Early Care and Education - Child Care Professional, AAS (AAS.EARLCE.CCP)

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Associate in Applied Science in Early Care and Education

Child Care Professional Career Pathway

60 Credit Hours

The Early Care and Education degree has three pathways with shared general education and core requirements. Students can only complete one pathway for this degree.

The Child Care Professional pathway prepares students to work as teachers in child care centers or as teacher assistants in a public school early childhood program. This career path also prepares students to operate child care centers or work in supervisory, management or administrative positions in early care and education. This career path does not lead to teacher certification for public school teachers.

Accreditation

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs.
1401 H Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005-4101
800-424-2460

Related Certificate

The following certificate can be used to fulfill the requirements of this associate degree. Your faculty advisor or success coach can help to tailor your plan.

Early Childhood Development Certificate (CAS.EARLCD)

Part A - General Education Requirements

General education courses are the same for all AAS, Early Care and Education pathways.

REQ Communication: ENG 101 - English Composition I Credit: 3
REQ Humanities: Select from
Humanities
Credit: 3
REQ Math/Science: Select from
Mathematics/Natural Sciences
Credit: 3
REQ Social Science: Select from
Behavioral/Social Sciences
Credit: 3
REQ Other: Select from
General Education
Credit: 3

Total: 15

Part B - Core Requirements

Core courses are the same for all AAS, Early Care and Education pathways.

ECD 102 - Growth and Development I Credit: 3
ECD 140 - Early Childhood Practicum I Credit: 2
ECD 203 - Growth and Development II Credit: 3
EDU 241 - Learners and Diversity Credit: 4

Total: 12

Part C - Pathway Requirements

ECD 101 - Introduction to Early Childhood Credit: 3
ECD 105 - Guidance-Classroom Management Credit: 3
ECD 107 - Exceptional Children Credit: 3
ECD 108 - Family and Community Relations Credit: 3
ECD 131 - Language Arts Credit: 3
ECD 132 - Creative Experiences Credit: 3
ECD 133 - Science and Math Concepts Credit: 3
ECD 135 - Health, Safety and Nutrition Credit: 3
ECD 201 - Principles of Ethics and Leadership in Early Care Credit: 3
ECD 237 - Methods and Materials Credit: 3
ECD 243 - Supervised Field Experience I Credit: 3

Total: 33

Admission Requirements

Admission into this program requires proof of high school graduation (or GED) and qualifying scores on SAT, ACT or the TTC placement test.

Note: The Early Care and Education associate degree also requires the following requirements as prerequisites to labs in licensed child care centers and/or public schools: a health assessment denoting good heath, a negative tuberculosis skin test, compliance with technical standards, and a clear criminal background check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). In addition to SLED background checks, some child development centers and schools may require fingerprinting. Students entering these laboratory or off campus observation courses may opt to be fingerprinted. Fingerprinting and a SLED background check are required for the Early Care and Education workforce.

Course Sequence

Review the Early Care and Education - Child Care Professional, AAS - Course Sequence for a recommended sequence of courses. Please contact your advisor for guidance. A recommended course sequence is a structured plan to help students complete degree requirements efficiently.