Degree Requirements and Courses
Learn more about certificate and degree requirements, course content, recommended sequence, and schedule.
Early Childhood Education - Competency Based Certificate
This certificate prepares you for a career working with young children by learning at your own pace through flexible, online coursework that leads to California certification.
Certificate | SC Program: CT.3460
This certificate prepares you to create and manage learning environments for children from birth to age 8.
All classes are fully online and use a direct assessment, competency-based format. That means you’ll work at your own pace and show what you’ve learned through real-world projects, not just tests or papers. Before diving into the coursework, you’ll complete a short “work-ready” badge to make sure you’re prepared to observe or work in an early childhood setting.
The program includes 24 short, 1-unit learning modules (called competencies). These competencies are grouped into eight courses for your transcript and are fully transferable. You’ll get a special competency transcript that shows exactly what skills you’ve mastered, along with your regular college transcript.
To earn the certificate, you’ll need to pass all 24 competencies with a grade of B (80%) or higher.
When you finish, you’ll be eligible to apply for a California Associate Teacher Permit and meet the 24-unit early childhood education requirement for the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential.
This certificate is designed to meet important industry standards, including:
- California Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards
- California Course Alignment Project
Choose your path
Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.
A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.
Fall Semester, First Year
12 Units TotalECE 15
M
3
Child Health, Safety and Nutrition
ECE 15
This course focuses on the laws, regulations, standards, policies, procedures, and best practices related to health, safety, and nutrition in care and education settings for children birth through middle childhood. Includes the teacher's role in prevention strategies, nutrition and meal planning, integrating health safety and nutrition experiences into daily routines, and overall risk management. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ECE 9
M
3
Child Growth and Development
ECE 9
This course provides an in-depth examination of the major physical, psychosocial, and cognitive/language developmental milestones for children, both typical and atypical, from conception through adolescence. There will be an emphasis on interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors. While studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe children, evaluate individual differences and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ECE 20
M
3
Introduction to Curriculum
ECE 20
This course focuses on developmentally appropriate curriculum and environments for children birth through age eight. Students will use knowledge of children's development, theories of learning and development, and examples from various models of developmentally appropriate practice to plan environments and curriculum in all content areas to support children's development and learning integrated throughout indoor and outdoor settings. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ECE 17
M
3
Prin & Pracs of Teaching Young Children
ECE 17
This course explores the historical contexts and theoretical perspectives of developmentally appropriate practice in early care and education for children from birth through age eight. It also explores the typical roles and expectations of early childhood educators and identifies professional ethics, career pathways, and professional standards. It will introduce best practices for developmentally appropriate learning environments, curriculum, and effective pedagogy for young children, including how play contributes to children's learning, growth, and development. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, First Year
6 Units TotalECE 15
M
3
Child Health, Safety and Nutrition
ECE 15
This course focuses on the laws, regulations, standards, policies, procedures, and best practices related to health, safety, and nutrition in care and education settings for children birth through middle childhood. Includes the teacher's role in prevention strategies, nutrition and meal planning, integrating health safety and nutrition experiences into daily routines, and overall risk management. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ECE 7
M
3
Early Childhood Observation & Assessment
ECE 7
This course introduces the appropriate use of assessment and observation tools and strategies to document young children's development and learning. It emphasizes the use of findings to inform and plan learning environments and experiences. are emphasized. Recording strategies, rating systems, portfolios, and multiple assessment tools will be discussed, along with strategies for collaboration with families and professionals. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Fall Semester, Second Year
6 Units TotalECE 8
M
3
Teaching Practicum for Young Children
ECE 8
Note: Supervised field experience for the Child Development Permit will be obtained through the course lab hours at the Shasta College ECE Center Lab School or an early childhood Mentor classroom.
This course is a demonstration of developmentally appropriate early childhood program planning and teaching competencies under the supervision of ECE/CD faculty and other qualified early education professionals. Students will utilize practical classroom experiences to make connections between theory and practice, develop professional behaviors, and build a comprehensive understanding of children and families. Reflective practice will be emphasized as student teachers design, implement, and evaluate approaches, strategies, and techniques that promote development and learning. Includes exploration of career pathways, professional development, and teacher responsibilities.
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This course is a demonstration of developmentally appropriate early childhood program planning and teaching competencies under the supervision of ECE/CD faculty and other qualified early education professionals. Students will utilize practical classroom experiences to make connections between theory and practice, develop professional behaviors, and build a comprehensive understanding of children and families. Reflective practice will be emphasized as student teachers design, implement, and evaluate approaches, strategies, and techniques that promote development and learning. Includes exploration of career pathways, professional development, and teacher responsibilities.
ECE 28
M
3
Teaching in a Diverse Society
ECE 28
This course offers an examination of the development of social identities in diverse societies, including theoretical and practical implications of oppression and privilege as they apply to young children, families, programs, classrooms, and teaching. Various early education classroom strategies will be explored, emphasizing culturally and linguistically appropriate anti-bias approaches supporting all children in becoming competent members of a diverse society. This course includes self-examination and reflection on issues related to social identity, stereotypes and bias, social and educational access, media, and schooling. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.
*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:
- California State Universities – General Education
- IGETC – Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
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(530) 242-7724
Fax
(530) 225-4652
Academic/Instructional Division Office
Phone
(530) 242-7560
Location
Main Redding Campus | 1023
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