Academic Programs and Services
Early Childhood Education
The Early Childhood Education program develops the knowledge and skills of students interested in working in a variety of programs for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children. Graduates of this program work as staff and directors of child care centers, group supervisors in child care centers, parent educators, and children’s museum staff members. The program provides both a sound theoretical foundation in principles of human growth and development from the prenatal to the early school years, as well as a functional understanding of programs and curricula appropriate to the young child. Students participate in field experiences in child care centers, nursery schools, kindergartens, family child care homes, and programs providing special services for children.
Course content includes experiences designed to enable students to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for work with young children. The program emphasizes observation, communication and interpersonal skills, objectivity, maturity, and nurturing behaviors.
Program Entry Requirements:
New students are required to complete the College’s placement test prior to their enrollment. Students identified as needing developmental work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate developmental English and mathematics courses as part of the program.
Because students will be required to observe and work with young children in child care agencies or family child care settings, the ECE program requires students to meet the requirements of the Child Protective Services Law, 23 Pa. C.S.A., section 6344 (relating to prospective child care personnel). Students must therefore present up-to-date Criminal, Child Abuse, and Health clearances, clearly stating that they have no criminal record, no child abuse record, and are free of communicable illness prior to each of the ECE practica. See Practicum Handbook for more information. (Up-to-date clearance is defined as being no more than 12 months old on the first day of working with children.) Failure to produce up-to-date clearances or a change of clearance status may result in a student’s removal from the program. A student who believes that an error of fact has been made in his/her removal may appeal that decision. Information regarding the appeal procedure will be provided with the letter of removal. The College may consider other types of convictions in determining eligibility for maintaining enrollment in the Early Childhood Education program. The Early Childhood Education program accepts both full-time and part-time students.
Special Certificate of Completion Available:
To qualify for the special certificate of completion in Family Child Care, students must complete the 13 credit hours prescribed. This program is open to those interested in becoming family child care providers, persons currently operating family child care homes, as well as agency staff with oversight responsibility for in-home child care providers. A grade point average of 2.0 is required in order to receive the certificate.
Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree in Early Childhood Education, a student must complete a minimum of 66 credit hours as described in the course listing on the following page. In addition, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, and a minimum grade of “C” in all ECE courses. Only one early childhood practicum (ECE 195, ECE 196, ECE 296) may be repeated, and may only be repeated once. Students employed in direct care in a child care setting may complete one practicum at their place of employment, provided the site and circumstances meet ECE program and Commonwealth requirements. During their matriculation in the ECE program, it is strongly recommended that students register for classes with designated ECE academic advisors.
Students whose behavior is viewed as inconsistent with professional standards may be dropped from the curriculum pending a departmental hearing.
Degree and Certificate Programs:
Students’ performance may be reviewed annually, or as the individual situation requires, to ascertain whether their skills are appropriate for the early childhood education field. Faculty reserve the right to drop students from the program at any time if they are unable to demonstrate appropriate professional skills, ethical behavior, or satisfactory academic performance. Students have a right to appeal this decision. If students are dismissed from the program, every effort will be made to link them with counseling and assistance to transfer to another curriculum. All students must complete the Early Childhood course sequence within 8 academic years of the date of admission to the first Early Childhood Education course.
Life Experience Credits:
ECE majors may be eligible to apply for up to six credits for life experience. Interested students should contact the Program Coordinator for further information regarding the criteria and an application.
Download a printable degree description (PDF File) that includes a recommended course sequence grid.