The Early Care and Education Associate Degree in Applied Science program is designed to prepare individuals for employment in a variety of educational and child care programs for children from birth through school age. Recent research and interest in the importance of education of children during the first five years of life has provided for a growing number of new opportunities in the field. Graduates are prepared to assume positions in programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start, public schools, childcare, after-school care, public or private preschools or kindergartens, or working with children with special needs.
Courses in the program are available in a variety of formats.
The Associate Degree in Applied Science with a major in Early Care and Education does not lead to teacher licensure, but opportunities for transfer to senior colleges and universities are available. The T.E.A.C.H. South Carolina Scholarship program may be available for persons already employed in child care.
The Associate Degree in Applied Science with a Major in Early Care and Education is accredited by The National Association for the Education of Young Children.
In order to maintain NAEYC Accreditation standards, the following are requirements to graduate from this program:
- Students will successfully (grade of C or higher) complete all six NAEYC Key Assessment assignments at Central Carolina Technical College. Students who have earned credit for a course that contains a Key Assessment through transfer or previous learning must complete the CCTC Key Assessments in order to graduate. These students have the option of completing the assignment independently for no course credit or completing the course at CCTC. Verification of completion is required to pass ECD 243 Supervised Field Experience I.
- Throughout the program students will complete lab practicum hours that collectively provide a variety of placement settings and a variety of age groups, following guidelines provided in the CCTC Lab Practicum Orientation.
- The capstone courses in the program, ECD 237 Methods and Materials and ECD 243 Supervised Field Experience I must be completed at CCTC and may not be taken as Independent Study courses.
Credit towards graduation requirements for ECD and EDU courses over five years old must be approved by the department chair.
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