Education Program

~ Associate in Applied Science Degree ~

DESCRIPTION

The Education Program consists of two degree options - Speech/Language option (SLA) and Early Childhood Education (ECE) option. The objective of the Speech/Language option is to prepare students to work effectively with speech/language pathologists who are responsible for providing services for individuals with speech, hearing, or language needs in schools or community settings. The objective of the Early Childhood Education option is to prepare students to provide developmentally appropriate services for young children in public and private institutions and agencies, such as Head Start, child care centers, schools, or family child care homes.

The Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders will prepare students for work as Education Technician III’s working with individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in public schools, in home based services, in early intervention programs, Head Starts, child care, special purpose programs and in other community settings. The coursework includes both academic courses and practical application courses in understanding and planning for work with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Two practicums are included in the coursework to introduce students to settings and methods to consider when employed in the field.

PROGRAM MISSION

The Education Program at Kennebec Valley Community College subscribes to the philosophy that each child must be given the opportunity to experience success and to achieve excellence by performing at one’s personal best. This philosophy is based on the premise that young children and learners with special needs must have engaging and challenging learning experiences that will assure them of the opportunity to lead rewarding lives within the school environment as they grow toward becoming well-adjusted, contributing members of their communities.

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

The primary goal of the Education Program is to prepare a workforce of knowledgeable and skilled paraprofessionals who will provide instructional assistance for young children and for students with special needs. By supplying high quality para-educator training, the Education Program can positively impact the lives of children, enabling them to perform at their personal best academically as well as socially.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES EDUCATION PROGRAM BY OPTIONS

Early Childhood Education

1. All students will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors with children, colleagues, and families in early childhood settings grounded in the history, NAEYC Code of Ethics, and generally accepted ongoing evolution of the field.
2. All students will demonstrate with increasing skill, a philosophy of working with young children in a developmentally appropriate manner considering the children’s age, individual development, and social and cultural context.
3. All students will demonstrate skill in completing observations of children, recording them in an objective manner, and applying the data gathered to planning for typically and atypically developing children.
4. All students will plan and implement environments, lesson plans, and curriculum to support young children’s development in all domains.
5. All students will identify community resources available to support themselves, children, and families for ongoing growth and development.

Speech Language Assistant

1. All students will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors with children, adults, and colleagues in therapeutic settings grounded in the history, ethics, and generally accepted ongoing evolution of the field of speech and language remediation.
2. All students will articulate in writing a philosophy of working with persons with speech language/ special needs including how to implement this practice.
3. All students will demonstrate skill in implementing treatment plans set forth for clients by a Speech Language Pathologist.
4. All students will complete all the requirements to qualify to be registered as a Speech Language Assistant in the state of Maine.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

1. All students will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors with children and colleagues in educational settings grounded in the history, ethics and generally accepted ongoing evolution of the field of autism spectrum disorder studies.
2. All students will articulate in writing a philosophy of working with individuals with an autism spectrum disorder.
3. All students will demonstrate knowledge and skill in using a variety of approaches to work with individuals with autism spectrum disorders which best matches their learning style and approach to growth and development in multiple life areas.
4. All students will demonstrate their skill in adapting methods of teaching to respond to individuals with ASD.
5. All students will collaborate with other team members in planning for, implementing plans, and evaluating success with individuals with ASD.
6. All students will identify community resources to support their work with individual with ASD.
7. All students will support families of individuals with ASD through education, resources, and planning.

PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS

The practicum requirement is a key component of each of the Education Program’s options. Before enrolling in practicum courses, students must have completed at least 75% of other technical courses required by their program option. (This is ordinarily six of eight technical courses). Also, to participate in required practicum experiences, students must have achieved at least a grade of C (73%) in all technical courses. Students in Special Education and Speech/Language must present current documentation of CPR and first aid certification before scheduling practicums. Students in Early Childhood Education will be placed in three settings with different age level children. Students in all three majors must be able to pass SBI criminal and DHHS child abuse history background checks. These will be done at least once every two years.

COURSE AVAILABILITY

Courses in all Education Program options are offered on-campus. Some courses are also offered statewide via interactive television (ITV), ATM, online, or at off-site locations arranged with continuing education services in the area, KVCAP agencies, and area Head Start service agencies. See your program advisor regularly to verify availability of courses.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Graduates of the Early Childhood Education option receive the Associate in Applied Science degree and are prepared to seek leadership roles in agencies serving young children. A CDA certificate (training offered through the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program) will result in credit for three courses within the Early Childhood Education option. Presentation of a completed portfolio or a current CDA earned with MRTQ courses and a certificate of completion of Maine Roads to Quality 180-hour coursework program will result in credit for three courses within the Early Childhood Education option.

