Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses are concerned with the growth and development of the young child, including physical, cognitive, emotional and social areas of development. The ECE program emphasizes a developmentally appropriate curriculum and positive guidance techniques for teachers and parents. The ECE degree programs prepare individuals to work with young children (birth through age eight) as employees in child care centers, family child care homes, cooperative and private nursery schools or preschools, Head Start centers, Early Childhood Education Assistance Programs (ECEAP), and in programs for children with special needs.

The Early Childhood Education program offers two associate degree programs. The Associate in Early Childhood Education is designed to get you a job in an early childhood setting. The Associate in Applied Science-Transfer Degree (AAS-T) in Early Childhood Education is designed to get you a job in an early childhood setting and prepares students for a seamless transition into the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teaching (BAS-T) program. It also offers some limited transfer options to continue on to a bachelor’s degree at other universities.

Professional/technical program competencies can be found at www.pierce.ctc.edu/dept/ece/outcomes