Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Catalog Archived

Early Care and Education, AAS


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Program Start Date: Fall or Spring term
Minimum Program Length: 74 academic weeks; 5 terms day, 6 terms night; 64 credits
Curriculum Code: 35207

Program Description

The Early Care and Education program offers a combination of classroom instruction and supervised hands-on experiences that prepare students for direct entry into the field of Early Care and Education.

Practical Experience

Students gain early childhood development skills through rotations in child development centers, Head Start programs, private, and public and/or special education facilities.

Professional Opportunities

Students with the associate degree may become teachers in child development centers, preschools, Head Start programs and after-school programs. Students may also qualify as instructional assistants in the school system, private and public kindergartens or special education facilities.

Unique Aspects

Student entering the program must have a criminal background investigation (CBI) and health form completed during ECD 102 . Any positive CBI check within the last seven (7) years will result in the student being dismissed from the Early Care and Education Program.

A minimum of C or higher is required in all ECD courses.

Requirements for Associate in Arts (AA)

Students are responsible for checking with the specific college or university to which they plan to transfer (and preferably with their target program within that institution) to determine the transferability of any course.

EEDA Career Cluster:

Education and Training

Communications: 3 Credits


Mathematics General Education Courses: 3 Credits


Total Credits: 64


Semester Display


Third Semester


Total Credits: 64


Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:
1.    Plan and implement experiences which stimulate children’s physical, cognitive, language, emotional, and social development.
2.    Demonstrate professionalism through course work, observations, and field experiences within the early care and education field.
3.    Identify and demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics and needs of young children.
4.    Identify and demonstrate the use of appropriate assessment in early care and education.
5.    Demonstrate family and community involvement within the early care and education field.
6.    Demonstrate the ability to speak, listen actively, and respond effectively.

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