Education Program

~ Associate in Applied Science Degree ~

DESCRIPTION

  The Education Program consists of two degree options - Speech/Language option (SLA) and Early Childhood Education (ECE) option. The objective of the Speech/Language option is to prepare students to work effectively with speech/language pathologists who are responsible for providing services for individuals with speech, hearing, or language needs in schools or community settings. The objective of the Early Childhood Education option is to prepare students to provide developmentally appropriate services for young children in public and private institutions and agencies, such as Head Start, child care centers, schools, or family child care homes.

   The Advanced Certificate in Infant and Toddler Caregiving will prepare graduates (already holding an associate degree in early childhood) for positions working in childcare settings with infants and toddlers. This advanced certificate will increase the skill and knowledge level of students wishing to specialize in the care of infants and toddlers. Specific knowledge and skills necessary to enhance the growth and development of infants and toddlers will be studied and practiced. This will enable them to qualify for the Level II credential developed by the Maine DHHS and administered by Maine Roads to Quality. Supporting Maine’s Infants and Toddlers: Guidelines for Learning and Development, Maine DHHS 2006, will be used as a major course resource.

PROGRAM MISSION

   The Education Program at Kennebec Valley Community College subscribes to the philosophy that each child must be given the opportunity to experience success and to achieve excellence by performing at one’s personal best. This philosophy is based on the premise that young children and learners with special needs must have engaging and challenging learning experiences that will assure them of the opportunity to lead rewarding lives within the school environment as they grow toward becoming well-adjusted, contributing members of their communities.

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

   The primary goal of the Education Program is to prepare a skilled and knowledgeable workforce for young children and for students with special needs. By supplying high quality training, the Education Program can positively impact the lives of children, enabling them to perform at their personal best academically as well as socially. All students are urged to work closely with their Advisor to ensure they meet all prerequisites and are prepared to be successful in practicums.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES EDUCATION PROGRAM BY OPTIONS

Early Childhood Education

1. All students will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors with children, colleagues, and families in early childhood settings grounded in the history, NAEYC Code of Ethics, and generally accepted ongoing evolution of the field.
2. All students will demonstrate with increasing skill, a philosophy of working with young children in a developmentally appropriate manner considering the children’s age, individual development, and social and cultural context.
3. All students will demonstrate skill in completing observations of children, recording them in an objective manner, and applying the data gathered to planning for typically and atypically developing children.
4. All students will plan and implement environments, lesson plans, and curriculum to support young children’s development in all domains.
5. All students will identify community resources available to support themselves, children, and families for ongoing growth and development.

Speech Language Assistant

1. All students will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors with children, adults, and colleagues in therapeutic settings grounded in the history, ethics, and generally accepted ongoing evolution of the field of speech and language remediation.
2. All students will articulate in writing a philosophy of working with persons with speech language/ special needs including how to implement this practice.
3. All students will demonstrate skill in implementing treatment plans set forth for clients by a Speech Language Pathologist.
4. All students will complete all the requirements to qualify to be registered as a Speech Language Assistant in the state of Maine.

Infant and Toddler Caregiving

1. All students will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors with infants, toddlers, and their families in all settings of care grounded in the history, ethics, and generally accepted ongoing evolution of the field of early childhood education.
2. All students will articulate a philosophy in writing of working with infants, toddlers, and their families.
3. All students will demonstrate knowledge and skill in best practices using a variety of methods of working with infants and toddlers and their families to best meet their needs on a daily basis and to encourage growth and development in all developmental domains.
4. All students will be knowledgeable about the Supporting Maine’s Infants and Toddlers: Guidelines for Learning and Development, Maine DHHS, 2006 and about how to implement them in their work site.
5. All students will collaborate with families and other team members in planning, implementing plans and evaluating successes with infants and toddlers.
6. All students will identify community resources to support their work with infants and toddlers.
7. All students will support infants and toddlers with developing early language and literacy skills.

PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS

   The practicum requirement is a key component of each of the Education Program’s options. Before enrolling in practicum courses, students must have completed at least 75% of other technical courses required by their program option. (This is ordinarily six of eight technical courses). Also, to participate in required practicum experiences, students must have achieved at least a grade of C (73%) in all technical courses. Students in Special Education and Speech/Language must present current documentation of CPR and first aid certification before scheduling practicums. Students in Early Childhood Education will be placed in three settings with different age level children. Students in all three majors must be able to pass SBI criminal and DHHS child abuse history background checks. These will be done at least once every two years.

