Early Childhood Education Transfer

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Associate in Science

Bedford Campus and Lowell Campus - Day and Evening

Program Description:

The Early Childhood Education Transfer Associate in Science degree program is designed to prepare a student to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program leading to teacher licensure. Students work with an academic advisor to create an individualized program in anticipation of selecting a major at the transfer institution. Supervised Student Teaching Seminar Practicum and/or Service-Learning placements in area schools provide practical experiences for future teachers, and support and enhance the teacher-preparation curriculum. Students will choose selected courses of 12 credits in Education courses that are included in the transfer.

Career and Transfer Outlook:

This program is best suited for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career teaching Pre-K through second grade. The program meets the Early Childhood Education Transfer Compact agreement.

Helpful Hints:

Future teachers are encouraged to gain practical classroom experience and enhance their resume by completing Service-Learning placements every semester in K-2 school settings. Careful planning with an academic advisor will ensure that career goals and the state requirements for teacher licensure are met. It is suggested that students be familiar with the Early Childhood bachelor’s degree articulation agreements they seek to pursue.

Special Requirements for Early Childhood and Elementary Education Students

Liberal Arts & Sciences Courses:
In addition to meeting their early childhood or elementary education degree and core content knowledge area course requirements, students will be required to select a second major in Liberal Arts & Sciences. To prepare them for upper-level coursework in their major after transfer, students should complete 9 to 15 credits in the Liberal Arts & Sciences area of their choice at MCC. Additional coursework may be required based on college placement testing. Students are urged to meet with their academic advisor for proper course sequencing.

Rationale for Recommendations:
To be licensed as a public early childhood or elementary education school teacher in Massachusetts, the State Department of Education requires that students complete courses in several core content knowledge areas. Competency in all the areas must be demonstrated on the General Curriculum Test of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Students are encouraged to complete courses in these areas prior to transfer. The Middlesex courses listed on the Early Childhood Education Transfer and Elementary Education Transfer program pages meet the core content knowledge area requirements.

**4-credit Lab Science requirements can be met by either taking SCI 121 Integrated Science I or a Physical Science course (see below) and SCI 122 Integrated Science II or a Biological Science course (see below):

Physical Science (choose one):

GEO 121 Physical Geology
GEO 122 Historical Geology
CHE 121 Introduction to Chemistry
CHE 131 General Chemistry I
PHY 151 Physics I
PHY 171 Physics for Engineering & Science I

Biological Science (choose one):

BIO 120 Introduction to Biology
BIO 131 General Biology I
BIO 132 General Biology II
BIO 140 Botany
BIO 145 Zoology

***Recommended General Education and Free electives:
Humanities Electives: ART 101, ART 105, MUS 101, MUS 102, PHL 101

Math Electives: MAT 180, MAT 185, MAT 189, MAT 190, MAT 177, MAT 270, MAT 271, MAT 250, MAT 290, MAT 291

Science Electives: any 3- or 4-credit Science course
Social Science Electives: ECO 140, ECO 150, HST 124, GOV 110, GOV 120 (Note: If not selected as History/ Social Science requirements, students may also select HST 130, HST 131.) or other courses as recommended by the student’s academic advisor to prepare the student for a Liberal Arts & Sciences major after transfer. (Note: Students are required to complete a minimum of 9 to 15 credits in a Liberal Arts & Sciences area before transfer.)

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Early Childhood Education Transfer Program are prepared to:

Describe the needs and characteristics of young children;
Explain the influences on development and learning;
Create effective learning environments;
Analyze observation and assessment data to enhance learning;
Design, implement and evaluate curriculum;
Understand the social, economic and cultural issues facing schools and families;
Identify and use professional and educational resources.

Required Courses

EDU 101 - Curriculum in Early Childhood Programs 3
EDU 104 - Young Children with Special Needs 3 or
PSY 123 - Developmental Disabilities 3
EDU 150 - Discover Teaching 3 or
EDU 153 - Planning Programs and Environments for Children 3
EDU 251 - Supervised Field Placement and Seminar I 6
ENG 101 - English Composition I 3
ENG 102 - English Composition II: An Introduction to Literature 3
Humanities Elective 3
ENG 113 - Classics of Children’s Literature 3
ART 101 - Art Appreciation 3
GGY 120 - World Geography 3
HST 121 - United States History Before 1865 3
MAT 130 - Elements of Mathematics I 3
MAT 131 - Elements of Mathematics II 3
SCI 121 - Integrated Science I 4
SCI 122 - Integrated Science II 4
PSY 122 - Child Growth and Development 3
SOC 118 - Multicultural Communications 3
Electives or Approved EDU Electives** 3
Electives or Approved EDU Electives** 3

Total Credits: 62

*Must be MAT 100 or above

**Recommended Electives: HST 130, HST 131, GOV 120, ECO 101, EDU 151. If math, must be MAT 100 or above

Note: In order for a student to be eligible to participate in an academic, community or clinical program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, the student may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. See Admission for details.

Note: It is essential for students to work closely with their academic advisor for proper course sequencing and course selection. Additional coursework may be required based on college placement testing. The following courses will not satisfy any requirements for graduation: MAT 060, MAT 065, MAT 070, MAT 075, MAT 077 and MAT 080.