Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Requirements

Total Credits 60

Early Childhood Education Requirements

In order for a student to be eligible to participate in an academic, community, or clinical program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, the elderly, or other vulnerable populations, the student may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check before they can enroll in an ECE internship course.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all Early Childhood degree program requirements, graduates will be able to:

• Integrate learned theories with practice in early childhood settings and placements.
• Articulate a personal philosophy of Early Childhood Education.
• Implement a wide array of research-based, developmentally appropriate educational approaches, instructional strategies, and tools that recognize and support individual learning differences and social and cultural influences.
• Apply knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes as outlined by the Massachusetts Core Learning Competencies as well as Early Education and Care standards.
• Analyze current issues, trends, and policies that affect young children and their families to effectively advocate for their needs.
• Observe, Document, and Assess young children and use this information to make decisions about curriculum implementation and modification as well as to engage in reflective practice to strengthen professional skills, knowledge, and competencies.
• Create high-quality early childhood environments that embrace full inclusion and strengths, work to eliminate structural inequities that limit equitable learning opportunities, and develop classroom strategies that show respect for family differences.