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Printed on 5/21/2025

Early Childhood Education

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10-307-1 Associate Degree (AAS) Part Time, Full Time 60 Credits Financial Aid Eligible Location*: Appleton

*If general education courses are required, they may be available at multiple locations.

Love being around children? This degree program provides you with skills specific to developing and supervising young children. You'll learn about child development, relationships, behavior and diversity. You'll also learn how to create curriculum and give children positive guidance. Gain skills in observation and assessment, health, safety and nutrition. Throughout the program, you will apply what you're learning in actual early childhood settings. Your career in early childhood education is just a hop, skip and jump away.

Due to program demand, licensure and certification requirements, and Wisconsin laws relating to residency, this program is currently not accepting out-of-state applicants. [Learn more about professional licensure](https://www.fvtc.edu/about-us/facts/student-consumer-information/professional-licensure-and-certification-disclosure) for this program.

COURSE LIST

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Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

    Technical Studies (42 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Early College Credit Options
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • ECE: Early Language & Literacy
    10-307-108
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10307108
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course explores strategies to encourage the development of early language and literacy knowledge and skill building in children birth to 8 years of age.

  • ECE: Social Studies, Art, & Music
    10-307-110
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10307110
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of social studies, art, music, & movement (SSAMM) for children from birth to 8 years of age.

  • ECE: STEM
    10-307-112
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10307112
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in children birth to age 8.

  • ECE: Foundations of Early Childhood
    10-307-148
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10307148
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course introduces the early childhood profession through a historical overview of the field. The course will explore program trends, quality indicators, and developmentally appropriate practices for children birth to 8 years of age.

  • ECE: Infant & Toddler Development
    10-307-151
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10307151
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course explores infant and toddler development as it applies to an early childhood education setting. This course focuses on children's development from conception through thirty-six months (3 years). This course includes training for Wisconsin Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care certification.

  • ECE: Field Experience 1
    10-307-160
    3Credit
    144
    36

    • Instructional Hours: 144
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10307160
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit introductory field experience course introduces the foundations of early childhood education under guided supervision of a mentor teacher in an early childhood setting, working with children birth through age 8. This course meets the requirements for the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards 18-hour training.

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ANY of the following options:

    • E CHILD 10307108 - ECE: Early Language & Literacy

    • E CHILD 10307110 - ECE: Soc S, Art, & Music
  • ECE: Hlth Safety & Nutrition
    10-307-167
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10307167
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course examines the topics of health, safety, and nutrition within the context of the early childhood educational setting for children from birth through 8 years of age. This course includes training for Abusive Head Trauma, SIDS, and Mandated Reporter certifications.

  • ECE: Field Experience 2
    10-307-170
    3Credit
    144
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 144
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10307170
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit intermediate field experience course includes assisting the mentor teacher in carrying out classroom routines and implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote child development and learning through play for children birth to age 8.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • E CHILD 10307160 - ECE: Field Experience 1

    • E CHILD 10307174 - ECE: Introductory Practicum

    ​Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • E CHILD 10307108 - ECE: Early Language & Literacy

    • E CHILD 10307110 - ECE: Soc S, Art, & Music
  • ECE: Child Development
    10-307-179
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10307179
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course examines child development within the context of the early childhood education setting. This course focuses on children ages 3-8 years of age.

  • ECE: Children w Diff Abilities
    10-307-187
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10307187
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course focuses on the child with differing abilities in an inclusive early childhood education setting while examining strategies for cultivating partnerships with families and community supports for children from birth to 8 years of age.

  • ECE: Guiding Child Behavior
    10-307-188
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10307188
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course examines positive strategies to guide children's behavior in the early childhood education setting for children from birth to 8 years of age. This course meets the requirements of the Wisconsin Pyramid Model training.

  • ECE: Field Experience 3
    10-307-190
    3Credit
    144
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 144
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10307190
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit advanced field experience course focuses on supporting young children's development birth to age 8 through observation, assessment, and implementation of developmentally appropriate teaching strategies.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • E CHILD 10307170 - ECE: Field Experience 2

    • E CHILD 10307177 - ECE: Intermediate Practicum

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • E CHILD 10307112 - ECE: STEM
  • ECE: Family & Community Relationships
    10-307-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10307195
    • Credits: 3.00

    This 3-credit course will examine the role of relationships with family and community in early childhood education for children from birth to 8 years of age. In this course, students will complete the Strengthening Families Training.

