Early Childhood Care and Education, AAS

EC13

Program Description

The Early Childhood Care and Education degree is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for careers in early childhood care and education and related fields. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Program graduates receive an Early Childhood Care and Education associate of applied science degree with one of the following concentrations: 1) Early Childhood Care and Education Paraprofessional 2) Early Childhood Program Administration 3) Exceptionalities 4) Infant/Toddler Care.

View the Early Childhood Care and Education AAS Program Fact Sheet for additional information.

Note: All Early Childhood Care and Education students are required to submit a completed state and federal criminal records background check prior to enrolling in ECCE 1121, ECCE 2245 and ECCE 2246.

Employment Opportunities

Early childhood care and education paraprofessional in an elementary school or special education classroom, early childhood program management director or assistant director, lead teacher in an early childhood program

Curriculum

Essential General Education Core Courses (18 Credits)

Area I - Language Arts/Communication

(Successful completion of ENGL 1101 and one other course from Area I is required)

ENGL 1101 - Composition and Rhetoric Credit hours: 3
ENGL 1102 - Literature and Composition Credit hours: 3
COMM 1100 - Human Communication Credit hours: 3
SPCH 1101 - Public Speaking Credit hours: 3

Area II - Social/Behavioral Sciences

PSYC 1101 - Introductory Psychology Credit hours: 3

Area III - Natural Sciences/Mathematics

(Successful completion of MATH 1111 or MATH 1103 is required)

MATH 1103 - Quantitative Skills and Reasoning Credit hours: 3
MATH 1111 - College Algebra Credit hours: 3

Area IV - Humanities/Fine Arts

(Choose ONE of the following)

ARTS 1101 - Art Appreciation Credit hours: 3
ENGL 2110 - World Literature Credit hours: 3
ENGL 2130 - American Literature Credit hours: 3
HUMN 1101 - Introduction to Humanities Credit hours: 3
MUSC 1101 - Music Appreciation Credit hours: 3
RELG 1101 - World Religions Credit hours: 3

General Education Elective:

To meet the minimum required 18 semester credit hours in general education courses, an additional 3 semester credit hours must be taken from Area I, Area II, Area III, or Area IV. Students can view the complete list of classes here .