The Early Childhood Education program prepares students for professional career placement in numerous settings that deal with young children. The program focuses on the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of children ages birth through eight years of age and the planning of activities and programs that are developmentally appropriate, sensitive to the special needs and diversity of today’s children and families. Teacher training emphasizes developmentally appropriate curriculum design and instructional skill, based on guidelines set by the National Association o for the Education of Young Children.