Early Childhood Educator (ECAS1)

Award: Associate in applied science degree

Program location: Learning Community of North Omaha

This degree prepares students for employment as an Early Childhood Educator or director in a variety of early childhood education settings in the state of Nebraska. Learning opportunities are centered on methodologies and current research in the field of Early Childhood. The courses provide a variety of field experiences to help the student be prepared for teaching in the Early Childhood field. Practicum courses include requirements for working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-agers, in addition to the student’s age choice for the final student teach practicum. 

 
Individuals who are considering going into the field of early childhood education should be aware that checks with the adult and child abuse registries are conducted before students can enter the program and participate in required field experiences that are required in each of the ECED courses. A criminal background investigation and checks of the child abuse/neglect, adult protective services and state patrol sex offender registries will be required of each student in the Early Childhood Education program. Based on the result of the criminal background and registry checks, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain laboratory/practicum experiences, or completing the program. A nonrefundable fee of approximately $40 will be assessed to the student’s MCC student account for the criminal background and registry checks.

All courses in the Early Childhood Education program require field and/or clinical experience hours within early childhood education settings except for ECED 1220, ECED 1221, ECED 1222, ECED 1240, ECED 1241, and ECED 2090 or ECED 2091.

Graduation Requirements

General education	31.5
Major requirements	75.0
Total credit hours required	106.5

General education requirements (31.5 credit hrs.)

Communications

	English level I	4.5
	English level II	4.5

See Communications course options

Social sciences

PSYC 1120	Human Growth and DevelopmentONLINE	4.5
	Social sciences	4.5

See Social sciences course options

Quantitative/numeracy skills

Select one course from the following:

FINA 1000	Financial LiteracyONLINE	4.5
MATH 1220	Business MathematicsONLINE	4.5
MATH 1315	College AlgebraONLINE	4.5

Students planning to transfer to a four-year program should select MATH 1315.

Professionalism and Life Skills

INFO 1001	Information Systems and LiteracyONLINEHYBRID	4.5
HMRL 1010	Human Relations SkillsONLINEHYBRID	4.5
	OR
RDLS 1200	College and Career StrategiesONLINE	4.5

HMRL 1010 is recommended.

Major requirements for Early Childhood Educator (75.0 credit hrs.)

ECED 1050	Expressive ArtsONLINE	4.5
ECED 1060	Observation, Assessment, and Guidance	4.5
ECED 1110	Infant and Toddler DevelopmentONLINE	4.5
ECED 1120	Preschool Child DevelopmentONLINE	4.5
ECED 1150	Introduction to Early Childhood EducationONLINE	4.5
ECED 1160	Early Language and LiteracyONLINE	4.5
ECED 1220	Prepracticum	1.5
ECED 1221	Infant Practicum	1.5
ECED 1222	Toddler Practicum	1.5
ECED 1230	School-Age Child Development and ProgrammingONLINE	3.0
ECED 1240	Preschool-Age Practicum	1.5
ECED 1241	School-Age Practicum	1.5
ECED 1260	Children's Health and NutritionONLINE	4.5
ECED 2050	Children with ExceptionalitiesONLINE	4.5
ECED 2060	Early Childhood Education Curriculum Planning	4.5
ECED 2061	Child Guidance Techniques	4.5
ECED 2070	Family and Community RelationshipsONLINE	4.5
ECED 2090	Early Childhood Student Teaching Practicum	6.0
	OR
ECED 2091	Early Childhood Administrative Practicum	6.0
ECED 2095	Current Topics in Early Childhood EducationONLINE	4.5
ECED 2450	Administration of Early Childhood Education ProgramsONLINE	4.5

ECED 1221, ECED 1222, ECED 1240, ECED 1241, ECED 2090 or ECED 2091: Students enrolling in practicums must complete an application and include all required documents. A separate application must be completed for each practicum. For more information visit the Early Childhood practicum website at mccneb.edu/Academic-Programs/Programs-of-Study/Social-Sciences/Early-Childhood-Education/Early-Childhood-Practicum.aspx. 

Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution need to select from the general education transfer course options and see and maintain regular contact with an ECED faculty advisor.

This program is accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the program is required to meet high standards in the preparation of early childhood educators.

See Curriculum Plan