Early Childhood Education - AAS-T

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The Early Childhood Education degrees are designed to provide persons interested in working with children a systematic study of the care, development, and education of children from birth to age eight. Students gain the knowledge and competency necessary for a professional career working with young children.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the key elements of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (naeyc.org) and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals (dcyf.wa.gov/)

At the completion for the Early Childhood Education Program, the successful student will be able to:

• Critically thinking in order to analyze, evaluate and solve problems using multiple methodologies
• Having multicultural awareness thru exhibiting an understanding of the ways economic, political, social, and culture factors impact identity and interactions
• Computation through identification, understanding and communicating the differences between quantitative and qualitative date and be able to explain results                               
• Demonstrating ethics through identifying complex ethical issues and recognizing and evaluating interrelationships of related issues
• Communicating effectively through written and verbal communications skills

Career Opportunities

Graduates with an AAS-T degree can qualify for positions as preschool teacher, child care director, child care program supervisor, child care provider, non-certified early childhood teacher, or elementary school classroom aide/paraeducator and may transfer to articulated four year college and university degree programs such as Early Childhood, Human Development and Social Services. This degree transfers to BAS programs in teacher education for those that want to earn a teaching certificate and teach in the K-12 classrooms. These BAS programs are especially designed to give students an endorsement in Early Childhood along with their primary certificate making them highly qualified to teach in Preschool through third grade classrooms. See ECE Faculty for more information. Graduates may be employed by child care centers, cooperative preschools, family child care homes, parks and recreation departments, private preschools, public schools and state and federally funded preschools.

Other Program Information

State Stackable State Certificate Requirements

Prerequisite for Short Certificate of Specialization:  Completed Initial Certificate
Prerequisite for State Early Childhood Education Certificate:  Completed Initial Certificate and Short Certificate of Specialization

Electives

If any of the required courses have been waived, select courses with the assistance of an advisor to complete the 94-credit minimum requirement.

Program Information

The Early Childhood Education AAS-T degree can be completed in three years attending evenings only or in two years with a combination of day and evening courses.  The majority of ECED and EDUC courses meet in the evening.  Practicums (ECED& 120, ECED 205 and ECED 250) require daytime hours.  Many ECED and EDUC courses require observation hours in addition to class time.  See course outlines for details.  Students can enter the program any quarter but are strongly encouraged to start with the Initial State Certificate and meet with an ECE advisor for detailed information necessary for planning their degree.  Contact (360) 596-5378 for advising day information.

1. Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should work closely with an advisor to ensure maximum transfer of credits.
2. ECED& 107 requires CPR/First Aid and a Food Handlers Cards be obtained while taking this class.
3. To successfully complete the practicum experiences in ECED& 120, ECED 205 and ECED 250, students will volunteer in a Head Start, school or child care center which will require a Department of Early Learning portable background check and  requires a tuberculosis test.
4. ECED/EDUC courses may be taken in any order, except ECED 205, ECED 250 and ECED 238. It is recommended but not necessary to take ECED& 105 first.  It is recommended but not necessary to get the ECE stackable certificates while obtaining your ECE degree. 
5. “C” or better must be obtained in all courses with an EDUC or ECED prefix to apply to the ECE degree or certificate.
6. It is possible to receive up to 12 credits toward the degree for students having a Child Development Associate (C.D.A.) credential.  See advisor for details.
7. An alternative pathway is the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree which can be used as an upside down pathway to enter The Evergreen State College.