Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education, A.A.T.
The Associate of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education degree is designed for those students preparing to transfer to a four-year institution in Maryland to obtain a baccalaureate degree and earn state teacher certification in early childhood education (birth to grade 3). The program has been articulated with all of the transfer programs in elementary education in the state of Maryland and makes degree holders eligible to transfer to the four-year institution with full junior status. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a total of 45 hours of field experience in a variety of educational settings.
Program Requirements:
- Maintain a minimum grade of "C" or better in all program requirement courses
- Obtain a minimum 2.75 GPA
- Submit a professional portfolio that meets the standards of the Education faculty
- Earn a passing score on a basic skills test of high school level reading, writing, and math (PRAXIS I, SAT, ACT, or GRE), or a 3.0 GPA
- View the Early Childhood Education Fact Sheet for faculty contact information and additional program information.
Program Pathway
First Year Fall
| ENG-101 | English Composition | 3 credits |
| MAT-107 | Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics I | 3 credits |
| PSY-101 | General Psychology | 3 credits |
| BIO-106 | Unity and Diversity of Living Things | 4 credits |
| EDU-103 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
First Year Spring
| EDU-211 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 credits |
| MAT-108 | Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics II | 3 credits |
| PHS-104 | General Physical Science With Laboratory | 4 credits |
-
| | |
| HIS-201 | United States History to 1877 | 3 credits |
-
| Or | |
| HIS-202 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 credits |
-
| | |
| EDU-114 | The Developing Child | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Second Year Fall
| HUM-201 | The Arts: A Creative Synthesis | 3 credits |
| MAT-160 | Precalculus I | 3 credits |
| PSY-203 | Educational Psychology | 3 credits |
| EDU-115 | Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education | 3 credits |
| EDU-212 | Processes and Acquisition of Reading | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Second Year Spring
| GEO-105 | World Regional Geography | 3 credits |
| PHS-111 | Earth Science | 4 credits |
| MAT-116 | Statistical Reasoning | 3 credits |
| EDU-240 | Education Capstone Field Experience | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
General Education Requirements (29 Credits)
Arts/Humanities
| HUM-201 | The Arts: A Creative Synthesis | 3 credits |
Behavioral/Social Sciences
| HIS-201 | United States History to 1877 | 3 credits |
-
| Or | |
| HIS-202 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 credits |
-
| | |
| PSY-101 | General Psychology | 3 credits |
Biological/Physical Science
| BIO-106 | Unity and Diversity of Living Things | 4 credits |
| PHS-104 | General Physical Science With Laboratory | 4 credits |
Diversity
| GEO-105 | World Regional Geography | 3 credits |
English
*A minimum grade of "C" or better is required for ENG-101, ENG-101E, ENG-101EP, and ENG-101P
| ENG-101 | English Composition | 3 credits |
Mathematics
Program Requirements (31 Credits)
Requirements List
*A minimum grade of "C" or better is required for all program requirement courses
| EDU-103 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 credits |
| EDU-114 | The Developing Child | 3 credits |
| EDU-115 | Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education | 3 credits |
| EDU-211 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 credits |
| EDU-212 | Processes and Acquisition of Reading | 3 credits |
| EDU-240 | Education Capstone Field Experience | 3 credits |
| MAT-107 | Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics I | 3 credits |
| MAT-108 | Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics II | 3 credits |
| PHS-111 | Earth Science | 4 credits |
| PSY-203 | Educational Psychology | 3 credits |
Degree Requirement (60 Credits)
Note:
Students who have been convicted of child abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, or crimes of violence are precluded from employment in the field of teaching. Please discuss concerns with your advisor.
*The Introduction to Special Education course required by Hagerstown Community College is a necessary requirement of the College's A.A.T. Degree in Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education, but is not sufficient to meet all special education or inclusion course requirements for four-year teacher education programs. Students may be required to take additional special education or inclusion courses as a part of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and teacher education certification at four-year institutions.