Teacher teaching small children

The Early Childhood Education and Care program prepares students to enter the early childhood education and early childhood field. Students acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes to work with infants, toddlers, preschool-age and school-age children. Jobs for degree and certificate graduates are widely available in child care centers, preschools, park districts and public schools. This degree program requires a minimum of 64 credits in program requirements, program electives, electives and general education in the courses listed below.

For more information about Early Childhood Education and Care, please visit the program page.

Degree Requirements

Field of Study Code: ECEC.AAS

Program Requirements
ECEC 1100Intro to the Early Childhood Profession3
ECEC 1101Growth & Development of the Young Child3
ECEC 1102Child Guidance Practices3
ECEC 1130Methods: Discovery & the Physical World3
ECEC 1140Methods: Self-Expression & Social World3
ECEC 1151Language and Literacy Development in a Diverse Classroom3
ECEC 2211Child Health, Safety and Nutrition3
ECEC 2220Early Childhood Education Practicum4
ECEC 2251Curriculum Planning for the Young Child3
ECEC 2252Child/Family/Community Relations & Resources3
ECEC 2260Early Childhood Professional3
Program Electives
Select four credits in Early Childhood Education and Care courses 14
Electives
Select from any 1000- or 2000-level courses 15-6
General Education
Select 21 credits 121
Total Credits64-65
1

In addition to the courses listed above.

General Education Requirements

For general education requirements for the A.A.S. degree, please visit the A.A.S. degree catalog page.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredits
ECEC 1100 Intro to the Early Childhood Profession 3
ECEC 1101 Growth & Development of the Young Child 3
ECEC 2211 Child Health, Safety and Nutrition 3
GEN EDEnglish, Math1, Science, SBS 6
 Credits15
Second Semester
ECEC 1102 Child Guidance Practices 2 3
ECEC 2251 Curriculum Planning for the Young Child 3
ECEC 2252 Child/Family/Community Relations & Resources 3 3
GEN EDEnglish, Math1, Science, SBS 6
 Credits15
Summer Semester
ELECTIVEProgram Elective 2-3
ELECTIVE 4 2-3
 Credits4-6
Third Semester
ECEC 1130 Methods: Discovery & the Physical World 5 3
ECEC 1140 Methods: Self-Expression & Social World 5 3
ECEC 2260 Early Childhood Professional 5, 6 3
GEN EDElective 3
GEN EDHumanities/Fine Arts 3
 Credits15
Fourth Semester
ECEC 1151 Language and Literacy Development in a Diverse Classroom 2, 7 3
ECEC 2220 Early Childhood Education Practicum 4
ELECTIVEProgram Elective 2
See Christine for remaining electives to complete 6
 Credits15
 Total Credits64-66
1

Students need to take the math placement test as early as possible.

2

Only offered Spring semester.

3

Students will complete Service Learning in ECEC 2252 Child/Family/Community Relations & Resources.

4

ECEC 1110 Parenting and the Young Child recommended.

5

Only offered Fall semester.

6

May be taken in an earlier Fall semester if prerequisites are completed.

7

May be taken in an earlier Spring semester if the prerequisites have been completed.

Program Milestones

First Semester

  • Consider joining or visiting with a professional, cultural or interest-based Student Club.
  • Complete first year academic plan with ECEC program advisor Christine Jandak
  • Register for next semester courses based on meeting with Christine.
  • Apply for COD and Gateway Scholarships

Second Semester

Summer Semester

  • Meet with Christine again if you have not already done so to plan for the upcoming academic year and get registered for Fall courses.
  • Students who also want to be consider ‘Director Qualified’ may want to take one of the Administration courses (offered each semester) as well as the Special Need course (offered Spring semester).  
  • Those looking to earn their Infant/Toddler Credential may also take one/both of the Infant/Toddler courses as their electives. Please see Christine for details.

Third Semester

  • At the end of the semester: Apply for Early Childhood Advanced Assistant Teacher Certificate and Apply for Gateways Level 3 Credential (entitled route).
  • Complete a resume.
  • Meet with ECEC Clinical Chair regarding degree completion and Practicum placement by midterm to apply for Practicum. See the Program Requirement section above.

Fourth Semester

  • Apply for the Administration of an Early Childhood Center Degree and Graduation.
  • Apply for the Gateways Level 4 Credential (entitled route).
  • Update your resume.