COURSE AVAILABILITY

   Courses in all Education Program options are offered on-campus. Some courses are also offered statewide via interactive television (ITV), ATM, online, or at off-site locations arranged with continuing education services in the area, KVCAP agencies, and area Head Start service agencies. See your program advisor regularly to verify availability of courses.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

   Graduates of the Early Childhood Education option receive the Associate in Applied Science degree and are prepared to seek leadership roles in agencies serving young children. Presentation of a completed portfolio or a current CDA earned with MRTQ courses and a certificate of completion of Maine Roads to Quality 180-hour coursework program will result in credit for three courses within the Early Childhood Education option.

   Graduates of the Speech/Language option are eligible to seek employment with licensed speech pathologists who can apply for their registration with the Bureau of Licensing as Speech/Language Assistants. Employment opportunities include public and private agencies, clinics, and schools. Graduates also qualify for Education Technician II authorization.

   Graduates holding the Advanced Infant Toddler Certificate will be highly qualified to seek employment with agencies offering infant and toddler care. They will be eligible for Credential II, awarded by Maine Roads to Quality, meeting the employment criteria of some agencies. These agencies may be family child care businesses, Early Head Start organizations, or private child care businesses. The courses may also transfer to bachelor degree programs which include a concentration in infant and toddler care.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

FIRST SEMESTER	EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION	CREDIT HOURS
CPT117	Software Applications I	3
ECE131*	Introduction to Early Childhood	3
ECE135*	Observing & Recording Children's Behavior	3
ENG101	College Composition	3
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology	3
	Total First Semester Credits	15
SECOND SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
COM104	Introduction to Communication	3
ECE134*	Health, Safety, and Nutrition	3
ECE140*	Fostering Growth and Development in Infants and Toddlers	3
ECE155*	Practicum I: Early Childhood	3
MAT113	Elements of Mathematics (or higher math)	3
	Total Second Semester Credits	15
THIRD SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
ECE133*	Literacy and Literature for Young Children	3
ECE145*	Fostering Growth and Development: The Preschool Years OR	3
ECE148*	Fostering Growth and Development: Early Primary Aged Children: 5-8 Years	3
ECE200*	Practicum II; Early Childhood	4
SOC101	Introduction to Sociology	3
______	Humanities Elective	3
	Total Third Semester Credits	16
FOURTH SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
BIO115	Human Biology or other lab science	4
BUS115	Supervisory Management	3
ECE158*	Including Children with Special Needs in Early Childhood Settings	3
ECE250*	Practicum III: Early Childhood	4
PSY215	Developmental Psychology	3
	Total Fourth Semester Credits	17
	TOTAL CREDITS	63

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

   Students must complete 63 credits in the Early Childhood Education option and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must attain a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

FIRST SEMESTER	SPEECH / LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY	CREDIT HOURS
CPT117	Software Applications I	3
COM104	Introduction to Communication	3
EDU101*	Educating Children with Disabilities	3
EDU103*	Language Development	3
ENG101	College Composition	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR FIRST SEMESTER	15
SECOND SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
BIO119	Survey of Anatomy and Physiology	4
EDU112*	Survey of Communication Disorders	3
EDU122*	Phonetics	3
EDU132*	Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation	3
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR SECOND SEMESTER	16
THIRD SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
EDU209*	Articulation Disorders and Rehabilitation	3
EDU214*	Language Disorders and Rehabilitation	3
EDU216*	Clinical Techniques/Procedures	3
SOC101	Introduction to Sociology	3
______	Math Elective	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR THIRD SEMESTER	15
FOURTH SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
EDU217*	Organic/Neurologic and Fluency Disorders and Rehabilitation	3
EDU219*	Psycho-Social Needs of Students with Disabilities	3
EDU222*	Practicum: Speech/Language Field Experience	4
ENG219	Professional Writing	3
______	Humanities Elective	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR FOURTH SEMESTER	16
	TOTAL CREDITS	62

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

   Students must complete 62 credits in the Speech/Language (SLA) option and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must attain a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

	INFANT AND TODDLER CAREGIVING - ADVANCED CERTIFICATE	CREDIT HOURS
ECE260	Infant Toddler Seminar	1
ECE265	Infants & Toddles I: Social Beings & Ability to Communicate	3
ECE270	Infants & Toddlers II: Strong & Healthy Bodies & Curious Minds	3
ECE275	Working in Partnership with Families	3
ECE280	Infant Toddler Language & Literacy	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR CERTIFICATE	13

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

  Students must complete 13 credits in the Infant and Toddler Caregiving Advanced Certificate and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all courses.

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