(60 credit hours)
The Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education prepares students for a variety of careers in the area of early childhood. The coursework of this program focuses on the development, care and education of young children. Students may choose from specialization tracks in the following areas: Infant-Toddler, Preschool, Child Development Early Intervention and Child Care Center Management.
Graduates may pursue a career as a:
- Child Care Director
- Child Care Teacher
- Infant/Toddler Teacher
- Preschool Teacher
- Assistant Teacher
- Licensing Specialist
- Public School Paraprofessional
- Parent Educator
- Resource and Referral Specialist
- Early Childhood Curriculum Specialist
The opportunities for employment in the field of early childhood education are numerous. Graduates may find employment in Head Start Programs, Early Head Start Programs, private and public prekindergarten programs, the public school system, nonprofit agencies, Department of Children and Families, resource and referral agencies and school readiness coalitions.
Program Learning Outcomes
1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to support children’s development and learning in context.
2. Students will demonstrate their ability to create positive family-teacher partnerships.
3. Students will demonstrate their ability to observe, document, and assess children.
4. Students will demonstrate their understanding of developmentally, culturally, and lingusitically appropriate teaching practices.
5. Students will demonstrate knowledge, application, and integration of academic content in the early childhood curriculum.
6. Students will demonstrate professionalism as an early childhood educator.
To be officially considered for this program a student must:
- have a high school diploma or GED certificate,
- complete application to FGC,
- take a placement exam if not exempt by State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.0315.
Students at Florida Gateway College develop and set their schedules with the assistance of an advisor.
The following is the A.S. Early Childhood Education sequence of courses: