Early Childhood Education

The Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education prepares students to work with children from birth-age five in licensed early childhood education programs. Students in this program acquire the knowledge and skills required to work with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in community-based settings. Graduates may also find employment in public schools working as paraeducators or they may work as licensed family childcare providers. 

Each course in the program includes field experience hours, allowing students to observe, practice, or observe and practice working with children. Students must complete 100 pre-practicum field experience hours and a 200 practicum in an NAEYC accredited center or another approved classroom or setting. 

Key Assessment Requirements: To graduate from the program, students must demonstrate competency in each of the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators by submitting six key assessments in the following areas:

• Child Growth and Development
• Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections
• Child Observation, Documentation and Assessment
• Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices
• Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum
• Professionalism as an Early Childhood Education 

Credits accepted for transfer: When a student transfers in credit for a Charter Oak State College required course that has a key assessment, the student is still responsible for demonstrating competencies. Students can complete additional courses for elective credit to fulfill this requirement if there is room in the degree program.  If not, the student may be advised to transfer into another program.  

The major is 33 credits, with all major courses requiring a grade of C or higher.

In order to earn an Associate's degree at Charter Oak, all Major, General Education, Liberal Arts and Electives, Upper Level credit, and academic residency requirements must be met. Total credits earned must be a minimum of 60 credits.

Major Requirements

Prerequisite:

• PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete an Associates of Science in Early Childhood Education will: 

• understand child development and how children learn, and use this knowledge to design developmentally appropriate experiences for young children (Standard 1);
• know and understand the value and diversity of families, collaborate with families as partners, and use community resources to support young children's learning and development (Standard 2);
• understand the purposes and uses of assessment, how to observe & document children’s development, and how to use this information to inform work with young children (Standard 3);
• demonstrate dispositions for working with young children and their families and understand how to use teaching strategies that meet the needs of individual learners and are inclusive, linguistically relevant and supportive of anti-bias teaching practices as well as principles of universal design for learning (Standard 4);
• understand content knowledge related to the academic disciplines and how to use child development to support children's learning in each content area.  (Standard 5);
• identify as reflective practitioners in the early childhood field, follow ethical principles, communicate effectively as a professional, and engage in continuous, collaborative learning (Standard 6).