Early Childhood Development AAS
The Early Childhood Development associate of applied science degree is a 60-credit option that prepares students with necessary skills to be qualified for a variety of early childhood positions. The program emphasizes observation, assessment and planning of curriculum activities to support cognitive development, fine/gross motor physical development, social and emotional development, language and literacy development, and self-help skills of children birth through age eight. Credits earned while completing the educational requirements for the AAS articulate directly into the LC State General Studies: Early Childhood Education BA/BS degree option offered through the Teacher Education and Mathematics Division.
The AAS degree offers basic early childhood education which prepares students for careers in the following areas:
- Early childhood assistant teacher
- Lead teacher position in private childcare facilities
- State quality systems consultant
- Parent educator
- Home-based education service provider
- Resource and referral specialist
- Special education teaching aide
Entry into the AAS degree option requires students to work with children at approved internship settings. Students enrolling in this program must complete an application packet including:
- ECD Program Application
- Criminal Background Check and Fingerprinting
- Current Certification in Pediatric CPR/First Aid
- TB Clearance
- Proof of a Physical Exam
Students will not be allowed to register for Early Childhood Development Program coursework beyond the first semester without a completed and submitted application packet. Instructions for completing the application packet will be provided by the program advisor.
Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:
- Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
- Advance physical, intellectual, and linguistic competence
- Support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance for young children
- Foster positive and productive relationships with families and the community
- Ensure well-run, purposeful programs responsive to participant needs
- Maintain professionalism and ethical conduct
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | ||
| ENGL-101 | WRITING AND RHETORIC I | 3.00 |
| Oral Communication | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3.00 | |
| FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION | ||
| PUBLIC SPEAKING | ||
| Mathematical Ways of Knowing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.00 | |
| MATH IN MODERN SOCIETY | ||
| ALGEBRAIC REASONING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING | ||
| PRECALCULUS I: ALGEBRA | ||
| PRECALCULUS | ||
| STATISTICAL REASONING | ||
| CALCULUS I | ||
| STATISTICAL METHODS FOR THE SCIENCES | ||
| MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS II | ||
| FINITE MATHEMATICS | ||
| MATH FOR TECHNOLOGY | ||
| STATISTICAL REASONING (Recommended) | ||
| Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing | ||
| PSYC-101 | INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3.00 |
| Select one of the following: | 3.00 | |
| CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| WORLD PREHISTORY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY | ||
| WORLD HISTORY I | ||
| WORLD HISTORY II | ||
| UNITED STATES HISTORY I | ||
| UNITED STATES HISTORY II | ||
| DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATIONS (Recommended) | ||
| HUMAN RELATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS (Recommended) | ||
| AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT | ||
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICS | ||
| COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | ||
| SOCIAL PROBLEMS | ||
| Total Credits | 15.00 | |
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECDPT-100 | HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-104 | INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-108 | CHILD DEVELOPMENT | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-112 | INFANT TODDLER DEVELOPMENT | 2.00 |
| ECDPT-115 | PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT | 1.00 |
| ECDPT-150 | OBSERVATION AND ASSESSMENT | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-155 | CHILD FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES | 2.00 |
| ECDPT-205 | GUIDING YOUNG CHILDREN | 2.00 |
| ECDPT-208 | CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-209 | PROFESSIONALISM | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-211 | EXCEPTIONAL CHILD | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-255 | CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT II | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-194B | INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II | 2.00 |
| ECDPT-294A | INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT I | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-294B | INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-250 | PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION | 3.00 |
| RE-301 | PSYCHOLINGUISTICS, LITERACY, AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 3.00 |
| Total Credits | 45.00 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ECDPT-100 | HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUTRITION | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-104 | INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-108 | CHILD DEVELOPMENT | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-115 | PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT | 1.00 |
| ECDPT-205 | GUIDING YOUNG CHILDREN | 2.00 |
| ENGL-101 | WRITING AND RHETORIC I | 3.00 |
| Credits | 15.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECDPT-112 | INFANT TODDLER DEVELOPMENT | 2.00 |
| ECDPT-150 | OBSERVATION AND ASSESSMENT | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-155 | CHILD FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES | 2.00 |
| ECDPT-194B | INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II | 2.00 |
| CORE | Oral Communication | 3.00 |
| CORE | Mathematical Ways of Knowing | 3.00 |
| Credits | 15.00 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECDPT-208 | CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-211 | EXCEPTIONAL CHILD | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-294A | INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT I | 3.00 |
| RE-301 | PSYCHOLINGUISTICS, LITERACY, AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 3.00 |
| PSYC-101 | INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3.00 |
| Credits | 15.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECDPT-209 | PROFESSIONALISM | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-250 | PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-255 | CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT II | 3.00 |
| ECDPT-294B | INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT II | 3.00 |
| CORE | Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing | 3.00 |
| Credits | 15.00 | |
| Total Credits | 60.00 | |
Graduates from Early Childhood Development programs go on to obtain careers in a variety of fields:
- Early childhood assistant teacher
- Lead teacher position in private childcare facilities
- State quality systems consultant
- Parent educator
- Home-based education service provider
- Resource and referral specialist
- Special education teaching aide
Check out the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website for more information about the potential careers above.