Sep 28, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Catalog

Early Childhood Educator (ECAS1)

Location(s): Online

Award: Associate in Applied Science Degree
Academic Focus Areas: Community and Human Services
 

This degree prepares students for employment as an Early Childhood Educator or director in a variety of early childhood education settings that serve diverse populations in the state of Nebraska. Learning opportunities are centered on methodologies and current research in the field of Early Childhood. The courses provide a variety of field experiences to help the student be prepared for teaching in the Early Childhood field. Practicum courses include requirements for working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-agers, in addition to the student’s age choice for the final student teach practicum.

Individuals who are considering going into the field of early childhood education should be aware that Child Care Fingerprint Criminal History Check and background checks with the adult and child abuse registries are conducted before students can enter the program and participate in required field experiences that are required in each of the ECED courses. A criminal background investigation and checks of the child abuse/neglect, adult protective services and state patrol sex offender registries will be required of each student in the Early Childhood Education program. Based on the result of the criminal background and registry checks, a student may be prevented from taking courses, accessing field/practicum experiences, or completing the program. A nonrefundable fee of approximately $45 will be assessed to the student’s MCC student account for the criminal background and registry checks and the Child Care Fingerprint Criminal History Check is approximately $40 and students must pay this fee themselves

All courses in the Early Childhood Education program require field experience hours within early childhood education settings.

 

Graduation Requirements
To earn this degree, a student must complete all required courses.
Total credit hours required: 93.0

 

Additional Note: Students seeking to do practicums, an application is required. The dates for submission are as follows:
  • Fall applications are due July 20th
  • Winter applications are due October 20th
  • Spring applications are due January 20th
  • Summer applications are due April 20th

Recommended Curriculum Plan

 

Links to Additional Resources

 

Major Requirements - 70.5 credits

Note:

ECED 1221 , ECED 1222 , ECED 1240 , ECED 1241 , ECED 2090  or ECED 2091 : Students enrolling in practicums must complete an application and include all required documents. A separate application must be completed for each quarter for practicum. For more information visit the Early Childhood practicum website at mccneb.edu/Academic-Programs/Programs-of-Study/Social-Sciences/Early-Childhood-Education/Early-Childhood-Practicum.aspx. Students applying for practicum must have an accumulative 2.5 GPA in ECED courses.

Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution need to select from the general education Transfer Course Options  and have an overall 2.5 GPA. Students considering transfer should see and maintain regular contact with an ECED full-time faculty instructor.

General Education Course Recommendations for this Program:

  • Communication: ENGL 1010*
  • Quantitative/Numeracy: MATH 1410*
  • Critical Thinking/Creativity & Social/Cultural Awareness: PSYC 1010
  • Scientific Inquiry: PSYC 2140
  • Professionalism/Life Skills and Information Literacy: HMRL 1010

*Additional pre-requisites may be required.

 

Associate in Applied Sciences General Education Requirements - 22.5 credits

The following are General Education requirements for an Associate in Applied Sciences degree (AAS). Students may not use the same course to satisfy more than one degree requirement.

Communication

1 Course     4.5 credit hrs.

Select 1 Level I course from the list of Communication General Education Courses.  

Quantitative/Numeracy

1 Course     4.5 - 5.0 credits 

Please check your degree program for recommended Math course. Based on the Math course you select, pre-requisites may be required.

Select 1 course from the list of Quantitative/Numeracy Skills General Education Courses . 

Critical Thinking/Creativity & Social/Cultural Awareness

1 Course     4.5 credit hrs.

Select 1 course from the list of Humanities   or Social Sciences   courses under the Critical Thinking/Creativity & Social/Cultural Awareness General Education Courses. 

Scientific Inquiry

1 Course     4.5-6.0 credit hrs.   

Select 1 course from either the list of Natural Sciences   or Social Sciences  General Education courses.

*Students choosing a Social Sciences course to satisfy the Scientific Inquiry requirement should take a Humanities course to satisfy the Critical Thinking/Creativity and Social/Cultural Awareness competency.

Professionalism/Life Skills & Information Literacy

1 Course     4.5

Select 1 course from the list of Professionalism/Life Skills and Information Literacy General Education Courses .

 

 

Recommended Curriculum Plan

Early Childhood Educator (ECAS1)

The following plan is designed to be the most direct path to degree completion and is based on a fall, winter, spring or summer quarter start. Students are expected to meet with their student success navigator or advisor to plan a customized course schedule that meets their specific needs. For more information or assistance with registering, please call 531-622-2400.

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Communicate respectfully and collaborate effectively with children, families, and colleagues
  2. Engage in responsive interactions with children that support their learning
  3. Facilitate children’s learning through play, exploration, investigation, and inquiry
  4. Plan and implement instruction and curriculum to address goals and learning outcomes for young children
  5. Use appropriate strategies to assess children’s development and learning and inform interactions, instruction, and curriculum
  6. Analyze learning and teaching and use their reflections to inform and enhance their practices
  7. Communicate effectively and professionally verbally and in writing
  8. Conduct herself or himself as an early childhood professional and fulfill ethical responsibilities to children, families, and colleagues
  9. Engage in critical thinking and demonstrate an attitude of questioning
  10. Engage in self-assessment and goal setting to promote continuous personal and professional growth