Graduates of the Speech/Language option are eligible to seek employment with licensed speech pathologists who can apply for their registration with the Bureau of Licensing as Speech/Language Assistants. Employment opportunities include public and private agencies, clinics, and schools. Graduates also qualify for Education Technician II authorization.

The Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders Studies will prepare graduates for positions as Education Technician III’s, developmental therapy aides, or special needs assistants. A certificate program post-associates degree at KVCC would target the specific skills and knowledge that practitioners need to work with persons with an ASD. This certificate would require a degree in special education or a closely related field to prepare people for this additional college work. It would be an opportunity for them to move up a level in schools or other programs with programming for individuals with an ASD. Private programs support this certificate as a method to reducing staff turnover and to better serve their clients.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

FIRST SEMESTER	EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION	CREDIT HOURS
CPT117	Software Applications I	3
ECE131*	Introduction to Early Childhood	3
ECE135*	Observing & Recording Children's Behavior	3
ENG101	College Composition	3
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology	3
	Total First Semester Credits	15
SECOND SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
COM104	Introduction to Communication	3
ECE134*	Health, Safety, and Nutrition	3
ECE140*	Fostering Growth and Development in Infants and Toddlers	3
ECE155*	Practicum I: Early Childhood	3
MAT113	Elements of Mathematics (or higher math)	3
	Total Second Semester Credits	15
THIRD SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
ECE133*	Literacy and Literature for Young Children	3
ECE145*	Fostering Growth and Development: The Preschool Years OR	3
ECE148*	Fostering Growth and Development: Early Primary Aged Children: 5-8 Years	3
ECE200*	Practicum II; Early Childhood	4
SOC101	Introduction to Sociology	3
______	Humanities Elective	3
	Total Third Semester Credits	16
FOURTH SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
BIO115	Human Biology or other lab science	4
BUS115	Supervisory Management	3
ECE158*	Including Children with Special Needs in Early Childhood Settings	3
ECE250*	Practicum III: Early Childhood	4
PSY215	Developmental Psychology	3
	Total Fourth Semester Credits	17
	TOTAL CREDITS	63

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

Students must complete 63 credits in the Early Childhood Education option and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must attain a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

FIRST SEMESTER	SPEECH / LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY	CREDIT HOURS
CPT117	Software Applications I	3
COM104	Introduction to Communication	3
EDU101*	Educating Children with Disabilities	3
EDU103*	Language Development	3
ENG101	College Composition	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR FIRST SEMESTER	15
SECOND SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
BIO113	Survey of Anatomy and Physiology	4
EDU112*	Survey of Communication Disorders	3
EDU122*	Phonetics	3
EDU132*	Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation	3
PSY101	Introduction to Psychology	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR SECOND SEMESTER	16
THIRD SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
EDU209*	Articulation Disorders and Rehabilitation	3
EDU214*	Language Disorders and Rehabilitation	3
EDU216*	Clinical Techniques/Procedures	3
SOC101	Introduction to Sociology	3
______	Math Elective	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR THIRD SEMESTER	15
FOURTH SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
EDU217*	Organic/Neurologic and Fluency Disorders and Rehabilitation	3
EDU219*	Psycho-Social Needs of Students with Disabilities	3
EDU222*	Practicum: Speech/Language Field Experience	4
ENG219	Professional Writing	3
______	Humanities Elective	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR FOURTH SEMESTER	16
	TOTAL CREDITS	62

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

Students must complete 62 credits in the Speech/Language (SLA) option and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must attain a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

FIRST SEMESTER	AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS STUDIES	CREDIT HOURS
EDU103	Language Development	3
EDU210	Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR FIRST SEMESTER	6
SECOND SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
EDU225	Approaches to Working with Persons with ASD	3
EDU230	Children and ASD	3
EDU235	Data Collection, Interpretations, and Usage for Planning	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR SECOND SEMESTER	9
THIRD SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
EDU240	Practicum I	3
EDU245	Assistive Technology and ASD	3
EDU250	Working with Family Members	3
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR THIRD SEMESTER	9
FOURTH SEMESTER		CREDIT HOURS
EDU255	Collaboration with Team Members for ASD	3
EDU260	Practicum II	4
	TOTAL CREDITS FOR FOURTH SEMESTER	7
	TOTAL CREDITS	31

This listing of courses allows the student to meet pre-requisites and to complete this certificate program in two years. It is anticipated that the majority of the students will be already employed Ed. Tech. II’s working daily. The classes will be offered evenings, possibly weekends, and summers to accommodate their work schedules.

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

Students must complete 31 credits in the Autism Spectrum Disorders Studies Certificate and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all courses. Students must attain a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

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