Associate
of Arts in Early Childhood Education
Students are able to complete an Associate of Arts degree
in Early Childhood Education by completing a sequence of
courses and clinical experiences focused on the birth
through grade three children. The A.A. in Early Childhood
Education is a degree only program and is not a teacher
license program. The majority of the courses contained in
the A.A. in Early Childhood Education program transfer into
the degree and teacher license programs, B.Ed. in
Elementary Education with a concentration in Early
Childhood Education.
Associate of Arts in Early Childhood
Education
National Child Development Associate Credential
(C.D.A.) This national credential is required of
teachers in preschool programs by The National Association
for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Two courses,
ED 161: Essentials in Early Childhood Education I (4
credits) and ED 162: Essentials in Early Childhood
Education II (4 credits) satisfy the academic requirements
for the National C.D.A. Credential. These courses are also
required for completion of the A.A. in Early Childhood
Education Program. One of these courses is offered each
semester and either one may be enrolled in first.
