The Early Childhood Education Program provides students access to knowledge, skills and professionalism surrounding the field of child development, family, and community development to assure the provision of quality services that address the complex needs of Native American families in the 21st century.

• The Early Childhood Program, prepares graduates with theory, professional competencies, developmentally appropriate practices, culturally appropriate practices, required to work in specific child and family settings.
  
• The graduate will be prepared to work in the areas of: Childcare, Educational Assistants, Head Start and Early Care Teachers, and Family Home Childcare.
  
• The graduates AA degree will foundation and support the courses required for further degrees and may be transferred to other four year institutions to support a BA degree.
  
• Communicate effectively with others utilizing appropriate forms of communications methods.
  
• Apply critical thinking skills to engage new ideas and perfecting informed decision making processes.
  
• Student graduates will meet the needs of employers by presenting themselves in a professional manner based on the education and preparations received and/or succeed at a four-year institution.
  

The Associates of Arts degree requires students to take (35 hrs.) General Education courses in the following areas:

AREA I: COMMUNICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: (9 Cr. Hrs.)
AREA II: MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT: (3 Cr. Hrs.)
MATH 111 MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS IS RECOMMENDED
AREA III: LABORATORY SCIENCE Requirement: (8 cr. Hrs.)
AREA IV: SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT: (6 Cr. Hrs)
AREA V: HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS REQUIREMENT: (9 Cr. Hrs)

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (29 Cr. Hrs.)

ECED 124 Health, Safety & Nutrition
ECED 126 Childhood Growth/Development & Learning
ECED 130/P Curriculum Development & Implementation
ECED 202 Family & Community Collaboration
ECED 204 Intro. Reading & Literacy Development
ECED 214 Guiding Young Children
ECED 218 Assessment of Children & Evaluation of Program
ECED 220 Professionalism
ECED 230/P Curriculum Development & Implementation

The Early childhood Education Program provides Tutor/Mentor Services to students according to their needs and requests.

The Teacher Resource Center houses a wide variety of ECE materials to assist the students in their course work along with supplies and study areas.

All of the coursework leading to the AA degree is available via video teleconferencing. Students can enroll in and attend classes from their home communities at the following 4 sites:

• Alamo Navajo
  
• Santo Domingo Pueblo
  
• San Felipe Pueblo
  
• Ohkay Owingeh
  

Enrollment is open to all SIPI students – it is not limited to those students who enroll via Distance Education.

Course Catalog
Child Care and Family Services Center