Introduction to Early Care & Education

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in the order in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in a semester, you should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below. Some courses have been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” . Should you need (or want) to take classes in the summer and/or winter intersessions, the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed schedule of the intersessions.

Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate Degree”. If you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only required to take the courses marked “Program Requirement” .

All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.

Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer) require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” , be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.

This program serves as an introduction to the theoretical and practical knowledge required for working with young children in an early care and education setting. It will help individuals determine their level of interest in the early care and education field, prepare students for credit-bearing coursework in Early Childhood Education, and count toward the professional growth requirement for the renewal of an existing Child Development Permit. The program consists of a sequence of courses that prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to gain employment as an entry-level Assistant Teacher or Family Child Care Provider.  This includes an understanding of child development from birth to age 5, basic principles of early care and education, planning culturally responsive curriculum, communicating with children and families, licensing regulations, health and safety standards, and employment seeking strategies. These courses are not intended as a substitute for any Certificate or Associate in Science – Early Childhood Education or related degrees coursework, which provide state mandated education and fieldwork experiences leading to a Child Development Permit and employment as an early care and education associate teacher or higher. After completing this program, students who wish to pursue a certificate / degree in Early Childhood Education are encouraged to meet with a Counselor to create and Education Plan.

Upon completion of the program, students will:

1. Apply foundational knowledge and skills needed to work with children ages 0-5 and their families in an early care and education setting.
2. Discuss child development theories and how they can be used to support teachers in planning and preparing culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate classroom and curriculum experiences.
3. Describe the licensing and workforce requirements for group care and education for young children in California.