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 20^th
Winter applications are due October 20^th
Spring applications are due January 20^th
Summer applications are due April 20^th

Recommended Curriculum Plan

Links to Additional Resources

Tuition Information

Financial Aid

Scholarships

Major Requirements - 70.5 credits

ECED 1050 - Expressive Arts 4.5 Credits
ECED 1060 - Observation, Assessment, and Guidance 4.5 Credits
ECED 1110 - Infant and Toddler Development 4.5 Credits
ECED 1120 - Preschool Child Development 4.5 Credits
ECED 1150 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education 4.5 Credits
ECED 1160 - Early Language and Literacy 4.5 Credits
ECED 1220 - Prepracticum 1.5 Credits
ECED 1221 - Infant Practicum 3.0 Credits
OR
ECED 1222 - Toddler Practicum 3.0 Credits
ECED 1230 - School-Age Child Development and Programming 4.5 Credits
ECED 1240 - Preschool-Age Practicum 3.0 Credits
ECED 1241 - School-Age Practicum 3.0 Credits
ECED 1260 - Children’s Health and Nutrition 4.5 Credits
ECED 2050 - Children with Exceptionalities 4.5 Credits
ECED 2060 - Early Childhood Education Curriculum Planning 4.5 Credits
ECED 2061 - Child Guidance Techniques 4.5 Credits
ECED 2070 - Family and Community Relationships 4.5 Credits
ECED 2090 - Early Childhood Student Teaching Practicum 6.0 Credits
OR
ECED 2091 - Early Childhood Administrative Practicum 6.0 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.

Year 1
Quarter 1
ECED 1150 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education 4.5 Credits
ENGL 1010 - English Composition I 4.5 Credits *Recommended Communication general education course for this program.
PSYC 1010 - Introduction to Psychology 4.5 Credits *Recommended Critical Thinking/Creativity & Social/Cultural Awareness general education course for this program.
Quarter 2
ECED 1110 - Infant and Toddler Development 4.5 Credits
ECED 1220 - Prepracticum 1.5 Credits
ECED 1060 - Observation, Assessment, and Guidance 4.5 Credits
PSYC 2140 - Behavior Modification and Principles of Learning 4.5 Credits *Recommended Scientific Inquiry general education course for this program.
Quarter 3
ECED 1120 - Preschool Child Development 4.5 Credits
ECED 1050 - Expressive Arts 4.5 Credits
MATH 1410 - Statistics 4.5 Credits *Recommended Quantitative/Numeracy general education course for this program.
ECED 1221 - Infant Practicum 3.0 Credits
OR
ECED 1222 - Toddler Practicum 3.0 Credits
Quarter 4
ECED 1160 - Early Language and Literacy 4.5 Credits
HMRL 1010 - Human Relations Skills 4.5 Credits *Recommended Professionalism/Life Skills and Information Literacy general education course for this program.
ECED 2060 - Early Childhood Education Curriculum Planning 4.5 Credits
Year 2
Quarter 5
ECED 1240 - Preschool-Age Practicum 3.0 Credits
ECED 1230 - School-Age Child Development and Programming 4.5 Credits
ECED 1260 - Children’s Health and Nutrition 4.5 Credits
Quarter 6
ECED 1241 - School-Age Practicum 3.0 Credits
ECED 2061 - Child Guidance Techniques 4.5 Credits
ECED 2050 - Children with Exceptionalities 4.5 Credits
Quarter 7
ECED 2090 - Early Childhood Student Teaching Practicum 6.0 Credits
OR
ECED 2091 - Early Childhood Administrative Practicum 6.0 Credits
ECED 2070 - Family and Community Relationships 4.5 Credits

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes

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