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Early Childhood Education A.A. Degree - Local GE

This program provides a comprehensive foundation for in-depth early childhood teacher preparation both through strong general education and principles and practices in child development and in early childhood curriculum and pedagogy. Topics include an introduction to the profession, observation techniques, age-appropriate curriculum, the child in the context of family and culture, and health and safety practices for early childhood educators.

Total Units:

64-65

First Year

Semester 1

16 Units

Course	Units	Pre-Reqs^	Semesters Offered*	GE Area
ECE 300 Introduction to Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education	3		F(O), S(O)
ECE 312 Child Development	3	Eligibility for ENGL C1000	F(O), S(O), Su(O)	CRC Area L4
ECE 314 The Child, the Family and the Community	3		F(O), S(O), Su(O)
Local Area 1A-English Composition ¹	3	Recommend meeting with a counselor	F, S, Su	CRC Area L1A
Local Area s-Math Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning ²	3	Recommend meeting with a counselor	F, S, Su	CRC Area L2
Local Area 7A-Living Skills (PE)	1		F, S, Su	CRC Area L7A

¹Suggestion-ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and Writing (3 units); Advisory LIBR 318 with a grade of "C" or better; Concurrent enrollment in ENGLB 55; to meet the requirement for Certificates in ECE-Teacher & ECE-Master Teacher.

² Suggestion-MATH 300 Intro to Math Ideas (3 units); Pre-req: MATH 120; F, S, Su; to meet the requirements for Certificate in ECE-Teacher & ECE-Master Teacher.

Semester Sequence: Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in ECE 300 (Introduction to ECE) and ECE 312 (Child Development) during their first semester. ECE 312 serves as a prerequisite for ECE 326 (ECE Field Experience), while both ECE 300 and ECE 312 are required before taking ECE 320 (Curriculum and Interactions in ECE). Additionally, ECE 320 must be taken concurrently with ECE 326 as a co-requisite.

Semester 2

15 Units

Course	Units	Pre-Reqs^	Semesters Offered*	GE Area
ECE 404 Children with Special Needs	3	ECE 312	F, S
ECE 430 Culture and Diversity in Early Childhood Education	3		F(O), S
3 units from List A	3	See List A	See List A
3 units from List B	3	See List B	See List B
Local Area 1B-Oral Communication & Critical Thinking	3		F, S, Su	CRC Area L1B

Year 2

Semester 3

16 Units

Course	Units	Pre-Reqs^	Semesters Offered*	GE Area
ECE 320 ¹ Curriculum and Interactions in Early Childhood Education	4	ECE 300 & 312; Co-req: EE 326, TB clearance & proof of immunization	F, S
ECE 326 Making Learning Visible Through Observation and Documentation	3	ECE 312	F, S
3 units from List A	3	See List A	See List A
Local Area 3-Arts & Humanities	3		F, S, Su	CRC Area L3
Local Area 6-Ethnic Studies	3		F, S, Su	CRC Area L6

¹ 102-108 in-person lab hours at qualifying site

Semester 4

17-18 Units

Course	Units	Pre-Reqs^	Semesters Offered*	GE Area
ECE 321 ¹ Advanced Practicum in Early Childhood Education	4	ECE 300, 312, 320, & 326; TB clearance & proof of immunization	F, S
ECE 415 Children's Health, Safety and Nutrition	3		F, S
ECE 424 Adult Supervision: Mentoring in a Collaborative Learning Setting	2	ECE 420	F, S
3 units from List A	3	See List A	See List A
Local Area 5-Natural Sciences 1	3		F, S, Su	CRC Area L5
Local Area 7B-Living Skills	2-3		F, S, Su	CRC Area L7B

¹ 102-108 in-person lab hours at qualifying site

^You must have passed the prerequisite course(s) with a “C” or better; Corequisite must be taken during the same semester; Advisory means it is recommended but not required to enroll in the course.

