Early Childhood Care and Education AAS Degree (EC13)
The Early Childhood Care and Education associate degree program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the field of early childhood education. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application as well as general core competencies necessary for successful employment. Graduates of this program will receive one of three areas of specialization: infant/toddler, program administration, paraprofessional/school age.
NOTE: To be employed in a child care center licensed by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, an individual must first complete a comprehensive background check with evidence of a satisfactory determination of the following: National fingerprint-based criminal history check; Georgia Child Abuse Registry; National Sex Offender Registry; and State fingerprint-based criminal history records check and State child abuse registry for every U.S. territory, tribal land, or state in which the person has resided in the past five (5) years. Students must have a comprehensive background check with evidence of a satisfactory determination from the above list in order to complete program requirements. The cost of these record checks is at the student's expense and must be completed before participation in a practicum or internship, whether completing practicum or internship at a licensed Georgia child care center, private child care or public school.
Career Opportunities
Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings. Graduates may find employment as paraprofessionals in public schools; preschool teachers in Head Start, Early Head Start, or private schools; private household childcare workers; or self-employed childcare providers. (Bright from the Start recognizes this degree as equivalent to or greater than a CDA for employment.)
Credit Required for Graduation: Minimum of 72 credit hours
Curriculum
All Associate of Applied Science Degrees require a minimum 15 credit hours of general education courses using the curriculum structure outlined in the beginning of this degree program section. The Early Childhood Care and Education associate degree program requires an additional 3 credit hours in Area I for a total of 18 credit hours. All course prerequisites must be met. Please see Associate Degree General Education Requirement Section for Area I, Area II, Area III, and Area IV requirements.
General Core Courses
Area I requirements (minimum 6 hours; must include ENGL 1101)
Area II requirements (minimum 3 hours; must include PSYC 1101)
Area III requirements (minimum 3 hours; must include MATH 1101 or MATH 1111)
Area IV requirements (minimum 3 hours)
Additional 3 hours from Area I, II, III, or IV
Occupational Courses
COLL 1090: Effective January 2018, COLL 1090 is required for graduation from this program if the admissions eligibility requirement is met (see Office of Admissions for exclusions). If COLL 1090 is not required due to a student's ineligibility, any occupational or occupationally related elective approved by the program advisor should be substituted to meet the minimum program credit hour requirement for graduation (see advisor for approval).
and
Choose one of the following options
Specific Occupational Courses (Option 1 – 18 credits)
| ECCE 2245 | Early Childhood Care and Education Internship I | 6 |
| ECCE 2246 | Early Childhood Care and Education Internship II | 6 |
and
Choose one of the following specializations
Specific Occupational Courses (Paraprofessional Specialization – 6 credits)
| ECCE 2310 | Paraprofessional Methods and Materials | 3 |
| ECCE 2312 | Paraprofessional Roles and Practices | 3 |
or
Specific Occupational Courses (Program Administration - 6 credits)
or
Specific Occupational Courses (Infant/Toddler Development - 6 credits)
Specific Occupational Courses (Option 2 – 18 credits)
| ECCE 2245 | Early Childhood Care and Education Internship I | 6 |
and
Choose two of the following specializations
Specific Occupational Courses (Paraprofessional Specialization – 6 credits)
| ECCE 2310 | Paraprofessional Methods and Materials | 3 |
| ECCE 2312 | Paraprofessional Roles and Practices | 3 |
or
Specific Occupational Courses (Program Administration - 6 credits)
or
Specific Occupational Courses (Infant/Toddler Development - 6 credits)