Early Care and Education – Associate Degree
About the Program
Gain a basic understanding of the needs of young children and the methods necessary to implement quality preschool programming. Learn growth and development principles, teaching methods, safety and first aid, discipline techniques, developmentally appropriate curriculum methods, exceptionality and early intervention techniques for promoting effective family-program partnerships, and principles of ethics and leadership in early care and education. Work as a teacher in an early childhood development center or teacher’s aide in a public school, or start your own child development center.
Degrees Available
Special Requirements
To be accepted into this program students must have a satisfactory police or government record check to indicate no prior child abuse or neglect record.
Technology Requirement:
This program requires the use of a laptop computer.
Students may purchase one from the OCtech Bookstore or provide their own device. A laptop may be purchased using financial aid or scholarship funds. Students are also encouraged to purchase a support package, extended warranties and/or accidental coverage for their device.
If you have your own laptop, it must
• have a USB port
• be capable of adding a second browser, such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox
• be capable of downloading a free Office 365 license provided by OCtech
• be capable of playing and recording audio and video
Transfer Options
OCtech has an approved articulation agreement for this program with Columbia College.
Career Outlook
Explore early education careers at CareerOneStop.
Accreditation
The OCtech Early Care and Education program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
To review accreditation status, please visit the OCtech Program Accreditation/Approval page.
Important program information: Outcome Measures: Early Childhood
Program Coordinator
Barbara (Babs) Hughes
hughesba@octech.edu
803.535-1423
Download Fact Sheet