Early Childhood - Career Entry Pathway Degree (A55220C)
Associate in Applied Science Degree
Fully Online Option Available
The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from birth through age eight in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Students will foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children.
Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.
Early Childhood Education: A program that prepares individuals to promote child development and learning, work with diverse families and children, observe, document and assess to support young children and families, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, and use developmentally effective approaches in collaboration with other early childhood professionals. Potential course work includes instruction in all areas of child development such as emotional/social/health/physical/language/communication, approaches to play and learning, working with diverse families, and related observations/student teaching experiences.
This curriculum complies with the standard approved by the State Board of Community Colleges. Please see the list of practicum requirements for the Early Childhood and School Aged programs on the Early Childhood and School Age Practicum Requirements Page.
Students may be required to take developmental courses in Math and/or English as a result of high school GPA or pre-enrollment placement tests. Therefore, the student may need more than the minimum number of semester hours listed for graduation. Consult a program advisor for more information.
Hybrid and Online students should be prepared to participate in community service, workshops, observations and other assignments that require additional time and preparation.
Task Stream: Students who graduate from the program must complete an electronic portfolio in Task Stream (taskstream.com) to show competence in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards. Students will receive additional information about Task Stream when they enroll in the degree program.
If a student plans to transfer to a four-year institution, students must earn acceptable scores on PRAXIS I before enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program. There are two pathways for the Early Childhood degree. Advisors can provide guidance on pathway selection based on career goals.
Career Entry Pathway – for those wanting to immediately enter the workforce and do not have plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Transfer Pathway – for those wanting to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Fall Semester (17 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACA 122 College Transfer Success | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
EDU 119 Intro Early Childhood Edu | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
EDU 144 Child Development I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 146 Child Guidance | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 153 Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ENG 111 Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Spring Semester (15-16 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EDU 131 Child, Family, & Community | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 145 Child Development II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 151 Creative Activities | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ENG 112 Writing/Research in the Discipl | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
**3-4 Credits must be selected for Math Requirement list at the bottom of the page
or
**4 Credits must be selected from the list of Natural Science at the bottom of the page
Summer Term (6 Credits)
*3 Credits must be selected from the list of Humanities/Fine Arts Elective at the bottom of the page
*3 Credits must be selected from the list of Social/Behavior Sci Elective at the bottom of the page
Fall Semester (14 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COM 231 Public Speaking | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 157 Active Play | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 221 Children with Exceptionalities | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 251 Exploration Activities | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 184 Early Child Intro Practicum | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Spring Semester (13 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EDU 234 Infants, Toddlers & Twos | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 259 Curriculum Planning | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 280 Language & Literacy Exp | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 284 Early Child Capstone Practicum | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Total Semester Credit Hours in Program 65-66
Online Option Sequence:
Fall Semester (Odd Years - 17 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACA 122 College Transfer Success | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
EDU 119 Intro Early Childhood Education | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
EDU 144 Child Development I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 146 Child Guidance | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 153 Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ENG 111 Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Spring Semester (Even Years - 15-16 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EDU 131 Child, Family, & Community | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 145 Child Development II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 151 Creative Activities | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ENG 112 Writing/Research in the Discipl | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
**3 Credits must be selected for Math Requirement list at the bottom of the page
or
**4 Credits must be selected from the list of Natural Science at the bottom of the page
Summer Term (Even Years - 06 Credits)
*3 Credits must be selected from the list of Humanities/Fine Arts Elective at the bottom of the page
*3 Credits must be selected from the list of Social/Behavior Sci Elective at the bottom of the page
Fall Semester (Even Years - 14-16 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COM 231 Public Speaking | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 157 Active Play | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 221 Children with Exceptionalities | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 251 Exploration Activities | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 184 Early Child Intro Pract | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Spring Semester (Odd Years - 13 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EDU 234 Infants, Toddlers & Twos | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 259 Curriculum Planning | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 280 Language & Literacy Exp | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
EDU 284 Early Child Capstone Practicum | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Total Semester Credit Hours in Program 65-66
**Math or Natural Science requirement to be selected from the courses listed below (3-4 credit hours required):
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AST 111 Descriptive Astronomy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
AST 111A Descriptive Astronomy Lab* | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
BIO 111 General Biology I | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
CHM 151 General Chemistry I | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
MAT 143 Quantitative Literacy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
MAT 152 Statistical Methods | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
***Humanities Elective to be selected from the courses listed below (3 credit hours required):
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ART 111 Art Appreciation | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ART 114 Art History Survey I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ART 115 Art History Survey II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
MUS 110 Music Appreciation | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
PHI 240 Introduction to Ethics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
****Social/Behavioral Science Elective to be selected from the courses listed below (3 credit hours required, PSY 150 preferred):
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECO 251 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ECO 252 Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
HIS 111 World Civilization I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
HIS 112 World Civilization II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
HIS 131 American History I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
HIS 132 American History II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
POL 120 American Government | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
PSY 150 General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
SOC 210 Introduction to Sociology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
*Denotes a corequisite, course cannot be taken by itselfra