Curriculum content of early childhood education courses in the California community colleges

Abstract

Includes bibliographical references (pages 68-74)

The purpose of this study was to determine the
 curriculum content of Early Childhood Education courses in the
 California community colleges. The research was needed mainly
 to assist those initiating nursery school programs at the
 community colleges, and to aid part-time instructors by serving
 as a guide for curriculum development.
 Forty of the 81 California public community colleges
 offering early childhood programs were selected randomly and
 sent a letter requesting all course outlines for their early
 childhood education program. Of the 35 community colleges responding, the Social and Behavioral Sciences division and the Child-related departments
 were the most often in charge of the most frequently
 named program, Early Childhood Education.
 Diversity was the most marked characteristic of the
 curriculum content. Twenty-five courses were categorized from
 the total outlines. Those courses having a mean greater than
 three semester units suggested the possible offering of the
 course in sequence. Those courses for which 50 percent or
 more of the colleges required prerequisites probably were
 taken the second year at the college. A summary outline for
 each course category was included.