Early Childhood
A.A.S. Degree, Microcredential
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Early Childhood
Early childhood-the period from birth through age eight-is a distinct period of life that has value in itself as well as creating foundations for later years. (National Association for the Education of Young Children). According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of pre-school teachers is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2008-2018. Continued emphasis on the importance of early childhood education has led many states to offer full day and universal pre-school. This program provides job-related skills that are in high demand.
The early childhood degree program provides coursework and field experience to help you be a knowledgeable and competent early childhood professional. You will learn a philosophy of teaching and learning, child development, and how to design and provide experiences for children in science, social studies, literature, math, music, and art.
The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of working early childhood professionals who need further education, and the needs of recent high school graduates who wish to pursue a career in the early childhood field.
Field Experience
Extensive field experience is a vital and required piece of the early childhood degree. You will complete a minimum 112 hours of supervised field experience in a licensed or certified day care center, pre-kindergarten - 2nd grade, or nursery school. In addition, ECHD 206 requires a minimum 45 hours of supervised field experience.
Degree Requirements
- Early Childhood, A.A.S.
- Microcredential: Early Childhood Assistant
- ECHD 125 Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- ECHD 110 Children and the Arts
- ECHD 206 Infant/Toddler Environments and Curriculum
- ECHD 225 Early Childhood Curriculum Development
Careers on Career Coach
The early childhood degree program provides in-demand skills. Graduates of this program are prepared for positions as teachers at a child care center or nursery school, family child care providers, family workers, and teacher’s assistants in special education, elementary school, or Head Start. Learn more about related jobs:
Transfer Options
Among transfer options are programs offered at:
- SUNY College at Cortland
- Elmira College
- Ithaca College
- SUNY New Paltz
- Keuka College
- Roberts Wesleyan College
Student Showcase
Grad of Note - James Spaulding
Why did you choose to attend Tompkins Cortland?
Many of the reasons I chose to come to TC3 are practical in nature. It’s on a bus line. It’s cheaper and closer than alternatives, for instance. But none of this would have mattered if people in my life that I love and trust hadn’t spoken so highly of their time at TC3.
Who at TC3 had the greatest positive impact on your experience?
Many people had an impact on me, but Anna Regula easily had the greatest impact. Sometimes people would offer me a ride, but Anna drove me to TC3 every Saturday for a semester. I learned a lot from many people, but it was Anna who taught me more than the others (it helped that she taught so many of my classes). I confided and bonded with a few professors, but it was Anna who became a friend. It was Anna that got me a field placement at Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3) where I am now employed.
What were your extracurricular involvements at and how did they contribute to your college experience/future aspirations?
My busy work and school schedules did not accommodate the extracurricular groups I was interested in joining, so I invested in connections. I took every opportunity to connect with my professors and other classmates. I sought and gave help freely, and learned a lot from the process. Each time I assisted a classmate I was reinforcing my confidence as an educator.
What are your next steps after graduation (employment, transfer, etc.), and how did the College prepare you for that?
It was my ambition to become a preschool teacher that brought me to TC3. It was my coursework that brought me to IC3, where I was hired as a pre-school teacher immediately after I graduated. I was teaching for only a few months before the pandemic started, and now I provide childcare for essential personnel. I am going to just enjoy my achievements for a while and take the time to master my craft. Maybe someday I’ll have another vision and end up in college again. TC3 helped me achieve my dream by helping me hone my skills and expand my knowledge and understanding. My time at TC3 helped me believe in myself.