The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from birth through eight in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers.
Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Students will foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children.
Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.
What is Early Childhood Education? A program that prepares individuals to promote child development and learning, work with diverse families and children, observe, document and assess to support young children and families, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, and use developmentally effective approaches in collaboration with other early childhood professionals. Potential course work includes instruction in all areas of child development such as emotional/ social/ health/ physical/ language/ communication, approaches to play and learning, working with diverse families, and related observations/ student teaching experiences.
Students can choose between three degree tracks in Early Childhood Education:
- Career-Ready Non-Transfer Track
- Birth through Kindergarten (B-K) Licensure Transfer Track
- Non-teaching Licensure Transfer Track
Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:
- Students will be able to promote positive relationships among all children and adults in early childhood settings.
- Students will be able to create lesson plans, including daily activities, schedules, and routines to be used in early childhood settings.
- Students will be able to establish relationships with and use the resources of the children’s communities to support the achievement of program goals in early childhood settings.
- Students will be able to create developmentally appropriate assessments to provide information on children’s learning and development.
- Students will be able to identify theories, research, and principles related to child development, growth, and learning.
A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education (A55220C)
This track is for students seeking to earn a 2-year A.A.S. degree and continue into the workforce to work in childcare or plan to own or direct their own childcare center.
Program of Study
| Fall Semester | |||
| ACA-111 | College Student Success | 1 | |
| OR | ACA-122 | College Transfer Success | 1 |
| CIS-113 | Basic PC Literacy | 1 | |
| EDU-119 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 4 | |
| EDU-144 | Child Development I | 3 | |
| EDU-131 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | |||
| ENG-111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | |
| EDU-145 | Child Development II | 3 | |
| EDU-146 | Child Guidance | 3 | |
| EDU-151 | Creative Activities | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | |||
| EDU-163 | Classroom Mgmt. & Instruction | 3 | |
| EDU-188 | Trends/Policies in Early Child | 3 | |
| Summer Semester | |||
| COM-231 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| MAT-143 | Quantitative Literacy | 3 | |
| PSY-150 | General Psychology | 3 | |
| ## | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Fall Semester | |||
| EDU-153 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 | |
| EDU-221 | Children With Exceptionalities | 3 | |
| EDU-234 | Infants, Toddlers, & Twos | 3 | |
| EDU-235 | School-Age Dev & Program | 3 | |
| EDU-280 | Language & Literacy Experiences | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | |||
| EDU-252 | Math & Science Activities | 3 | |
| EDU-271 | Educational Technology | 3 | |
| EDU-284 | Early Child Capstone Practicum | 4 | |
| ! | Major Elective | 3 |
# Humanities/Fine Arts Electives – ART 111, MUS 110, MUS-112, PHI 240
! Major Electives – EDU 222, EDU 223, EDU 261, EDU 262
A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education
Birth through Kindergarten (B-K) Licensure Transfer Track (A55220L)
This track is for students seeking to earn a 2-year A.A.S. degree and transfer to a 4-year institution to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in a Birth through Kindergarten program. Students selecting this track plan to work as a preschool or kindergarten teacher.
Potential Career Options
Kindergarten Teacher
Preschool Teacher
Program of Study
| Fall Semester | |||
| ACA-111 | College Student Success | 1 | |
| OR | ACA-122 | College Transfer Success | 1 |
| EDU-119 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 4 | |
| EDU-131 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 | |
| EDU-144 | Child Development I | 3 | |
| EDU-153 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | |||
| ENG-111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | |
| EDU-145 | Child Development II | 3 | |
| EDU-146 | Child Guidance | 3 | |
| EDU-151 | Creative Activities | 3 | |
| Summer Semester | |||
| BIO-110 | Principles of Biology | 4 | |
| OR | BIO-111 | General Biology | 4 |
| ENG-112 | Writing/Research in the Disc | 3 | |
| OR | ENG-114 | Prof Research & Reporting | 3 |
| MAT-143 | Quantitative Literacy | 3 | |
| PSY-150 | General Psychology | 3 | |
| Fall Semester | |||
| EDU-221 | Children With Exceptionalities | 3 | |
| EDU-234 | Infants, Toddlers, & Twos | 3 | |
| EDU-280 | Language & Literacy Experiences | 3 | |
| ## | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | |||
| CHM-151 | General Chemistry | 4 | |
| PHY-110 | Conceptual Physics/PHY 110A Lab | 4 | |
| Spring Semester | |||
| COM-231 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| EDU-216 | Foundations of Education | 3 | |
| EDU-250 | Teacher Licensure Program | 4 | |
| EDU-284 | Early Child Capstone Practicum | 4 | |
| # | Social/Behavioral Science Electives | 3 |
# Humanities/Fine Arts Electives – ART 111, MUS 110, MUS-112, PHI 240
## Social/Behavioral Science Electives – ECO 251, ECO 252, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 131, HIS 132, POL 120, SOC 210
A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education
Non-Teaching Licensure Transfer Track (A55220NL)
This track is for students seeking to earn a 2-year A.A.S. degree and transfer to a 4-year institution to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in an Early Education Program. Students selecting this track plan to transfer to a university and earn at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood. These students sometimes own their own childcare centers. Some will work for community agencies such as Head Start. Some will continue their education through a Master’s degree or higher, which broadens job opportunities.