  • ECE: Field Experience 4
    10-307-210
    3Credit
    144
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 144
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10307210
    • Credits: 3.00

    This final 3-credit pre-professional field experience course focuses on demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of children birth to age 8, and families. An emphasis is on practicing the lead teacher role to design, implement and evaluate a connected unit of learning experiences.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • E CHILD 10307175 - ECE: Preschool Practicum

    • E CHILD 10307190 - ECE: Field Experience 3

    General Studies (15 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Early College Credit Options
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Written Communication
    10-801-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801195
    • Credits: 3.00

    Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. A variety of writing assignments are designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Speech
    10-801-198
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801198
    • Credits: 3.00

    Explores the fundamentals of effective oral presentation to small and large groups. Topic selection, audience analysis, methods of organization, research, supporting evidence, delivery techniques, active listening, and other essential elements of speaking successfully, form the basis of the course. Includes informative, persuasive, and occasion speech presentations. Audience requirements to be determined by the individual colleges.Â

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Principles of Sustainability
    10-806-112
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10806112
    • Credits: 3.00

    Prepares the student to develop sustainable literacy, analyze the interconnections among the physical and biological sciences and environmental systems, summarize the effects of sustainability on health and well-being, analyze connections among social, economic, and environmental systems, employ energy conservation strategies to reduce the use of fossil fuels, investigate alternative energy options, evaluate options to current waste disposal and recycling in the U.S., and analyze approaches used by your community to promote and implement sustainability.

  • Intro to Sociology
    10-809-196
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809196
    • Credits: 3.00

    Introduces students to the fundamental sociological concepts, including sociological perspectives, research methods, the significance of culture in society, and the socialization process. Other topics include deviance, the impact of groups on behavior, societal inequities, global changes, the role of social institutions, and social stratification.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Intro to Psychology
    10-809-198
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809198
    • Credits: 3.00

    This science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
×

Expected Competencies

For more information visit our Credit For Prior Learning page.
×

Eligible Dual Credit Course

What is Dual Credit?

FVTC courses taught at the high school by certified high school teachers. These teachers receive mentorship from FVTC faculty to ensure alignment in competencies, curriculum, and assessments.


  • Students earn both high school and college credits, with grades applying to both transcripts.
  • There is no cost to the school district or family.
  • Dual Credit course availability varies by high school based on factors such as lab space, equipment, and teacher qualifications.

Process:

As part of the annual course planning, students and families should meet with their High School Guidance Counselor to discuss future college and career goals. This conversation will help identify Dual Credit courses that best align with specific pathways.

×

Recommended Start College Now Course

What is Start College Now?

Qualified public-school juniors and seniors may enroll in college level classes at FVTC or online, if a comparable course is not offered within their district.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have parent/guardian approval.
  • Must meet all course entry requirements.
  • Must be in good academic standing with an acceptable disciplinary record.

Application Process:

Interested students should consult their High School Guidance Counselor to explore course options and complete a “Start College Now” application. Applications must be submitted to High School Counselors by March 1st for fall courses and October 1st for spring courses. If approved by the school board, the cost is covered by the high school.

×

Eligible Dual Credit & Recommended Start College Now Course:

What is Dual Credit?

FVTC courses taught at the high school by certified high school teachers. These teachers receive mentorship from FVTC faculty to ensure alignment in competencies, curriculum, and assessments.

  • Students earn both high school and college credits, with grades applying to both transcripts.
  • There is no cost to the school district or family.

**Dual Credit course availability varies by high school based on factors such as lab space, equipment, and teacher qualifications.

What is Start College Now?

Qualified public-school juniors and seniors may enroll in college level classes at FVTC or online, if a comparable course is not offered within their district.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have parent/guardian approval.
  • Must meet all course entry requirements.
  • Must be in good academic standing with an acceptable disciplinary record.

Application Process:

Interested students should consult their High School Guidance Counselor to explore course options and complete a “Start College Now” application. Applications must be submitted to High School Counselors by March 1st for fall courses and October 1st for spring courses. If approved by the school board, the cost is covered by the high school.

×

N/A

This course is not available for Dual Credit or Start College Now due to factors such as course rigor, necessary equipment, and prerequisite requirements.