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