Early Childhood Education Career Track (A55220C)
Associate in Applied Science
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.
The State Board of Community Colleges approved the Uniform Articulation Agreement between the University of North Carolina Baccalaureate of Birth-Kindergarten and Early Childhood Related Programs and North Carolina Community College System Applied Associate in Early Childhood Education Programs.
This statewide Early Childhood Education articulation agreement includes a licensure track and non-licensure track, as both meet specifically different workforce needs within the field of early childhood education. The Birth to Kindergarten (B-K) license degree allows an individual to become a licensed teacher and work in a NC Pre-K classroom or in a kindergarten classroom. Those who select the non-licensure early childhood education degree option may work in licensed child care facilities as a lead teacher or center director/administrator or in various agencies that serve young children, families, and early childhood educators, such as the Division of Child Development and Early Education; the North
Carolina Early Intervention Branch (NCEI), which is part of the North Carolina Division of Public Health, Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R), and Smart Start/local Partnerships for Children.
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.
The career track prepares a student to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.
Course Sequence
| Fall Semester | Class | Lab | Credit | |
| EDU 119 | Early Childhood Education | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| EDU 131 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 144 | Child Development I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 151 | Creative Activities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 16 | 0 | 16 | ||
| Spring Semester | ||||
| ACA 122 | College Transfer Success | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| EDU 145 | Child Development II | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 146 | Child Guidance | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG 112 | Writing/Research in the Disciplines | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 234 | Infants, Toddlers, and Twos | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MAT 143 | Quantitative Literacy | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 16 | 4 | 16 | ||
| Summer Semester | ||||
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| SOC 210 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | 0 | 6 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||||
| COM 231 | Public Speaking | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 216 | Foundations of Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 221 | Children with Exceptionalities | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 261 | Early Childhood Administration I | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 280 | Language & Literacy Experiences | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | 0 | 15 | ||
| Spring Semester | ||||
| EDU 153 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 262 | Early Childhood Administration II | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU 284 | Early Childhood Capstone Practicum | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 13 | 9 | 16 | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS: | 69 (Check Total) | |||
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective – Choose one of the following: UGETC: ART 111, ART 114, ART 115, MUS 110, MUS 112, PHI 215, PHI 240 | ||||
| Major Elective – Choose one of the following: EDU 250 or HEA 110 | ||||
