Associate in Science

Program Description:

The Early Childhood Education and Transfer Associate in Science degree program provides the educational background and supervised training for students interested in working with young children. With an emphasis on translating theory into practice, students conclude the program in a capstone Supervised Practicum and Seminar. This degree program also prepares students to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program leading to teacher licensure. This program qualifies for MassTransfer, which guarantees credit transfer to Massachusetts state universities and the University of Massachusetts. Academic advisors and transfer counselors work closely with students to plan course selections in accordance with their intended bachelor’s degree major and transfer institution.

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Career and Transfer Outlook:

This program is best suited for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in Pre-K through Second Grade education. Graduates meet the academic requirements for Lead Teacher Certification as currently specified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Many graduates continue their studies toward a bachelor’s degree. Students should check the requirements for transfer with their academic advisor.

Helpful Hints:

• Eligibility or successful completion of English Composition I (ENG101) is a pre-requisite for all program courses.
• Additional coursework may be required based on college placement testing.
• Students are required to meet with academic advisors for proper course sequencing and transferability.

Program Outcomes:

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

• Promote child development and learning: Students prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development knowledge base. They use their understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs and of the multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
• Build family and community relationships: Students prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that successful early childhood education depends on partnerships with children’s families and communities. They know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities. They use this under- standing to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families and to involve all families in their children’s development and learning.
• Observe, document, and assess: Students prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood professionals. They know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They know about and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence the development of every child.
• Use developmentally effective approaches to connect with children and families: Students prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children’s ages,characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. Students know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning.
• Use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum: Students prepared in early childhood degree programs use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every young child. Students understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curricula. They know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Students use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curricula that promote comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child.
• Become a professional: Students prepared in early childhood degree programs identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.