Early Childhood Education Certificate Program

Begins September 6, 2024

Flexible Learning
10 Hours per Week for 12 Weeks

Register here! 

An Early Childhood Education certificate at UNM Los Alamos provides teacher educators and educational leaders the tools and hands-on experience to develop innovative school programs. We empower our students to enact transformative educational practices that make a foundation for a child’s lifelong success.

Guided by our core values of intellectual inquiry, inclusion and social justice, we are committed to preparing educators who can effectively teach and support young children across diverse contexts of pre-schools, elementary schools, and community centers. Our program shapes future teachers and educational leaders to develop curriculum, pedagogy, and institutional change relating to equity and justice. 

Join our group of educational leaders, curriculum designers, teachers, and creators to nurture young children to become leaders of tomorrow!

Objectives:

• Provide the learning and development of early education leaders
• Students develop knowledge, skills, and tools needed to build quality learning environments and improvement in all early education settings
• Students develop management skills to advance high-quality early education programs
• Provide wrap-around services to students
• Equip students with the knowledge and experience to advance in their careers
• Job-embedded learning experience with industry partners
• Foster economic mobility and close achievement gaps

Learner Outcomes:

• Stackable certificate in Early Childhood Education
• Stackable skills in Early Childhood Education and related fields
• Graduates of the program will be qualified to teach at Preschools, Montessori Schools, Daycare Centers, and Private Schools

Course Descriptions

1. Child Growth, Development, and Learning (20hrs)

DATE: TBD

COST: $500

SIGN-UP for Course 1 with a UNM-LA fee waiver.

This basic course in the growth, development, and learning of young children, prenatal through age eight, provides students with the theoretical foundation for becoming competent early childhood professionals. The course includes knowledge of how young children grow, develop and learn. Major theories of child development are integrated with all domains of development, including biological-physical, social, cultural, emotional, cognitive and language. The adult’s role in supporting each child’s growth, development and learning is emphasized.

2. Guiding Young Children (25hrs)

DATE: TBD

COST: $500

SIGN-UP for Course 2 with a UNM-LA fee waiver.

This course explores various theories of child guidance and the practical applications of each. It provides developmentally appropriate methods for guiding children and effective strategies and suggestions for facilitating positive social interactions. Strategies for preventing challenging behaviors through the use of environment, routines and schedule will be presented. Emphasis is placed on helping children become self-responsible, competent, independent, and cooperative learners and including families as part of the guidance approach.

3. Introduction to Reading and Literacy Development (25hrs)

DATE: TBD

COST: $500

SIGN-UP for Course 3 with a UNM-LA fee waiver.

This basic course focuses on the learning environment and implementation of curriculum in early childhood programs. Students will use their knowledge of content, developmentally appropriate practices, and language and culture to design and implement experiences and environments that promote optimal development and learning for children from age 3 through third grade, including children with special needs. Various curriculum models, structured literacy, teaching and learning strategies will be included.

4. Curriculum Development and Implementation, Age 3 (PreK) to Grade 3 (25hrs)

DATE: TBD

COST: $500

SIGN-UP for Course 4 with a UNM-LA fee waiver.

This course focuses on developmentally appropriate content area, including literacy, numeracy, the arts, health and emotional wellness, science, motor and social skills. Students will use their knowledge of content, developmentally appropriate practices, and language and culture to design and implement experiences and environments that promote optimal development and learning for children from age 3 through third grade including children with special needs. Various curriculum models and teaching and learning strategies will be included.

5. Curriculum Development and Implementation, Age 3 (PreK) to Grade 3 – Practicum (25hrs)

DATE: TBD

COST: $500

SIGN-UP for Course 4 with a UNM-LA fee waiver.

This beginning practicum course is a co-requisite with the course Curriculum Development and Implementation:  Age 3 through Grade 3. The field-based component of this course will provide experiences that address developmentally appropriate curriculum content in early childhood programs, age 3 through third grade. Development and implementation of curriculum in all content areas, including literacy, numeracy, the arts, health and emotional wellness, science, 2 motor and social skills is emphasized. Information on adapting content areas to meet the needs of children with special needs and the development of IEPs is included.

Program Details:

Each of the 5 modules runs for 4 weeks and requires 20 hours of work, for a total of 100 hours. The fifth module, Curriculum Development and Implementation, Age 3 (PreK) to Grade 3 – Practicum, involves 20 hours of hands-on training in the field at our partner school, Ponderosa Montessori. UNM-LA ECE Certificate students will be eligible to apply for paid internships at our local early childhood education centers.