EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Associate in Arts Child Development and Family Studies · Cuesta College · 2026-2027 Catalog
The Early Childhood Education Associate of Arts Degree provides a solid foundation for students entering the education field and prepares students to work with children from infancy into middle childhood in a variety of environments.
The core eight courses (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 215 and 216) match the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Teacher Permit Early Childhood Education course requirements. Students who complete coursework at this level (the core eight, of the nine required courses) will receive a Child Development Teacher Certificate of Achievement from Cuesta College. Students need an additional 16 units of General Education to meet the Child Development Teacher Permit Education Requirement.
The Early Childhood Education Associate Degree courses (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 215, 216 and 245) with the additional six specialization units match the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Master Teacher Permit Early Childhood Education course requirements. Students who complete coursework at this level will receive a Child Development Master Teacher Certificate of Achievement from Cuesta College. Students need an additional 16 units of General Education to meet the Child Development Master Teacher Permit Education Requirement.
The Early Childhood Associate Degree and an additional six administration units (ECE 246 and 248) included in the Site Supervisor Certificate of Achievement match the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Site Supervisor Permit Early Childhood Education course requirements.
Learning Outcome(s):
- Demonstrate understanding of human development theory and the multiple interacting influences on a child’s development.
- Demonstrate effective guidance and interaction strategies that support children’s social learning and promote positive and reciprocal relationships among culturally and linguistically diverse teachers, children, and their families.
- Analyze and apply strategies that promote partnerships between teachers and families, identifying program and community resources that promote children’s health, development, and learning.
- Identify and conduct themselves as a member of the Early Childhood field, employing work skills, ethics, and dispositions that support professionalism and continued professional development.
- Develop and design curricula and environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for the children.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (29 units) | 29 | |
| CDFS 201 | CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| CDFS 202 | CHILD, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY | 3 |
| CDFS 203 | CURRICULUM FOR YOUNG CHILDREN | 3 |
| CDFS 204 | HEALTH, SAFETY, AND NUTRITION | 3 |
| CDFS 205 | INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES | 3 |
| CDFS 206 | OBSERVATION, RECORDING TECHNIQUES AND ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| CDFS 215 | CHILDREN IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY | 3 |
| CDFS 216 | PRACTICUM: CURRICULUM/ENVIRONMENT SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCE | 5 |
| CDFS 245 | ADULT SUPERVISION AND MENTORING | 3 |
| Choose 6 units from the following: | 6 | |
| CDFS 211 | MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN | 1 |
| CDFS 212 | CHILDHOOD AND PLAY | 1 |
| CDFS 217 | THE STUDY OF PARENTING: THEORY AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| CDFS 220 | ART FOR CHILDREN | 1 |
| CDFS 221 | STEM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD | 1 |
| CDFS 223 | LOOSE PARTS IN EARLY LEARNING: THEORY AND PRACTICE | 1 |
| CDFS 234 | CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND NARRATIVES | 3 |
| CDFS 235 | UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIORS THAT CHALLENGE | 1 |
| CDFS 236 | INTRODUCTION TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS | 3 |
| CDFS 237 | CURRICULUM AND STRATEGIES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS | 3 |
| CDFS 240 | INFANT AND TODDLER DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| CDFS 242 | CARE AND EDUCATION FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS | 3 |
| Total | 35 | |