*(O) = online available (P) = partially online

List A-a minimum of 9 units from the following:

Course	Units	Pre-Reqs^	Semesters Offered*
ECE 322 Promoting Children's Social Competence	3		F, S
ECE 342 Constructive Math and Science in Early Childhood Education	3	Advisory ECE 312	F, Alternating S
ECE 343 Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood	3	Advisory ECE 312	F(O), S
ECE 365 ¹ Creative Projects and Experiences for Young Children	3		Check Class Schedule
ECE 307 ² Introduction to Bilingual Education	3		F
ECE 361 Introducing Young Children to Visual Arts	3		F, Alternating S

¹ Required for the Certificate in ECE-School Age Child Care & Education.

²At least 10 tutoring sessions of an emergent ELL

List B-a minimum of 3 units from the following:

Course	Units	Pre-Reqs^	Semesters Offered*
ECE 330 Infant and Toddler Development	3		F, S(O)
ECE 331 Care and Education of Infants and Toddlers	3	ECE 312 or 330	F(O), S
ECE 356 Programs for the School-Age Child	3	Advisory ECE 312	Check Class Schedule
ECE 402 Infants with Atypical Development	3	ECE 312	Check Class Schedule

Career Options/Outlook:

Preschool Teachers instruct preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, daycare centers, or other child development facilities.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree prepares graduates for careers in early learning and child development, meeting the growing demand for qualified educators.

Students aiming to teach Preschool through 3rd grade in public elementary schools can use this degree as a pathway to the PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Teaching Credential, as it includes required ECE coursework.

Enrollment in ECE 320 and ECE 321 provides up to 200 field experience hours, contributing toward the 600 hours needed for the preschool portion of the PK-3 ECE Specialist Credential and fulfilling 50 days in the California Child Development Permit Matrix.

A sample of reported job titles:

Head Start/Early Head Start Teacher

California State Preschool Teacher

Preschool Lead Teacher

Infant/Toddler Caregiver

Montessori Preschool Teacher

Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Teacher

Assistant Teacher/Instructional Aide

Family Child Care Provider/Owner

Before & After School Program Staff

This degree prepares students for continued education paths leading to:

Elementary School Teacher

Program Director in early childhood settings.

Child Development Specialist supporting children with diverse needs.

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

Child and Family Advocate working with community organizations.

Projected job openings in California (2020-2030):

95,900

Projected growth in California (2020-2030):

22% growth

Median Salary in California with advanced degree (2021):

$54,290 annual (site supervisor)

Source:

https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-2011.00

Transfer notes:

Please meet with a counselor for specific transfer course evaluation or transferring to a specific 4-year institution.

If you are interested in transferring to a four-year college or university to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in this major, it is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for your major. Schools vary widely in terms of the required preparation. The courses that CRC requires for an Associate’s degree in this major may be different from the requirements needed for the Bachelor’s degree.

General Education (GE):

Non-specified GE courses identified by CRC or Cal-GETC Area without pre- or co-requisites can be taken at any semester.

This program will meets the requirements for

the Certificate of Achievement in ECE - Master Teacher, ECE - School Age Child Care & Education with the selection of ECE 356, and the Certificate of Proficiency in ECE - Associate Teacher.

Honors option:

The CRC Honors Program is designed specifically for academically accomplished students and for students with the potential for high achievement. Students who complete 15 units or more in honors-designated courses will earn special recognition as an Honors Scholar, a distinction that may entitle the student to guaranteed transfer and scholarship opportunities at select transfer colleges and universities.

About this program map:

This program map represents one possible pathway to complete the program. Please see a counselor to create an education plan customized to meet your needs. This map is not a guarantee of course

availability or financial aid applicability.

Zero Textbook Costs (ZTC):

The Zero Textbook Costs designation and logo are added to any course that provides free access to all required instructional materials. These are typically shared with students through Canvas. Courses that are designated as ZTC may still require students to purchase supplemental materials such as lab coats, a calculator, art supplies, etc. See full definitions and searching tips on the Zero Textbook Costs page of the college website.

Catalog Year: 2025-2026

Published May 15, 2025

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