Early Childhood Education Overview (AS 2358)
Type of Award
AS - Associate in Science
Program Website
www.palmbeachstate.edu/career-pathways/pathway-education.aspx
Program Description
This degree program provides the student with a thorough background in all aspects of child development, as well as expanding his or her classroom knowledge into practical hands-on teaching experience.
The program also provides the student with the training and information they need to pursue a career working with infants through school age children.
Program Learning Outcomes
For detailed information, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/learningoutcomes/Program-Learning-Outcomes.
Admission Requirements
Completion Requirements
Students must successfully complete all courses listed in the catalog for this program.
Program Length
The program can be finished in two years if you attend full time or three years if you attend part time.
Location
The program is offered at the Lake Worth campus.
For More Information
Dr. Colleen Fawcett, fawcettc@palmbeachstate.edu, (561) 868-3349
Employment Opportunities
Students who complete this program can seek educator, caregiver or manager positions within licensed childcare centers, in private and public school settings and in afterschool/mentoring programs, such as Head Start. Head Start is a federal program that requires its teachers to have earned at least an A.S. or A.A. degree.
Career Path Notes
Students who have earned either a Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC), Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC) from Palm Beach State or the School District of Palm Beach County, or a National Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential can articulate the credential towards an Associate in Science degree (A.S.) in Early Childhood Education (2358) for the following 9 college credit hours: EEC2271 - Teaching Children with Special Needs, EEC2734 - Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child, and CHD1220 - Child Development infancy/Preschool.
The articulation will be processed upon request once students have completed 15 college credits toward the A.S. degree (2358). For more information call (561) 868-3807.
Courses from this program may transfer into Palm Beach State’s Bachelor of Applied Science program in Supervision and Management. For more information, visit: www.palmbeachstate.edu/Bachelors
In addition, the Early Childhood Education A.S. degree will articulate to Florida Atlantic University’s Bachelor in Early Childhood Education (BECE) degree and to Lynn University’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education Grade K-6.
Career Center
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Career
For more information about employment opportunities, including job outlook and salary information, visit: Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
O-Net Online: www.onetonline.org
Required courses:
General Education (Credits: 15)
ENC1101 | College Composition 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
ESC1000 | Earth Science (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Or | |
| Any course from Natural Sciences - Area IV, Tier 1 & 2 | 3 credits |
ARH1000 | Art Appreciation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Or | |
| Any course from Humanities - Area II | 3 credits |
PSY2012 | Introduction to Psychology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Required Courses (Credits: 33)
EDG1314 | Education Practicum 1 (AS) | 3 credits (15 lab hours) |
ENC1102 | College Composition 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC1601 | Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2710 | Conflict Resolution in Early Childhood (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2271 | Teaching Children with Special Needs (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EDF2085 | Introduction to Diversity for Educators (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2734 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
CHD1220 | Child Development, Infancy/Preschool (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EDF1030 | Behavior Management in the Classroom (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
DEP2102 | Child Growth and Development (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
MTB1103 | Business Mathematics (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Or | |
| Any course from Mathematics-Area III | |
| Or | |
| Any credit math approved by department | 3 credits |
EDG1315 Education Practicum 2 may be taken instead of ENC1102 only by students not planning to transfer to a university.
MTB1103: Or higher. Students planning to transfer to a university should see an advisor.
Required College Credit Certificate (CCC) Courses (Credits: 12)
Complete one of the following Certificates to complete this AS program:
Child Care Center Management CCC 6366
EEC1523 | Overview of Child Care Center Management (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2002 | Child Care and Education Organization Leadership Management (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2202 | Child Care and Education Programming (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2521 | Child Care and Education Financial and Legal Issues (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Or
Infant/Toddler CCC 6367
EEC1001 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC1522 | Infant/Toddler Environments (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2201 | Developing Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2407 | Social-Emotional Growth and Socialization in Infants and Toddlers (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Or
Pre-School CCC 6368
EEC1001 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC1300 | Early Childhood Language Arts (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC1311 | Early Childhood Science, Social Studies and Math (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC1312 | Early Childhood Fine Arts and Movement (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 60
Course Sequence
Term One - Fall (Year One) (Credits: 9)
ENC1101 | College Composition 1 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EDF1030 | Behavior Management in the Classroom (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| One course from selected CCC | 3 credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year One) (Credits: 9)
CHD1220 | Child Development, Infancy/Preschool (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
PSY2012 | Introduction to Psychology (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| One course from selected CCC | 3 credits |
Term Three - Summer (Year One) (Credits: 3)
| One course from selected CCC | 3 credits |
Term One - Fall (Year Two) (Credits: 9)
ENC1102 | College Composition 2 (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
DEP2102 | Child Growth and Development (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| One course from selected CCC | 3 credits |
EDG1315 Education Practicum 2 may be taken instead of ENC1102 only by students not planning to transfer to a university.
Term Two - Spring (Year Two) (Credits: 9)
EEC1601 | Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2710 | Conflict Resolution in Early Childhood (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Term Three - Summer (Year Two) (Credits: 3)
EEC2271 | Teaching Children with Special Needs (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
Term One - Fall (Year Three) (Credits: 9)
EDF2085 | Introduction to Diversity for Educators (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
EEC2734 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
ESC1000 | Earth Science (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Or | |
| Any course from Natural Sciences - Area IV, Tier 1 & 2 | 3 credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year Three) (Credits: 9)
EDG1314 | Education Practicum 1 (AS) | 3 credits (15 lab hours) |
ARH1000 | Art Appreciation (AA) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Or | |
| Any course from Humanities - Area II | 3 credits |
MTB1103 | Business Mathematics (AS) | 3 credits (3 lecture hours) |
| Or | |
| Any course from Mathematics-Area III | |
| Or | |
| Any credit math approved by department | 3 credits |
MTB1103: Or higher. Students planning to transfer to a university should see an advisor.
Total Credit Hours: 60