Education: Early Childhood Education Assistant Teacher (Technical Certificate)
Award: Technical Certificate
Program of Study: Early Childhood Education Assistant Teacher
Program Code: 1195
About This Program . . .
The Early Childhood Education program is designed to prepare students to work with young children (birth to age eight) in a variety of settings. This certificate is designed for students wishing to work as lead teachers in a childcare classroom. Students who wish to work in licensed early childhood care and education programs may complete the sequence of courses for Early Childhood Education Assistant Teacher and then continue on to earn an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. The Early Childhood Education Assistant Teacher certificate enables students to meet the educational qualifications established by the Colorado Department of Human Services.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit WCCC's Programs of Study page.
All CMU/WCCC technical certificate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, communication fluency, and critical thinking. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills. (Communication Fluency
- Evaluate current professional resources relating to several different domains of early childhood education. (Critical Thinking)
- Explain the impact of the Colorado Department of Child Care Rules and Regulations on children and families. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Apply the National Association for the Education of Young Children principles and practices in interactions with young children, families and other professionals. (Applied Learning)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Certificate Requirements
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU or WCCC Technical Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
- Consists of 100-200 level courses.
- At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU/WCCC.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/WCCC coursework.
- A grade lower than “C” will not be counted toward meeting the requirements.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed twenty-five percent of the semester credit hours required for a technical certificate.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Specific to this degree:
- 9 semester hours required for the Technical Certificate in Early Childhood Education Assistant Teacher.
Program Specific Certificate Requirements
(9 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| EDEC 101 | Introduction to Early Childhood | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Guidance Strategies | ||
| Infant and Toddler Theory and Practice | ||
| Nutrition, Health, Safety | ||
| Early Childhood Development 0-8 Years | ||
| Curriculum and Development: Early Childhood | ||
| Exceptionalities in Early Education | ||
| Select three credit hours from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Early Childhood Professions Lab Experiences | ||
| Introduction to Infant/Toddler Lab Techniques | ||
| Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education | ||
| Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Techniques | ||
| Early Childhood Administration: Human Relations | ||
| Working with Parents, Families, and Community Systems | ||
| Student Teaching in Early Education | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 9 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| EDEC 101 | Introduction to Early Childhood | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Guidance Strategies | ||
| Infant and Toddler Theory and Practice | ||
| Nutrition, Health, Safety | ||
| Early Childhood Development 0-8 Years | ||
| Curriculum and Development: Early Childhood | ||
| Exceptionalities in Early Education | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select three credit hours from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Early Childhood Professions Lab Experiences | ||
| Introduction to Infant/Toddler Lab Techniques | ||
| Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education | ||
| Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Techniques | ||
| Early Childhood Administration: Human Relations | ||
| Working with Parents, Families, and Community Systems | ||
| Student Teaching in Early Education | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 9 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a certificate. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for her/his intended certificate.
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their certificate requirements (for one-semester certificates, complete in the first week of class):
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.
If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be her/his responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.