Early Childhood & Youth Development - Diploma - Dakota County Technical College | DCTC - a 2-Year Minnesota School Offering Associate Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs to the Twin Cities, MN

Early Childhood & Youth Development - Diploma

This program prepares individuals who would like to work in a child care center or preschool as a lead teacher or in a family child care program. This program is available in the classroom on-campus and also online.

Additional Diploma Requirements

The following award requires a clear MN Criminal Background Study.
Students must earn a grade of 'C-' or better for all required ECYD courses and ECYD technical electives.

This is a suggested sample course sequence.
Please contact your program advisor regarding your academic plans.

Get the Early Childhood & Youth Development Datasheet

2023-2024 Required Courses

First Year - Fall Semester

Course Title	Credits
ECYD 1110 Introduction to Early Childhood Education ECYD - 1110: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Description ECYD 1110 This course provides an overview of the early childhood profession, including theories, philosophies, research, principles, and regulations impacting work with young children and their families. This course examines the differing roles within the profession and the many influences on work with children and families. Note: This course requires a MN OHS criminal background study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: ECYD1110 — PDF	3
ECYD 1215 Child Growth and Development ECYD - 1215: Child Growth and Development Description ECYD 1215 This course examines the major developmental milestones across cultures, both typical and atypical, for children from conception through age eight in the areas of physical, social, emotional, language, cognitive and aesthetic/creative development. While studying developmental theory, investigative/observational research methods and developmentally appropriate practices, students will observe children and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. The course emphasizes interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors.To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing young children in community-based early childhood programs. Note: This course requires a Minnesota Criminal Background Study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1215 — PDF	3
ECYD 1225 Health, Wellness, and Nutrition ECYD - 1225: Health, Wellness, and Nutrition Description ECYD 1225 This course provides an introduction to the skills needed to establish and maintain a physically and psychologically safe and healthy learning environment for young children. Topics include preventing illness and accidents, handling emergencies, providing health, safety, and nutrition educational experiences, meeting children's basic nutritional needs, child abuse prevention, safe sleep practices, and current health-related issues. The importance of collaboration with families and allied health professionals is addressed. To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing and interacting with young children in community-based early childhood programs. NOTE: This course requires a MN OHS criminal background study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: ECYD1225 — PDF	3
ECYD 1335 Observation and Assessment ECYD - 1335: Observation and Assessment Description ECYD 1335 This course focuses on the appropriate use of authentic observation and assessment strategies to document children's development, growth, play and learning, to plan and individualize curriculum and teaching practices, and to join with families and professionals in promoting children's success. Students will explore recording strategies, rating systems, multiple assessment tools, and portfolios. Focus is placed on increasing objectivity in observing and interpreting children's behavior, using assessment ethically, observing developmental characteristics, and increasing the awareness of patterns of children's behavior. Prerequisite: ECYD1215 Students participating in this course should expect to devote at least 15 hours per semester of out-of-class time to observation in a community-based early childhood setting. NOTE: This course requires a MN DHS criminal background study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ECYD 1210 Child Growth and Development ECYD 1215 Child Growth and Development Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: ECYD1335 — PDF	3
ECYD 2340 Children with Differing Abilities ECYD - 2340: Children with Differing Abilities Description ECYD 2340 This course examines the development of children with differing abilities. Students will integrate strategies that support inclusive programs for children, apply legal and ethical requirements including, but not limited to, the American Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Students will differentiate between typical and atypical development, analyze the differing abilities of children with physical, cognitive, health/medical, communication, and/or behavioral/emotional special needs and explore strategies to adapt curriculum to meet the needs of children with developmental differences and cultivate partnerships with families. This course includes an emphasis on the use of sign language with children to support communication and the development of language skills. To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 15 hours per semester outside of class time observing and interacting with young children in community-based early childhood programs. Note: This course requires a Minnesota Criminal Background Study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ECYD 1210 Child Growth and Development ECYD 1215 Child Growth and Development Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: ECYD2340 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	15

First Year - Spring Semester

Course Title	Credits
ECYD 1235 Guiding Young Children ECYD - 1235: Guiding Young Children Description ECYD 1235 This course examines the positive, developmentally appropriate strategies used to guide children's behavior and support social and emotional development during early childhood. The course examines the multiple influences on child behavior as well as strategies to support self-regulation and peer relationships during early childhood. To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing and interacting with young children in community-based early childhood programs. NOTE: This course requires a MN OHS criminal background study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1235 — PDF	3
ECYD 1250 Learning and Creativity in Early Childhood ECYD - 1250: Learning and Creativity in Early Childhood Description ECYD 1250 This course examines the role of adults in providing environments, interactions, and activities that support learning and creativity in the early childhood years. The nature and importance of play as a vehicle for child learning is addressed as well as implementation of developmentally and culturally appropriate practices. The importance of child choice and active exploration as strategies to meet appropriate goals for learning and development are stressed. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1250 — PDF	3
ECYD 1570 Child and Family Relations in a Diverse World ECYD - 1570: Child and Family Relations in a Diverse World Description ECYD 1570 This course examines the impact of family, culture and society on young children. Students will consider strategies for emphasizing culturally and linguistically appropriate and anti-bias approaches while supporting children's care and education. Students will examine the many types of families, as well as the importance of forging effective partnerships with families and community organizations and resources. To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing and interacting with young children in community-based early childhood programs. Note: This course requires a clear Minnesota Criminal Background Study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1570 — PDF	3
Technical Electives * TECH - 0000: Technical Electives Description TECH 0000 Credits: Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: TECH0000 — PDF	6
Total Semester Credits:	15

First Year - Summer Session

Course Title	Credits
ECYD 1520 Practicum I ECYD - 1520: Practicum I Description ECYD 1520 This course provides students an opportunity to demonstrate the early childhood teaching competencies explored in other classes while guided by a supervising teacher in a licensed early childhood program. The competencies addressed include: developing active and developmentally appropriate environments accessible to the multiple needs of learners, positive child guidance strategies, communication skills, and development of professional skills such as communication and respectful interactions with families, colleagues, and other potential partners in the care and education of young children. PREREQUISITES: ECYD1100, ECYD1215, ECYD1225, ECYD1235, and ECYD1250 Note: This course requires a clear Minnesota Criminal Background Study. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ECYD 1100 Introduction to Early Childhood Careers ECYD 1210 Child Growth and Development ECYD 1215 Child Growth and Development ECYD 1220 Health, Safety, and Nutrition ECYD 1230 Guiding Children's Behaviors ECYD 1240 Learning Environment and Curriculum Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Summer 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1520 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	3