Program Learning Outcomes

The six areas below are the Program Learning Outcomes standards as set by our accreditor, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and represent what you can expect to learn while in the program. Upon completion of the program, you will have mastery regarding:

• Reflect mastery of child development and characteristics of children 0-8 years of age (NAEYC Standard 1: Child Development and Learning in Context)
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of family and community characteristics to support and empower families through reciprocal and respectful relationships (NAEYC Standard 2: Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections)
• Explain the goals, benefits and uses of assessment, including observation and documentation and other appropriate strategies (NAEYC Standard 3: Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment)
• Use developmentally effective approaches, including understanding positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of your work with young children; knowing and understanding effective strategies and tools for early education, such as appropriate uses of technology; using a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning approaches; and reflecting on your own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child. (NAEYC Standard 4: Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices)
• Build meaningful curriculum using content knowledge, including understanding language, literacy, the arts, music, creative movements, dance, drama, visual arts, mathematics, science, physical activity, physical education, health and safety and social studies; plus know and use the central concepts, inquiry tools and structures of content areas or academic discipline; and use knowledge, appropriate learning standards and other resources to design, implement and evaluate developmentally meaningful and challenging curriculum for the child. (NAEYC Standard 5: Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum)
• Identify with and become involved in the early childhood field though continuous and collaborative learning to inform practice, and demonstrate the ability to be engaged in informed advocacy for children and the profession. (NAEYC Standard 6: Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator)