This is a full-time program that provides the student with both academic coursework and preschool and public school experience necessary to become a beginning teacher of children ages birth to 5 years. The program allows the student to experience working with young children and their mentor teachers. The program includes teaching methods in reading and language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, childrens literature and materials, and expressive arts. The foundation for the methods classes are theory classes, with emphasis placed on educational foundations, child development and psychology, nutrition, families, communities, schools and other agencies. Students entering the Early Childhood Education Program must show evidence of a current TB test and obtain a cleared Portable Background check through Washington State Dept of Early Learning MERIT System.