Education: Early Childhood Education with Prior CDA /EQIT Certifications (AAS)
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Early Childhood Education
Emphasis: Early Childhood Education with Prior CDA/EQIT Certifications
Program Code: 1405
This degree is designed for students who hold a current CDA Preschool, CDA Infant Toddler, and/or EQIT Certification and intend to enter the Early Childhood workforce upon completion of the degree. Copies of all CDA and the EQIT certificates must be provided to the Registrar's Office for the student's permanent record before the student is admitted to the program.
This degree also supports students who intend to continue their education and obtain a Baccalaureate in Applied Science Degree. The program aligns with state requirements for early childhood teacher certification and childcare center director qualifications. This degree includes 15 hours of the Colorado Statewide General Education Core and meets 15 hours of the lower division general education requirements at most public institutions in Colorado.
Important information about this program:
- The student must hold a current CDA Preschool, CDA Infant Toddler, and/or EQIT Certification and provide copies of all certifications to the Registrar's Office prior to enrolling in the program.
- Students must pass a background check.
- Students must possess current First Aid/CPR cards.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit CMU Tech's Programs of Study page.
All CMU/CMU Tech associate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Apply the National Association for the Education of Young Children principles and practices in interactions with young children, families and other professionals. (Applied Learning)
- Utilize STEM concepts to provide young children a foundational knowledge in science and math.(Quantitative Fluency)
- Demonstrate effective written communication skills. (Communication Fluency)
- Demonstrate effective verbal communication skills. (Communication Fluency)
- Analyze interactions and teaching experiences from personal journals and administrative evaluations to improve teaching practices. (Critical Thinking and Specialized Knowledge)
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 60 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
- 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 Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree 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.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 60 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
- 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 Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree 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:
- Students must pass a background check.
- Students must possess current First Aid/CPR cards.
- Students must hold a current CDA Preschool, CDA Infant Toddler, and/or EQIT Certification prior to enrolling in the program.
- Credit granted for CDA/EQIT Certifications only apply to approved EDEC programs.
Essential Learning Requirements
(18-19 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| SPCH 102 | Speechmaking | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 107 | Career Math (or higher) 1 | 3 |
| Other Essential Learning Core Courses | ||
| PSYC 150 | General Psychology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| or PSYC 233 | Human Growth and Development-GTSS3 | |
| Essential Learning Natural Science with/without lab | 3-4 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 18-19 | |
- 1
Math 110 or higher is suggested if the student plans on pursing a four-year degree.
Other Lower Division Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Requirements | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one Activity course | 1 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 2 | |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(40 Hours - Must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher in all coursework in the major content area.)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDEC 103 | Guidance Strategies | 3 |
| EDEC 122 | Ethics in Early Childhood Education | 1 |
| EDEC 125 | Science/Math and the Young Child | 3 |
| EDEC 205 | Nutrition, Health, Safety | 3 |
| EDEC 238 | Early Childhood Development 0-8 Years | 3 |
| EDEC 240 | Curriculum and Development: Early Childhood | 3 |
| EDEC 241 | Early Childhood Administration: Human Relations | 3 |
| EDEC 250 | Exceptionalities in Early Education | 3 |
| EDEC 256 | Working with Parents, Families, and Community Systems | 3 |
| EDEC 264 | Administration in Early Education | 3 |
| EDEC 299 | Student Teaching in Early Education | 3 |
| Other Requirements | ||
| Choose one of the following options: | 9 | |
CDA Infant Toddler plus EDEC 102 | ||
CDA Preschool plus EDEC 113 | ||
CDA Preschool plus EQIT | ||
| Credit granted for CDA/EQIT Certifications only apply to approved EDEC Programs. | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 40 | |
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 degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. 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 altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
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 degree 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 degree requirements:
- 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 on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.