Early Childhood Education - Associate Degree
The Early Childhood Education program prepares students to work as teacher-caregivers in early childhood settings. It combines hands-on fieldwork in area centers with related academic work at the college. Graduates become responsible for the care and education of children in the birth-to-eight-years age range. They create and maintain safe and healthy play environments, guide behavior, plan and implement learning activities, and work cooperatively with staff and parents.
Delivery
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Program Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition: $10,283, Books: $394, Supplies: $900
This program is fully eligible for financial aid.
Estimates based on in-state residency. Please visit the following URL to learn more about tuition and fees for this program. https://www.nwtc.edu/admissions-and-aid/paying-for-college/tuition-and-fees?ProgramCode=103071
Requirements for Program Entry
- Apply at www.nwtc.edu/apply.
- Submit the following:
- High school transcript (or GED/HSED transcript).
- College transcript (if applicable).
- If your cumulative GPA is below 2.6, complete or submit a placement evaluation.
- Demonstrated suitability to the early childhood profession as indicated by completion of a functional ability checklist.
- Complete a physical examination report no more than 12 months prior to admission.
- Completed an American Heart Association CPR course prior to program entry to include the AED component for infants, toddlers and adults. Students are required to maintain a current CPR card on a two-year renewal cycle.
- Mastered basic math before entering this program. Basic math covers whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, and measurements.
- To be admitted to this program, learners must achieve a prior cumulative high school or college grade point average of 2.6 or higher OR a satisfactory academic skills assessment score. College grade point average must be based on 15 credits or more. To learn more about starting this program, please contact an academic advisor at (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.
- Complete DCF caregiver background check, including fingerprinting. A fee is charged for this service. Must be completed to be accepted to the program.
- Attend mandatory program orientation. Check your email for invitation to register for orientation.
- Tip! Our admission advisors will assist you through every step. Have questions? Connect with NWTC Admissions at start@nwtc.edu or 920-498-5444.
Program Outcomes
- Apply child development theory to practice.
- Cultivate relationships with children, family, and the community.
- Assess child growth and development.
- Use effective, research-based practices in teaching and learning.
- Demonstrate professionalism.
- Integrate health, safety, and nutrition practices.
Curriculum
Students following the study plan below will complete the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree in the number of semesters shown. Courses can be taken in-person, online, web conference, and blended, as long as prerequisites are met.
First Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Second Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Third Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Fourth Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
- Curriculum Note: Field experience courses include student teaching placement hours which must be completed in person at a local early childhood setting, in addition to course work. NWTC faculty arrange student teaching settings for/with students. Students are required to complete student teaching in each center placement.
- Failure to pass a field experience course on the second attempt, may result in removal from the program. See Program Handbook.
- If a student is considering pursuing a 4-year degree, Intermediate Algebra w/Apps, 10-804-118, should be taken in place of Principles of Sustainability, 10-806-112.
- The credit for 10-890-101, College 101, is an Institutional Requirement for graduation. Consequently, it is not part of the program credit requirements, but must be passed with a "C" or better. This course must be taken in the first semester.
- Students must earn a grade of a "C" or higher in all 10-307-XXX courses to successfully graduate the Early Childhood Associate Degree Program. If a grade earned is "D" or "F", the course must be retaken to earn the grade of "C" or better to continue in and graduate from this program. If the course is sequential, the successful retake must occur before continuing the sequence.
Course Descriptions
Students gain skills that lead to success in college, employment, and life. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course examines the topics of health, safety, and nutrition within the context of the early childhood educational setting for children from birth through 8 years of age. This course includes training for Abusive Head Trauma, SIDS, and Mandated Reporter certifications.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course examines child development within the context of the early childhood education setting. This course focuses on children ages 3-8 years of age.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit introductory field experience course, introduces the foundations of early childhood education under guided supervision of a mentor teacher in an early childhood setting, working with children birth through age 8. This course meets the requirements for the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards 18-hour training. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program or Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Technical Diploma; 10-307-167 ECE: Health Safety & Nutrition and 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development; Corequisite: 10-890-101 College 101)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringLearners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: High school GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 18; OR Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 260; OR "preparatory course(s)", contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of social studies, art, music, & movement (SSAMM) for children from birth to 8 years of age.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course explores infant and toddler development as it applies to an early childhood education setting. This course focuses on children's development from conception through thirty-six months (3 years). This course includes training for Wisconsin Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care certification.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course focuses on the child with differing abilities in an inclusive early childhood education setting while examining strategies for cultivating partnerships with families and community supports for children from birth to 8 years of age.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course examines positive strategies to guide children's behavior in the early childhood education setting for children from birth to 8 years of age. This course meets the requirements of the Wisconsin Pyramid Model training.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit intermediate field experience course includes assisting the mentor teacher in carrying out classroom routines and implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote child development and learning through play for children birth to age 8. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program or Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Technical Diploma; 10-307-160 ECE: Field Experience 1 or 10-307-174 ECE: Introductory Practicum and 10-307-151 ECE: Infant Toddler Development; Corequisite: 10-890-101 College 101)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringThis course focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English score greater/equal to 16; OR preparatory course-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course introduces the early childhood profession through a historical overview of the field. The course will explore program trends, quality indicators, and developmentally appropriate practices for children birth to 8 years of age.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in children birth to age 8. (Prerequisites: 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music and 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course will examine the role of relationships with family and community in early childhood education for children from birth to 8 years of age. In this course, students will complete the Strengthening Families Training.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit advanced field experience course focuses on supporting young children's development birth to age 8 through observation, assessment, and implementation of developmentally appropriate teaching strategies. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program, 10-307-170 ECE: Field Experience 2, and 10-307-187 ECE: Children w Differing Abilities)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringThe nature and variety of groups; inequality, race and ethnicity; family, population, social integration, and change; collective behavior; politics, economics, religion, education, and the effects of technology. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course explores strategies to encourage the development of early language and literacy knowledge and skill building in children birth to 8 years of age. (Prerequisite: 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music and 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis course introduces the study of diversity from a local to a global perspective using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that encourages exploration and prepares students to work in a diverse environment. The course introduces basic diversity concepts, examines the impact of bias and power differentials among groups, explores the use of culturally responsive communication strategies, and compares forces that shape diversity in an international context. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringPrepares the student to develop sustainable literacy, analyze the interconnections among the physical and biological sciences and environmental systems, summarize the effects of sustainability on health and well-being, analyze connections among social, economic, and environmental systems, employ energy conservation strategies to reduce the use of fossil fuels, investigate alternative energy options, evaluate options to current waste disposal and recycling in the U.S., and analyze approaches used by your community to promote and implement sustainability. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 15; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis final 3-credit pre-professional field experience course focuses on demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of children birth to age 8, and families. An emphasis is on practicing the lead teacher role to design, implement and evaluate a connected unit of learning experiences. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program, 10-307-148 Foundations of ECE, 10-307-112 ECE: STEM, 10-307-195 ECE: Family & Community Relationships, 10-307-190 ECE: Field Experience 3, and 10-307-108 ECE: Early Language & Literacy)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringDevelopmental Psychology is the study of human development throughout the lifespan. This course explores developmental theory and research with an emphasis on the interactive nature of the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that affect the individual from conception to death. Application activities and critical thinking skills will enable students to gain an increased knowledge and understanding of themselves and others. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a "B" or better).
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall Spring