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.

Fall I

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
College Success (1 Credit): ACA 111 ^* or ACA 122
Humanities/Fine Arts (3 Credits): ART 111 , HUM 115 , MUS 110 ^*, or PHI 240
Total Recommended Credits: 14

Spring I

EDU 145 - Child Development II Credit Hours: 3
EDU 146 - Child Guidance Credit Hours: 3
EDU 151 - Creative Activities Credit Hours: 3
EDU 153 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition Credit Hours: 3
Total Recommended Credits: 12

Summer I

EDU 234 - Infants, Toddlers, and Twos Credit Hours: 3
ENG 111 - Writing and Inquiry Credit Hours: 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
Computer Elective (3 Credits): CIS 110 ^* or OST 137
Total Recommended Credits: 12

Fall II

EDU 251 - Exploration Activities Credit Hours: 3
EDU 259 - Curriculum Planning Credit Hours: 3
ENG 112 - Writing/Research in the Disc Credit Hours: 3
Natural Sciences/Math (3 Credits): AST 151 and AST 151A ,
GEL 111 ^*, or MAT 110
Specialty (3 Credits): EDU 149 or EDU 261
Total Recommended Credits: 15

Spring II

EDU 221 - Children with Exceptionalities Credit Hours: 3
EDU 280 - Language/Literacy Experiences Credit Hours: 3
EDU 284 - Early Child Capstone Prac Credit Hours: 4
Elective (3 Credits): See below**
Total Recommended Credits: 13

Total Credits for AAS Degree: 66

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.

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.

*Recommended course

**Elective options (3 total credits required): ART 111 , ART 114 , ART 115 ,
AST 151 and AST 151A , BIO 110 , BIO 111 , COM 231 , EDU 149 ,
EDU 216 , EDU 235 , EDU 261 , EDU 262 , HIS 111 , HIS 112 ,
HIS 131 , HIS 132 , MUS 110 , MUS 112 , SOC 210 , or SOC 220