Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education Program prepares students to work with children ages birth to eight as childcare providers, preschool teachers, assistant teachers, para educators or child care administrators in professional settings such as:

  • Early Head Start, Head Start, Migrant Head Start
  • ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program)
  • Preschool Programs
  • Public Schools
  • Childcare Centers
  • Family Homes

ECE classes are offered in the late afternoon, evening and online to allow students to work and attend school.  

Program Requirements

  • High School Diploma or GED (if applying for Financial Aid) 
  • Pass Washington State Patrol background check
  • Pass a Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families background check (fingerprints may be required)
  • Complete Tuberculin skin test
  • Obtain Washington Education Liability Insurance (if applicable)
  • Maintain an overall 2.0 GPA (if receiving Financial Aid and to obtain degree)
  • Provide copy of immunization records
  • Provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or approved religious or medical exemption​
Program Outcomes
Career Possibilities
Transfer Options
Industry Connections
Scholarships & Grants
  1. Describe how children acquire language and creative expression and develop physically, cognitively and socially (Area I: Child Growth and Development).
  2. Plan an environment that provides learning experiences to meet children’s needs, abilities and interests (Area II: Curriculum and Learning Environment).
  3. Observe and assess what children know and can do in order to plan and provide curriculum that meets their developmental needs (Area III: Ongoing Measurement of Child Progress).
  4.  Identify resources and develop a plan to work collaboratively with agencies/organizations to meet children’s needs and to encourage the community’s involvement with early care and education (Area IV: Families and Community Partnerships).
  5. Identify components of an environment that ensures children’s safety, health and nourishment (Area V: Health, Safety and Nutrition).
  6. Establish supportive relationships with children and guide them as individuals and as part of a group (Area VI: Interactions).
  7. Evaluate and analyze an early care and education setting (Area VII: Program Planning and Development).
  8. Serve children and families in a professional manner and participate in the community as a representative of early care and education (Area VIII: Professional Development and Leadership).
  9. Students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively within a workplace context.
  10. Students will be able to reason mathematically using methods appropriate to the profession.

For job shadows, tours, and internships, check out the Career Services.

See what it’s all about

Degrees & Certificates

AAS Early Childhood Education (WSU Human Development Transfer option)

Emphasis: Human Development
Total Credits:
90
Learning Outcomes:

  • Describe how children acquire language and creative expression and develop physically, cognitively and socially (Area I: Child Growth and Development).
  • Plan an environment that provides learning experiences to meet children’s needs, abilities and interests (Area II: Curriculum and Learning Environment).
  • Observe and assess what children know and can do in order to plan and provide curriculum that meets their developmental needs (Area III: Ongoing Measurement of Child Progress).
  •  Identify resources and develop a plan to work collaboratively with agencies/organizations to meet children’s needs and to encourage the community’s involvement with early care and education (Area IV: Families and Community Partnerships).
  • Identify components of an environment that ensures children’s safety, health and nourishment (Area V: Health, Safety and Nutrition).
  • Establish supportive relationships with children and guide them as individuals and as part of a group (Area VI: Interactions).
  • Evaluate and analyze an early care and education setting (Area VII: Program Planning and Development).
  • Serve children and families in a professional manner and participate in the community as a representative of early care and education (Area VIII: Professional Development and Leadership).
  • Students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively within a workplace context.
  • Students will be able to reason mathematically using methods appropriate to the profession.

Year 1

Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter

Course Credits
CSS 100 3
ECED& 105 5
ECED& 107 5

Course Credits
ECED& 120 2
ECED& 132 3
ECED& 160 5
ECED& 190 3

Course Credits
ECED& 180 3
EDUC& 130 3
EDUC& 115 5
ENGL& 101 5

Year 2

Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter

Course Credits
PSYC& 100 5
ECED& 170 3
EDUC& 150 3
EDUC 190 3

Course Credits
EDUC 190 3
FAD 150 2
MATH& 107 5
CMST& 220 or
CMT& 210
5

Course Credits
EDUC 190 3
EDUC& 204 5
HUM 214 5
SOC& 101 5
WKED 103 1

AAS-T Early Childhood Education (EWU P-3 Teaching Transfer Option)

Emphasis: P-3 Teaching
Total Credits:
95
Learning Outcomes:

  • Describe how children acquire language and creative expression and develop physically, cognitively and socially (Area I: Child Growth and Development).
  • Plan an environment that provides learning experiences to meet children’s needs, abilities and interests (Area II: Curriculum and Learning Environment).
  • Observe and assess what children know and can do in order to plan and provide curriculum that meets their developmental needs (Area III: Ongoing Measurement of Child Progress).
  •  Identify resources and develop a plan to work collaboratively with agencies/organizations to meet children’s needs and to encourage the community’s involvement with early care and education (Area IV: Families and Community Partnerships).
  • Identify components of an environment that ensures children’s safety, health and nourishment (Area V: Health, Safety and Nutrition).
  • Establish supportive relationships with children and guide them as individuals and as part of a group (Area VI: Interactions).
  • Evaluate and analyze an early care and education setting (Area VII: Program Planning and Development).
  • Serve children and families in a professional manner and participate in the community as a representative of early care and education (Area VIII: Professional Development and Leadership).
  • Students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively within a workplace context.
  • Students will be able to reason mathematically using methods appropriate to the profession.

