2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood Education, AAS


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Program Description

Code 215 - 63 Credits

The Early Childhood Education program prepares individuals to work in the early childhood education field as preschool teachers, lead infant/toddler teachers, childcare providers, home childcare providers, early childhood paraprofessionals, program directors, and assistant teachers. The program is competency-based teaching students how to design, manage, and apply developmentally appropriate programming for children ages birth to eight years based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards of quality for associate degree programs. Some of the potential work settings may include schools, preschools, Head Start, and non-profit organizations. Some fieldwork experience is required. This curriculum leads to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education and is designed for career entry and/or educational advancement.

Online Programs

The Associate in Arts, and Associates of Applied Science in Accounting, Administrative Assistant, Business Management, and Early Childhood Education are available as fully online programs. The Early Childhood Education program requires field experiences that are not offered online. Please see the Online Programs webpage for further information about the coursework required to complete these online programs.

Service-Learning Requirement

Students who obtain an Associate degree or an Associate of Applied Science degree will be required to complete a service-learning experience. The final grade in the course must qualify for academic credit in order to receive the service-learning endorsement. Please contact an Academic Advisor for courses that offer a service-learning experience, or search in the class schedules.

Accreditation and State Board Approved

The Kellogg Community College Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children https://www.naeyc.org/accreditation.

Prerequisite Requirements

Students should see the individual course descriptions for specific prerequisite information. All students are encouraged to contact the Early Childhood and Teacher Education department with questions. Students registering for Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses will need to successfully pass a criminal background check and a State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Child Abuse and Neglect Registry (CANR) according to College and Department policy. This CANR must be renewed every three years. Students with criminal histories are encouraged to speak with the Early Childhood and Teacher Education department before registering for ECE courses.

Program Learning Outcomes


  1. Apply knowledge of child development when creating healthy and respectful learning environments for children that address individual needs.
  2. Understand positive relationships and supportive interactions provide the foundation of work with young children.
  3. Demonstrate the importance of play and implement developmentally appropriate curriculums that incorporate anti-bias materials and meet the specific needs of all children including those with developmental delays or special abilities.
  4. Utilize appropriate assessment tools and strategies to plan and individualize programming that reflect the needs of young children.
  5. Engage families and the community in collaborative relationships that embrace diversity and promote involvement in young children’s development and learning.
  6. Uphold ethical standards and other early childhood professional guidelines while operating a high-quality program.

Required General Education Courses


All Students who obtain an Associate degree or an Associate of Applied Science degree must complete the FYS 101 - First-Year Seminar   course with a grade of a C or higher. This degree requirement can also be achieved by earning a degree from an accredited institution or transferring 24 or more credits from another accredited institution applicable to their degree. See an Academic Advisor, or connect with the Integrative Learning Department, for course completion and/or any questions pertaining to the FYS course.

Professional Certifications


The Child Development Associate (CDA) is a credential awarded by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition headquartered in Washington, DC. The CDA recognizes skills of early caregivers and education professionals. It is designed for individuals who have work experience in early childcare settings. The CDA represents a national effort to credential qualified caregivers who work with children ages birth to five.

The CDA is different from the Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education conferred by KCC. KCC provides classes for academic credit that may be applied toward the completion of CDA education and training requirements. KCC does NOT award the CDA credential.

The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition sets CDA assessment procedures and candidate requirements. KCC offers training toward the completion of the Direct Assessment CDA credential procedure. All interested students need to meet with the Early Childhood and Teacher Education department prior to registering for classes. For more information, call (269) 965-3931, extension 2109.

The following courses are recommendations. Other early childhood courses may apply toward the completion of CDA training requirements. To extend your preparation for the CDA, it is recommended that CDA candidates take ECE 224  along with ECE 232  or ECE 233 , depending on the CDA setting of your choice.

Information:


In order for work experience to be used toward completing the requirements of the Early Childhood Education internships, it must be observable and in an approved setting.

For more information, contact the Early Childhood and Teacher Education department at 269-965-3931, extension 2109 or visit https://kellogg.edu/academics/areas-of-study/early-childhood-education-teacher-education/ece/.

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