Education — Early Childhood (Birth to 4th Grade)
Description:
The Education: Early Childhood (Birth to 4th Grade) Program develops the knowledge and competence of students interested in teaching or working in related careers with children birth through fourth grade. The Program provides a sound theoretical foundation in principles of child growth and development from the prenatal period through the primary years, as well as a functional understanding of programs and curricula appropriate for young children. Skills emphasized include child observation, curriculum planning for diverse learners, advocacy, and interpersonal and communication abilities.
Upon completion of the Program students receive an Associate in Arts degree and may either enter the workforce or transfer to a baccalaureate program in Education.
Because the curriculum supports the needs of those wishing to pursue a variety of options including transfer, it is highly recommended that students consult Program advisors, catalogs, and transfer worksheets available in the Career and Transfer Center in order to make appropriate course selections.
Graduates of the Program will be prepared to work as childcare practitioners and directors, parent educators, children's recreation staff, teacher assistants and instructional aides. Graduates who wish to become certified teachers will need to transfer to and complete a Pennsylvania Department of Education approved teacher certification program at a four year college or university.
The A.A. Education: Early Childhood (Birth to 4th Grade) at Community College of Philadelphia is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The current accreditation term runs from March 2021 through March 2028.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the Education: Early Childhood degree program graduates will be able to:
- Identify key theories of child development
- Responsibly apply systemic observation, documentation, and other assessment techniques, in partnership with families and other professionals
- Design, implement, and assess differentiated curricula and experiences to positively influence the development of every child
- Demonstrate ethical and professional standards and make decisions as part of continuous collaborative learning, informed reflective practice, and diverse field experiences
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills in the discourse of the discipline.
Program Effectiveness Data
Program effectiveness data can be found at the academic program page
Program Entry Requirements:
Students are required to satisfy placement at the time of admission. Students identified as needing developmental work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate developmental English and mathematics courses as part of the program.
Because students will be required to observe and work with young children the Program requires students to meet the requirements of the Child Protective Services Law, 23 Pa. C.S.A., section 6344 (relating to prospective child care personnel). Students must therefore present up-to-date Pennsylvania criminal history reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history reports, Department of Public Welfare (child abuse) reports, and health clearances, clearly stating that they are eligible to work with children. (Up-to-date clearance is defined as being no more than 12 months old on the first day of working with children.) Failure to produce up-to-date clearances or a change of clearance status may result in a student's removal from the program. A student who believes that an error of fact has been made in his/her removal may appeal that decision. Information regarding the appeal procedure will be provided with the letter of removal.
Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for the Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree in Education: Early Childhood (Birth-4th grade) program, a student must complete a minimum of 62 credit hours as described in the course listing below. Students enrolled this program who are also enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Proficiency Certificate must complete an additional course, ED 151: Health, Safety and Nutrition of Young Children, resulting in 65 credits. In addition, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, and a minimum grade of "C" in all Education courses. During their matriculation in the Education: Early Childhood (Birth-4th grade), it is strongly recommended that students meet with a designated Education academic advisor to choose their courses. Students whose behavior is viewed as inconsistent with professional standards may be dropped from the curriculum pending a departmental hearing.
Prior Learning Assessment:
Students may be eligible to apply for credits for prior learning. Interested students should contact the program coordinator for further information regarding the criteria and an application.
Course Sequence:
Semester 1
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors) | 3 credits | Writing, Research, Info Lit 1 | |
| CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits | Technological Competency | |
| ED 105 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education * | 3 credits | ||
| PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or PSYC 101H - 101H Introduction to Psychology (Honors) | 3 credits | Cultural Analysis & Interpretation | |
| MATH 151 - Linear Mathematics or MATH 123 - Mathematical Principles I ** | For MATH 151: FNMT 118 with a grade of "C" or better or placement in MATH 161 or higher For MATH 123: FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or placement in FNMT 118 or higher | 3 credits | Quantitative Reasoning |
Semester 2
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors) | ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | Writing, Research, Info Lit 2 |
| ED 135 - Family and Community Relationships * | 3 credits | ||
| MATH 133 - Mathematical Principles II or MATH 161 - Precalculus I ** | For MATH 133: MATH 123 For MATH 161: FNMT 118 with a C or better or MATH 161(or higher) placement | 3 credits | |
| PSYC 201 - Child Psychology | PSYC 101 | 3 credits | |
| ED 204 - Curriculum and Instruction: Engaging Young Children in the Learning Process or ED 214 - Cognition and Learning in the Classroom * | For ED 204: ED 105 with a grade of "C" or better, ENGL 101, and PSYC 101 For ED 214: (ED 105 or ED 201, either with a grade of "C" or better) and ENGL 101 and PSYC 101 | 3 credits |
Semester 3
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ED 222 - Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood * | PSYC 201 and (ED 204 or ED 214, either with a grade of "C" or better) and ENGL 102 | 3 credits | |
| ED 230 - Integrating the Arts into Early Childhood Education * | ED 105 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | |
| ED 245 - Assessment of Young Children * | (ED 204 or ED 214, either with a grade of "C" or better) and PSYC 201 | 3 credits | |
| BIOL 106 - General Biology I | 4 credits | Scientific Reasoning | |
| ED 250 - Infant and Toddler Development and Curriculum * | (ED 204 or ED 214, either with a grade of "C" or better) and PSYC 201 | 3 credits |
Semester 4
Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:
62*Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all ED courses.
** Students who are planning to transfer to Temple University should enroll in MATH 151 or MATH 152 and MATH 161. Students who enter the College at the MATH 161 level or higher can complete this program in 62 credits. Students who enter the College at a lower level on the Math placement exam will need to take FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra and thus will need 65 credits to graduate.
*** Directed Electives should be selected in consultation with an advisor based on career goals and requirements of the institution to which the student plans to transfer. Note that many baccalaureate programs in education require two semesters of college level math and two semesters of lab science.
† Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Proficiency Certificate should also complete ED 151 - Health, Safety and Nutrition of Young Children
General Education Requirements:
All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.
For More Information, Contact:
The Division of Liberal Studies, Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or call the College Information Center (215) 751-8010.