Courses required to meet graduation requirements in this curriculum are offered during day and evening hours. Minimum time for completion: Day – five semesters full-time attendance;

An Associate in Applied Science degree is awarded graduates of the Early Childhood Education degree curriculum. A Diploma is awarded students completing the diploma curriculum. A Certificate is awarded students completing the certificate curriculum.

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 child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.

Early Childhood Education: 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.

Special Admissions Requirements for Early Childhood Education Programs: In addition to the general procedures to apply for admission to a curriculum program of study, applicants for the Early Childhood Education program must complete other procedures. CVCC’s Early Childhood Education program requires completion of educational experiences in childcare facilities and/or public school settings. These settings require students to undergo criminal background checks and/or health assessments. If a student is excluded from an educational setting as a result of one of these requirements, the student may be asked to withdraw from the program. Some settings may also require additional vaccinations and/or health examinations. Completion of CVCC’s Early Childhood Education program may be contingent upon receipt of a CVCC medical form documenting that the applicant possesses satisfactory physical and mental health. Facilities for providing health care services are not available on campus.

Program Graduation Requirements: The Early Childhood Education Department is accredited by the National Accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The standards for students are rigorous and require students to perform at a minimum competency level. Due to the minimum competency level expected for graduates, the Education Department requires a grade of C or higher on all required Education Courses for graduation with a certificate, diploma, or degree.