Potential Career Options
Preschool and Daycare Education and Childcare Administration
Program of Study
| Fall Semester | |||
| ACA-111 | College Student Success | 1 | |
| OR | ACA-122 | College Transfer Success | 1 |
| EDU-119 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 4 | |
| EDU-131 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 | |
| EDU-144 | Child Development I | 3 | |
| EDU-153 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | |||
| ENG-111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | |
| EDU-145 | Child Development II | 3 | |
| EDU-146 | Child Guidance | 3 | |
| EDU-151 | Creative Activities | 3 | |
| Summer Semester | |||
| BIO-110 | Principles of Biology | 4 | |
| OR | BIO-111 | General Biology | 4 |
| ENG-112 | Writing/Research in the Disc | 3 | |
| OR | ENG-114 | Prof Research & Reporting | 3 |
| MAT-143 | Quantitative Literacy | 3 | |
| PSY-150 | General Psychology | 3 | |
| Fall Semester | |||
| EDU-221 | Children With Exceptionalities | 3 | |
| EDU-261 | Early Childhood Admin I | 3 | |
| EDU-234 | Infants, Toddlers, & Twos | 3 | |
| EDU-280 | Language & Literacy Experiences | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | |||
| CHM-151 | General Chemistry | 4 | |
| PHY-110 | Conceptual Physics/PHY 110A Lab | 4 | |
| Spring Semester | |||
| COM-231 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| EDU-262 | Early Childhood Admin II | 3 | |
| EDU-284 | Early Child Capstone Practicum | 4 | |
| ## | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| # | Social/Behavioral Science Electives | 3 |
# Humanities/Fine Arts Electives – ART 111, MUS 110, MUS-112, PHI 240
## Social/Behavioral Science Electives – ECO 251, ECO 252, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 131, HIS 132, POL 120, SOC 210
Administrative Certificate (C55220F)
This certificate is designed for the individual who would like to gain knowledge of theoretical foundations, national learning standards, the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development, and state regulations, as well as business skills needed to assume administration/ownership roles in the early childhood care field.
Program of Study
| EDU-119 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 4 | |
| EDU-146 | Child Guidance | 3 | |
| EDU-188 | Trends/Policies in Early Child | 3 | |
| EDU-261 | Early Childhood Admin I | 3 | |
| EDU-262 | Early Childhood Admin II | 3 |
Infant/Toddler Care Certificate (C55290)
This certificate is designed for the individual who would like to gain knowledge of theoretical foundations, national learning standards, the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development. Coursework includes development from conception through approximately 36 months, healthy environments, and strategies for building relationships with diverse populations.
Program of Study
| EDU-119 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 4 | |
| EDU-131 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 | |
| EDU-144 | Child Development I | 3 | |
| EDU-153 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 | |
| EDU-234 | Infants, Toddlers, & Twos | 3 |
Preschool Certificate (C55220P)
This certificate is designed for the individual who would like to gain knowledge of theoretical foundations, national learning standards, and the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development, and includes coursework on development from conception through approximately 36 months. Topics include healthy environments and strategies for building relationships with diverse populations as well as factors that influence development from preschool through middle childhood. Students will learn strategies to encourage social skills, self-regulation, emotional expression, and positive behaviors while recognizing the relationship between children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Program of Study
| EDU-119 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 4 | |
| EDU-131 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 | |
| EDU-145 | Child Development II | 3 | |
| EDU-146 | Child Guidance | 3 | |
| EDU-153 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 |
Earn College Credit in High School
A CCP pathway for high school juniors and seniors is available for this program. Visit the Career and College Promise page for more information.
The Career and College Promise (CCP) Program provides opportunities for eligible high school students to start college early, where courses can count for dual credit (credit in the high school and college at the same time), all TUITION-FREE! CCP students accelerate completion of college certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees that provide entry-level job skills and/or lead to college transfer credit.
Program Coordinator - Early Childhood
Department: Faculty
Phone: (252) 246-1272
Email: lcoburn@wilsoncc.edu
Office: D207b
Dean of Human Services & Public Safety
Department: Faculty
Phone: (252) 246-1290
Email: whill@wilsoncc.edu
Office: B106
