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Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education

This program is designed for students who are interested in working with young children in developmentally appropriate programs in the broad field of Early Childhood Education. You can take courses towards initial EEC qualifications or work towards a degree with personalized coaching and support from our experienced faculty. 

Students who graduate from the Early Childhood Education Associates Degree program build background knowledge in child development, curriculum & instruction, assessment, building and sustaining family, and community partnerships. Student also learn about inclusive practices and instruction while developing professionalism and refining teacher dispositions.  In addition to Early Childhood courses, you will take courses to support you in developing as a student and professional in all content areas with a strong foundation in liberal arts. The degree program includes two supervised 150-hour practicums in an Early Childhood community setting supporting initial EEC credentialing.

RCC’s Early Childhood Education Department is centrally located, easy to access, and offers courses through both online and in-person instruction.
 

Early education professional teaching young children

 

Course Requirements

Semester One - Fall 2022 Credits
ACS102 The College Experience 3.00
ECE101 Child Growth & Dev 3.00
ENG101 English Comp. I 3.00
MAT100+ MAT 100 or higher 3.00
SCIELEC SCI103, SCI106 or SCI151 4.00
SSI122 General Psychology 3.00
Semester Two - Spring 2023 Credits
ECE102 Obs/Recording Chldhd Beh 3.00
ECE106 Guidance and Discipline 3.00
ECE202 History and Theory 3.00
ENG102 English Comp. II 3.00
HUMELECT Humanities Electives 3.00
Semester Three - Fall 2023
ECE204 Child Health Care 3.00
ECE206 ECE Curriculum I 3.00
ECE298 ECE Internship I 3.00
ECEELECT ECE Electives 3.00
HUMELECT Humanities Electives 3.00
Semester Four - Spring 2024
ECE203 Special Needs in Chld Ed 3.00
ECE207 ECE Curriculum II 3.00
ECE299 ECE Internship II 3.00
ECEELECT ECE Electives 3.00
SSIELECT Social Science Electives 3.00

Upon completion of the program, students are qualified to work in EEC licensed childcare settings or transfer to a four-year school for further study. Graduates can become teachers of young children in childcare centers, nursery schools, and Head Start programs. Many students prepare for careers in Child Care, public school, work for and with nonprofits and community organizations and Early Intervention. Graduates can transfer to continue their studies at a public or private four-year school. The program meets the requirements of the Department of Early Education and Care for teacher certification. For more information, please contact the Early Childhood Education Department. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Most careers in the education and human services field REQUIRE a Background Record Check (BRC) https://www.mass.gov/eec-background-record-checks. At RCC you will be required to complete a BRC to complete internship 1 & 2 and pay for fingerprinting separately.

MassTransfer - Through the MassTransfer program, your early childhood education degree from RCC transfers as two years of completed work towards at Bachelor's degree at most state colleges and universities.  Review the A2B pathways on the MassTransfer website

RCC also has articluation agreements with private universities that allow for seamless transfer to a four-year school upon completion of your early childhood education degree at RCC:

Early Childhood Education
First Name Last Name Title Department Phone Email Room
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Jennifer
Kearns-Fox Full Time Early Childhood Education Faculty Early Childhood Education jkearnsfox@rcc.mass.edu 3-318
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Darlene
Thorpe Administrative Assistant II Early Childhood Education 857-701-1492 dthorpe@rcc.mass.edu
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Donna
Woodson Adjunct Faculty Early Childhood Education 617-427-0060 x5241 dwoodson@rcc.mass.edu
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Michelle
Howard-Harrell Professor Early Childhood Education 857-701-1467 mharre@rcc.mass.edu 3-324
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Valerie
Saucer Adjunct Faculty Early Childhood Education 617-427-0060 x5222 vsaucer@rcc.mass.edu
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