Early Childhood Education, AAS (A55220C)

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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.

The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from birth through 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 childcare programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.

Major Courses

EDU 119 - Intro to Early Child Educ Credit Hours: 4
EDU 131 - Child, Family, and Community Credit Hours: 3
EDU 144 - Child Development I Credit Hours: 3
EDU 145 - Child Development II Credit Hours: 3
EDU 146 - Child Guidance Credit Hours: 3
EDU 151 - Creative Activities Credit Hours: 3
EDU 151A - Creative Activities Lab Credit Hours: 1
EDU 153 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
EDU 184 - Early Child Intro Pract Credit Hours: 2
EDU 221 - Children with Exceptionalities Credit Hours: 3
EDU 234 - Infants, Toddlers, and Twos Credit Hours: 3
EDU 251 - Exploration Activities Credit Hours: 3
EDU 261 - Early Childhood Admin I Credit Hours: 3
EDU 280 - Language/Literacy Experiences Credit Hours: 3
EDU 284 - Early Child Capstone Prac Credit Hours: 4
Computer Elective Credit Hours: 3 *
Electives Credit Hours: 3 *

Total: 50 Credit Hours

General Education Courses

ENG 111 - Writing and Inquiry Credit Hours: 3
ENG 112 - Writing/Research in the Disc Credit Hours: 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
Humanities/Fine Arts Credit Hours: 3 *
Natural Science/Math Credit Hours: 3 *

Total: 15 Credit Hours

Other Required Courses

Other Requirement Credit Hours: 1 *

Total: 1 Credit Hour

Total Credits for AAS Degree: 66

*Recommended Elective & General Education Options:

Computer Elective:

Take 3 credits:

CIS 110 - Introduction to Computers Credit Hours: 3
OST 137 - Office Applications I Credit Hours: 3

Electives:

Take 3 credits (includes any associated labs):

ART 111 - Art Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
ART 114 - Art History Survey I Credit Hours: 3
ART 115 - Art History Survey II Credit Hours: 3
AST 111 - Descriptive Astronomy Credit Hours: 3 and
AST 111A - Descriptive Astronomy Lab Credit Hours: 1
BIO 110 - Principles of Biology Credit Hours: 4
BIO 111 - General Biology I Credit Hours: 4
COM 231 - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
EDU 149 - Autism Technical Concepts Credit Hours: 3
EDU 216 - Foundations of Education Credit Hours: 3
EDU 235 - School-Age Develop & Programs Credit Hours: 3
EDU 262 - Early Childhood Admin II Credit Hours: 3
HIS 111 - World Civilizations I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 112 - World Civilizations II Credit Hours: 3
HIS 131 - American History I Credit Hours: 3
HIS 132 - American History II Credit Hours: 3
MUS 110 - Music Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
MUS 112 - Introduction to Jazz Credit Hours: 3
SOC 210 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3

Humanities/Fine Arts:

Take 3 credits:

ART 111 - Art Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
HUM 115 - Critical Thinking Credit Hours: 3
MUS 110 - Music Appreciation Credit Hours: 3
PHI 240 - Introduction to Ethics Credit Hours: 3

Natural Sciences/Math:

Take 3 credits (includes any associated labs):

AST 111 - Descriptive Astronomy Credit Hours: 3 and
AST 111A - Descriptive Astronomy Lab Credit Hours: 1
GEL 111 - Geology Credit Hours: 4
MAT 110 - Math Measurement & Literacy Credit Hours: 3

Other Requirements:

Take 1 credits:

ACA 111 - College Student Success Credit Hours: 1
ACA 122 - College Transfer Success Credit Hours: 1

Note:

Students enrolled full-time and making satisfactory progress should complete this program in five semesters. Additional time may be needed to achieve minimum requirements in English, math or science.

Contact the program coordinator or department chair for specific requirements.

Course work also includes required observation and practical experiences in licensed child care facilities. For successful completion of this portion of coursework, students must submit a Letter of Qualification from the NC Division of Child Development by completing a criminal back ground check and submit a Tuberculin test or screening. Any fees incurred in this process are the responsibility of the student. Failure to comply with these requests could result in withdrawal from a course or the program.