Early Childhood Studies

The ECS Department advocates for equity and intersectional understanding of systems of oppression that are currently in play in early learning and care (ELC). The ECS department recognizes historical, systemic, and present conditions that marginalize children, families, and communities, through intersecting oppressive formations across race, language, culture, class, religion, and disability. We are committed to transforming the consequences of the legal and social formation of racism and intersecting forms of oppression through antiracist and decolonial pedagogy, linguistically and culturally responsive approaches, and through advancing social justice and equity in early childhood education. The ECS program embeds concepts of multilingualism and anti-racism throughout all required core courses.

The strength of the ECS program redoubles Cal Poly Pomona’s commitment to the value of diversity in preparing future practitioners to be integrative thinkers and model leaders via a hands-on approach. For students to obtain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to work with children and families during the most critical developmental time in a child’s life we provide hands-on experiences through service learning, internships, practicum, and fieldwork. ECS students have the opportunity to interact with children and families in our campus childcare center as well as our Bronco Family Space at the CPP library that supports parenting students and their children.

• Multilingual Teaching Pathway
• Field work and practicum in diverse early learning and care settings
• Anti-racist and multilingualism embedded within all of our core courses
• Courses are offered in diverse modalities including face-to-face, hybrid, and online.
• Courses are also offered in the morning, afternoon, evening, and weekends.

• Infant-toddler teacher
• Preschool teacher
• Elementary teacher (after post-baccalaureate program)
• Post-baccalaureate degree programs