Early Childhood Education - AAS

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The Early Childhood Education degrees are designed to provide persons interested in working with children a systematic study of the care, development, and education of children from birth to age eight. Students gain the knowledge and competency necessary for a professional career working with young children.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the key elements of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (naeyc.org) and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals (dcyf.wa.gov/) 

At the completion for the Early Childhood Education Program, the successful student will be able to:

• Critically thinking in order to analyze, evaluate and solve problems using multiple methodologies
• Having multicultural awareness thru exhibiting an understanding of the ways economic, political, social, and culture factors impact identity and interactions
• Computation through identification, understanding and communicating the differences between quantitative and qualitative date and be able to explain results
• Demonstrating ethics through identifying complex ethical issues and recognizing and evaluating interrelationships of related issues
• Communicating effectively through written and verbal communications skills

The Early Childhood Education AAS degree can be completed in three years attending evenings only or in two years with a combination of day and evening courses. The majority of ECED and EDUC courses meet in the evening. Practicums (ECED& 120, ECED 205 and ECED 250) require daytime hours. Many ECED and EDUC courses require observation hours in addition to class time. See course outlines for details. Students can enter the program any quarter but are strongly encouraged to meet with an ECE faculty for detailed information necessary for planning their degree. Contact (360) 596-5387 for advising day information.

1. Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should work closely with an advisor to ensure maximum transfer of credits.
2. ECED& 107 requires CPR/First Aid and a Food Handlers Cards be obtained while taking this class.
3. To successfully complete the practicum experiences in ECED& 120, ECED 205 and ECED 250, students will volunteer in a Head Start, school or child care center which will require a Department of Early Learning portable background check and   requires a tuberculosis test.
4. ECED/EDUC courses may be taken in any order, except ECED 205, ECED 250 and ECED 238. It is recommended but not necessary to take ECED& 105 first.  It is recommended but not necessary to get the ECE stackable certificates while obtaining your ECE degree. 
5. Grades of “C” or better must be obtained in all courses with an EDUC or ECED prefix to apply to the ECE degree or certificates.
6. It is possible to receive up to 12 credits toward the degree for students having a Child Development Associate (C.D.A.) credential. See advisor for details.
7. An alternative pathway is the Associate in Applied Science (AAS-T) degree which can be used to transfer to many four year colleges and universities.