Early Childhood/Child Development (AAS)

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This workforce program, which has earned Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs, is designed to prepare students for an early childhood career that does not require teacher certification. It is the continuation of the Level I and Level II Certificates and requires more in-depth application of college-level reading, writing, and math skills linked to program design and curriculum planning. Candidates must “demonstrate competency, good judgment, and self-control in the presence of children when performing assigned duties” (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Minimum Standards for Child-Care). The program will provide lower-level academic and technical courses for continuing educational experiences to satisfy state (Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services) and national (The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition) credential education requirements and includes 15 hours or more of general education coursework (academic transfer courses).

Curriculum

College Readiness Courses (if needed)

AAS General Education Course List

Semester I

CDEC 1313 - Curriculum Resources for Early Childhood Programs Credit Hours: 3
CDEC 1319 - Child Guidance Credit Hours: 3
CDEC 1356 - Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood Credit Hours: 3
CDEC 1358 - Creative Arts for Early Childhood Credit Hours: 3
TECA 1303 - Families, School, & Community Credit Hours: 3

Semester II

CDEC 1359 - Children with Special Needs Credit Hours: 3
CDEC 2307 - Math and Science for Early Childhood Credit Hours: 3
CDEC 2326 - Administration of Programs for Children I Credit Hours: 3
TECA 1318 - Wellness of the Young Child Credit Hours: 3
CDEC 1321 - The Infant and Toddler Credit Hours: 3

Semester III

CDEC 1164 - Practicum (or Field Experience) Child Development Credit Hours: 1 *
ENGL 1301 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
TECA 1311 - Educating Young Children Credit Hours: 3
CDEC 2315 - Diverse Cultural/Multilingual Education Credit Hours: 3
Natural Science/Mathematics from the AAS General Education Course List *
Humanities/Fine Arts from the AAS General Education Course List *

Semester IV

TECA 1354 - Child Growth & Development Credit Hours: 3
Social/Behavioral Sciences from the AAS General Education Course List *
CDEC 2286 - Internship - Child Care Provider/Assistant Credit Hours: 2 (Capstone Course) **

Select two courses from the following:

ENGL 1302 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 *
HUMA 1301 - Introduction to Humanities I Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 1301 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 *
ENGL 2327 - American Literature I Credit Hours: 3 *
HIST 2321 - World Civilizations I Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 1303 - Art History I (Prehistoric to the 14th Century) Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 2314 - Life Span Growth & Development Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 1306 - Social Problems Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 2319 - Minority Studies Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 2351 - Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3

Total Semester Hours - 60

*This program may be eligible for transfer credit to a Bachelor of Applied Science degree (BAS) if students take the general education courses marked with asterisks (*).

** Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in the program capstone course (CDEC 2286 ) in order to graduate.