Early Childhood Education: Infant and Child Mental Health, BAS

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180 Credits

Green River College’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Early Childhood Education: Infant and Child Mental Health (ICMH) will provide graduates with skills and abilities to examine the foundations of development and the importance of relationships to the social and emotional well-being of infants, toddlers, and young children as well as quality relationships and environments that foster growth in all developmental domains-social and emotional, cognitive/linguistic, and physical. It is designed to provide relevant training to those working with vulnerable families and children including early care and education providers, home visitors, child health providers, early interventionists, and other related fields. The specialized training in infant/child mental health will enable these individuals to work better with children and families, responding to the emerging needs of the diverse populations that they serve.

The BAS in Early Childhood-ICMH enables individuals with applied associate degrees in Early Childhood Education to combine their lower-division technical or transfer preparation courses with upper-division credits. The result is a unique, specialized, BAS degree. The BAS in Early Childhood-ICMH also combines the breadth and academic rigor required for students who wish to continue their studies at the Master’s level.

Entry Requirements:

The entry requirements for the BAS in Infant Child Mental Health provide access to students from both academic transfer and career and technical programs. These entry requirements also ensure that prospective students are prepared for success once they enter the program. Entry requirements are:

AAA, AAS or AAS-T degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better
AA, AS degree or higher with cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better
Completion of 30 credits in ECE with no single class lower than 2.0 to include:
- EDUC& 115 - Child Development (5 credits)
- EDUC& 130 - Guiding Behavior (3 credits)
- Diversity Course (3-5 credits)
- 5 credits in practicum/field experience or permission of program director.

Completion of these courses will provide the foundation necessary for seamless entry into the BAS in Early Childhood-ICMH and will be included in the 180 credit requirement.

Contacts: Leslie Kessler, lkessler@greenriver.edu

Program Website: Early Childhood Education | https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/degrees-programs/early-childhood-education/

Graduation Requirement

Completion of an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

Apply relationship-based principles and strategies that support young children and families.
Assess and analyze children’s development, skills, and behavior based on culturally and developmentally appropriate practices.
Design and create inclusive environments that promote social/emotional learning and are responsive to the needs of all children and families including those considered vulnerable.
Select and apply appropriate intervention strategies for classroom management while promoting a positive emotional climate that is reflective of and responsive to the culture being served.
Screen, assess, and identify children with mental health challenges.
Demonstrate leadership abilities and collaborative skills necessary to resolve interpersonal and organizational challenges that may occur in an early childhood setting.
Establish and maintain connections with appropriate support services and community resources.
Demonstrate the ability to engage in reflective observation, consultation, and practice, and possess the ability to integrate it into the early learning setting.
Advocate for families and young children through service, education, and leadership.

General Education Requirements (60 credits)

Communication Skills (10 credits)

ENGL& 101 - English Composition I Credits: 5

Choose one from the following:

ENGL 126 - Writing: Humanities Credits: 5
ENGL 127 - Writing: Social Science Credits: 5
ENGL 128 - Research Writing: Science/Engineering/Business Credits: 5

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills (5 credits)

Math in which MATH 97 is a prerequisite

Humanities/Fine Arts/English (10 credits)

5 credits of Humanities/Fine Arts/English Distribution courses and one of the CMST courses below (no additional CMST other than 1 of the courses below).

H 1 - Humanities/Fine Arts/English Credits: 5
Choose one of the following:
CMST& 101 - Introduction to Communication Credits: 5
CMST& 210 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 5
CMST& 220 - Public Speaking Credits: 5
CMST& 230 - Small Group Communication Credits: 5
CMST& 240 - Intercultural Communication Credits: 5

Social Sciences (10 credits)

Social Science Distribution courses.

S 1 - Social Science Credits: 5
S 2 - Social Science Credits: 5

Natural Sciences (10 credits)

5 credits Natural Science List A-Lab Science for the Natural Science Distribution and 5 credits from either List A or B.

N 1 - Natural Science List A (Lab) Credits: 5
N 3 - Natural Science List A or List B Credits: 5

Additional General Education (15 credits)

15 credits of Humanities/Fine Arts/English Distribution , Social Science Distribution , or Natural Science Distribution courses.

2 A - Humanities/Fine Arts/English Credits: 5
2 B - Social Science Credits: 5
N 3 - Natural Science List A or List B Credits: 5

Core Requirements (60 credits)

Students must attain a grade of 2.0 or above in all core classes.

ECED 301 - Reflective Observation with Field Experience 1 Credits: 2
ECED 302 - Reflective Observation with Field Experience 2 Credits: 2
ECED 303 - Reflective Observation with Field Experience 3 Credits: 2
ECED 305 - Introduction to Infant/Child Mental Health Credits: 5
ECED 310 - Building Networks with Families and Community Credits: 3
ECED 315 - Foundations of Infant/Toddler Development Credits: 5
ECED 340 - Equity and Social Justice in Early Care and Educ Credits: 3
ECED 350 - Theories, Relationships and Attachment Credits: 5
ECED 370 - Curric & Environ Design Supports Social/Emotional Learning Credits: 5
ECED 401 - Reflective Consultation with Field Experience 1 Credits: 2
ECED 402 - Reflective Consultation with Field Experience 2 Credits: 2
ECED 405 - Trauma Exposed and Vulnerable Families/Child Credits: 5
ECED 410 - Foundations of Challenging Behavior: Emotional Credits: 3
ECED 415 - Early Identification and Intervention: Children Credits: 5
ECED 420 - Assessment and Application of ICMH Principles Credits: 3
ECED 425 - Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood Educ Credits: 3
ECED 445 - Reflective Seminar Credits: 2
ECED 450 - Capstone Project Credits: 3

Required Additional Credits (60 credits)

EDUC& 115 - Child Development Credits: 5
EDUC& 130 - Guiding Behavior Credits: 3
Diversity Course
5 credits in practicum/field experience or permission of program director
Additional credits to reach 60 total credits from Associates’s Degree or equivalent credits in ECED/EDUC field.

Last Revised

7/1/2024