Academic Catalog

Early Childhood Education, Associate in Arts (ECED)

Department website: https://www.dccc.edu/early-childhood-education

Effective: Fall 2016

The Early Childhood Education program of study prepares students to work with young children in a variety of early care and education settings. Graduates will be able to provide high quality educational environments that are inclusive of all children ages birth to 9. They will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to provide a developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive and inclusive early learning experience.

At the completion of this degree, students are prepared to enter the early care and education workforce. Opportunities include working in childcare, young school age childcare, nursery schools and as teacher’s aides in public schools.

This program of study also serves as a transfer pathway to earn teacher certification, Pre-kindergarten through 4th grade. Students wishing to earn teacher certification must transfer to a 4 year institution to earn a Bachelor’s degree, Prekindergarten through 4th grade.

All students will be required to have Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, Pennsylvania Criminal Clearance, FBI clearance and documentation of current immunizations and TB screening. The results of the background clearances could have an impact on the student’s ability to continue in the degree. There are additional fees to obtaining clearances and students may have to get their clearances renewed.

  • Promote child development and learning (NAEYC Standard 1)
  • Develop strategies for building family and community relationships (NAEYC Standard 2)
  • Observe, document and assess to support young children and families (NAEYC Standard 3)
  • Use developmentally effective approaches for teaching and learning. (NAEYC Standard 4)
  • Use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum. (NAEYC Standard 5)
  • Act as an early childhood education professional. (NAEYC Standard 6)

The College Transfer Office is set up to help Delaware County Community College students transfer to four-year colleges and universities. If you are planning to transfer, you are strongly encouraged to meet with a transfer advisor within your first two semesters (or before you reach 30 transferable college credits from all institutions attended).

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterHours
ENG 100 English Composition I 3
ECE 100 Principles of Early Childhood Education 3
ECE 112 Developing a Professional Portfolio and Resource File for ECE 1
ECE 130 Early Childhood Development 3
HIS 110
American History I
or American History II
3
COMM 100
Interpersonal Communication
or Public Speaking
3
 Hours16
Second Semester
ENG 112 English Composition II: Writing About Literature 3
ECE 140 Integrated Curriculum and Assessment 3
ECE 120
Early Childhood Education Laboratory I
or Primary Grade Lab and Seminar
4
SOC/PSY Elective 3
Science Elective: Any transferable Scientific Inquiry designated BIO, CHE, ESS or PHY course 4
 Hours17
Third Semester
EDU 220 Introduction to Special Education 3
ECE 110 Infant/Toddler Care and Education 3
ECE 111 Methods and Materials for Teaching 3
MAT 125 Mathematics for Teachers of Children I 3
ENG 250 Children's Literature 3
 Hours15
Fourth Semester
ECE 201 Children Families and Community 3
ECE 121 Early Childhood Education Laboratory II 4
EDU 208 English Language Learners 3
MAT 126 Mathematics for Teachers of Children II 3
Humanities/BCSS/Laboratory Science Elective (ENG, COMM, DPR, HUM, POL, ART, MUS, DRA, PHI, SOC, SPA, SWO or Laboratory Science) 3-4
 Hours16-17
 Total Hours64-65

Notes

Scientific Inquiry designated courses.

Any transferable Scientific Inquiry designated BIO, CHE, ESS or PHY course

DELAWARE COUNTY
Marple
Southeast Center

CHESTER COUNTY
Pennocks Bridge

ONLINE*
100% online

Early Childhood Education, AA  coursework is offered 100% online*.

*

Some online courses have field requirements or in person/proctored testing.  Online courses with these requirements have additional information posted under the COURSE DESCRIPTION section when you are registering.  Please make a note of it during registration.

The Early Childhood Education program at Delaware County Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org. The accreditation term runs from March, 2017 through March, 2024.

Student Outcomes:

Number of Program Completers1
Year/Term Description Outcome1 Outcome2
2016-2017 # of Program Completers 50 Students
2016-2017 % of Program Completers 46% Full-Time 54% Part-Time
2017-2018 # of Program Completers 44 Students
2017-2018 % of Program Completers 52% Full-Time 48% Part-Time
2018-2019 # of Program Completers 58 Students
2018-2019 % of Program Completers 40% Full-Time 60% Part-Time
2019-2020 # of Program Completers 56 Students
2019-2020 % of Program Completers 37% Full-Time 63% Part-Time

Program Completion Rate2
Year/Term Description Outcome1 Outcome2
2013 % of Completers within 3-4 Years 20.8% 3 YR 25.0% 4 YR
2014 % of Completers within 3-4 Years 15.6% 3 YR 22.2% 4 YR
2015 % of Completers within 3-4 Years 19.5% 3 YR 25.9% 4 YR
2016 % of Completers within 3-4 Years 21.9% 3 YR 28.1% 4 YR

 

1

Number(#) and Percentage(%) of program compeleters who were attending part-time or full-time, by Academic Year of completion.

2

Percentage (%) of students who completed within 3 years, 4 years, by the Academic Year in which a Fall cohort of full-time students enrolled at the institution.

Career Information for this Program

Early Childhood Education (Associate in Arts)

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