerequisites: Consent of advisor.  Allows the student to assume the full range of teaching duties in an exemplary early childhood setting.  Field placements are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice and require 45 hours of contact time for each semester hour of credit.

EC 491 Independent Study V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity for students of superior academic standing to explore material not covered by the regular college courses.

EC 492 Seminar V 1-8 cr.  Investigates topics pertinent to the area of Early Childhood Education.

EC 493 Workshop V 1-8 cr.  Provides an opportunity for study in an area of Early Childhood Education.

EC 494 Clinic V 1-6 cr.  Provides an opportunity through use of selected pupils for demonstration purposes for students to explore and develop applications of theoretical study in a particular area.  Infield contact time is 45 hours per semester credit.  Field placements are arranged through the Office of Licensure, Standards and Clinical Practice.

Graduate Level Courses

The following are graduate level courses.  Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for the course descriptions.

EC/RD/SPED 502 Research in Special Programs 3 cr.
EC/SPED 521 Models of Early Intervention Services 3 cr.
EC/SPED 526 Special Education Interventions and Adaptations for Children (0-6) 3 cr.
EC 532 Advanced Physical/Cognitive Development 3 cr.
EC 533 Advanced Social/Emotional Development 3 cr.
EC 534 The Role of Play in Development 3 cr.
EC 535 Discipline Theory and Strategies 3 cr.
EC 536 Parent/Child/Professional Relationships 3 cr.
EC 537 Curriculum Development in Early Childhood Studies 3 cr.
EC 590 Internship V 1-6 cr.
EC 591 Independent Study V 1-6 cr.
EC 592 Seminar V 1-6 cr.
EC 593 Workshop V 1-6 cr.EC 594 Clinic V 1-6 cr.
EC 597 Action Research Project and Seminar 3 cr.
EC 599 Thesis 6 cr.