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).

Notes

Scientific Inquiry designated courses.

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

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 or proctored testing. Online courses with these requirements have additional information posted under the COURSE DESCRIPTION section when you are registering. Please note these requirements when registering.

The Associate in Arts degree in Early Childhood Education 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, 2018 through March, 2025.

Student Outcomes:

Number of Program Completers¹

Program Completion Rate²

 Fall-to-Fall Retention Rate³

Program Candidate Performance on Professional Standards⁴

NAEYC Professional Standards for Early Childhood Educators are equivalent of published Program Outcomes.

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 2 years, 3 years, by the Academic Year in which a Fall cohort of full-time students enrolled at the institution.

³

Percentage (%) of program candidates retained from fall term to fall term, by those enrolled part-time and full-time.

⁴

Aggregate performance of students meeting benchmark in Key Assessments.