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.
The Early Care and Education degree has two options: Arts and Science concentration and Business concentration.
Degrees Available
Special Requirements
Students must:
• Complete a physical exam and have hepatitis vaccines.
• 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.
FAQs & Additional Information
The Arts/Science Concentration is designed for those students who plan to teach at a HeadStart program, want to be a paraprofessional in a public school, or want to work in a child care facility.
The Business Concentration is designed for those students who plan to pursue an occupation in early childhood or start their own child development center as a business.
Important program information: Outcome Measures: Early Childhood
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