Year 1

Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter

Course Credits
CMST& 220 5
ECED& 105 5
ECED& 170 3
FAD 150 2

Course Credits
ECED& 107 5
ECED& 120 3
ECED& 132 3
PSYC& 100 5

Course Credits
ECED& 180 3
EDUC& 115 5
EDUC 190 3
ENGL& 101 5

Year 2

Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter

Course Credits
EDUC& 130 3
EDUC& 150 3
HUM 214 5
MATH& 107 5

Course Credits
ECED& 160 5
ECED& 190 3
BIOL& 100 5
ENGL& 102 5

Course Credits
EDUC& 204 5
PSYC& 200 5
CHEM& 121 5

Stackable Certificates

State Initial ECE
State Short Specialization
State ECE Certificate

Total Credits: 12
Learning Outcomes:

  1. Describe how children acquire language and creative expression and develop physically, cognitively and socially (Area I: Child Growth and Development).
  2. Identify components of an environment that ensures children’s safety, health and nourishment (Area V: Health, Safety and Nutrition).
  3. Serve children and families in a professional manner and participate in the community as a representative of early care and education (Professional Development and Leadership).
Course Credits
ECED& 105 5
ECED& 107 5
ECED& 120 2

Total Credits: 20
Learning Outcomes:

  1. Describe how children acquire language and creative expression and develop physically, cognitively and socially (Area I: Child Growth and Development).
  2. Identify components of an environment that ensures children’s safety, health and nourishment (Area V: Health, Safety and Nutrition).
  3. Serve children and families in a professional manner and participate in the community as a representative of early care and education (Professional Development and Leadership).
Course Credits
State Initial ECE Certificate 12
EDUC& 115 5
EDUC& 130 or
ECED& 132 or
ECED& 134 or
ECED& 139 or
ECED& 138 or
EDUC& 136
3

Total Credits: 54
Learning Outcomes:

  1. Describe how children acquire language and creative expression and develop physically, cognitively and socially (Area I: Child Growth and Development).
  2. Identify components of an environment that ensures children’s safety, health and nourishment (Area V: Health, Safety and Nutrition).
  3. Serve children and families in a professional manner and participate in the community as a representative of early care and education (Professional Development and Leadership).
Course Credits
State Short Certificate of Specialization 20
ENGL& 101 5
MATH& 107 5
CMST& 220 5
EDUC& 150 3
ECED& 180 3
ECED& 190 3
ECED& 160 5
ECED& 170 3
FAD 150 or
Industrial First Aid & CPR Plus Bloodborne Pathogens card
2

Standalone Certificates

Specialization-School Age Care
Specialization-Family child Care
Specialization-Administration
Specialization-Home Visitor/Family Engagement

Total Credits: 20

Course Credits
ECED& 105 – Intro to Early Childhood Ed 5
ECED& 107 – Health/Safety/Nutrition 5
ECED& 120 – Practicum: Nurturing Rel 2
EDUC& 115 – Child Development 5
EDUC& 136 – School Age Care 3

Total Credits: 20

Course Credits
ECED& 105 – Intro to Early Childhood Ed 5
ECED& 107 – Health/Safety/Nutrition 5
ECED& 120 – Practicum: Nurturing Rel 2
ECED& 134 – Family Childcare Management 3
EDUC& 115 – Child Development 5

Total Credits: 20

Course Credits
ECED& 105 – Intro to Early Childhood Ed 5
ECED& 107 – Health/Safety/Nutrition 5
ECED& 120 – Practicum: Nurturing Rel 2
ECED& 139 – Administration of Early Learning Programs 3
EDUC& 115 – Child Development 5

Total Credits: 20

Course Credits
ECED& 105 – Intro to Early Childhood Ed 5
ECED& 107 – Health/Safety/Nutrition 5
ECED& 120 – Practicum: Nurturing Rel 2
ECED& 138 – Home Visitor/Family Engagement 3
EDUC& 115 – Child Development 5

Note: ECED& 120 has a pre-requisite of ECED& 105

Early Childhood Education Contact
Early Childhood Education Faculty/Staff
Early Childhood Education instructor, Michele Reeves

Reeves, Michele

Education Faculty
micheler@bigbend.edu
(509) 793-2330
Early Childhood Education instructor, Amber Giles

Giles, Amber

Early Childhood Education Associate Faculty
amberg@bigbend.edu
Early Childhood Education instructor, Cami McLean

Mclean, Cami

Early Childhood Education Associate Faculty
camim@bigbend.edu
Early Childhood Education instructor, Robin Cluff

Cluff, Robin

Early Childhood Education Associate Faculty
robinc@bigbend.edu

Devereux, Tyler

Early Childhood Education Program Specialist
TylerD@bigbend.edu
(509) 793-2070
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BIllman, Vanessa

Early Childhood Education Instructor
vanessabi@bigbend.edu
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Wallace, Nicole

Early Childhood Education Instructor
nicolew@bigbend.edu
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Itterley, Shannen

Early Childhood Education Instructor
shanneni@bigbend.edu
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