Associate of Applied Sciences in Early Childhood Education

The Associate of Applied Sciences in Early Childhood Education is designed to provide a strong general education in the humanities, mathematics, science and other areas with an emphasis on child development and early childhood education. A key component of this program is hands-on field or clinical experiences. Many classes from the two-year associate degree transfer to the four-year early childhood education bachelor’s degree.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education are early childhood educators who can work with, and meet the needs of, families and children from infant-toddlers through primary children in child care settings. They may serve as childcare administrators, head teachers in day care and Head Start programs, family child care providers, and family advocates and parent educators in community service agencies.
They also meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation, which require that paraprofessionals in public schools have a minimum of two years of college. Graduates will be eligible for licensure in the State of Ohio as an Educational Paraprofessional Associate.

Curriculum

Students pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education will complete a minimum of 64 credit hours and approximately 300 field hours.

Sample Program

The following is a typical program for a student completing the Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education. This program includes all required courses for the Associate of Science as well as certain recommended courses that apply to the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.

First year

Intro to Education (2)
Varieties of writing (3)
College math (3)
Computer basics (Optional) (3)
Humanities elective (3)
Environmental biology (3)
Child Development (3)
Foundations of Early Childhood Ed (3)
Psychology (4)
Interpersonal communication (3)
International perspective elective (3)

Second year

Approaches to Pre-K Teaching and Learning (3)
Art for Early Childhood Educators (2)
Music for Early Childhood Educators (2)
Family Systems (3)
Child Wellness (3)
Educational Psychology (3)
Service Learning (1)
Early Literacy (3)
Movement for Early Childhood Educators (2)
Children with Special Needs (3)
Organization and Management of Early Childhood Programs (3)
Curriculum and Methods (3)
Internship (3)

Certification

In order to be recommended for the paraprofessional licensure, the student will meet the following criteria:

1. Earn a C or better in the following courses:
   1. Introduction to Education
   2. Foundations of Early Childhood Education
      
   3. Approaches to Pre-K Teaching and Learning
   4. Interpersonal Communication
2. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher

For Further Information

Debralee Divers
Director
Admissions & Financial Aid
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0683
email: divers@bgsu.edu

Cheryl L. Chafee
Officer
Admissions & Financial Aid
419-433-5560 ext. 2-0683
email: cchafee@bgsu.edu

Linda J. Hamaide
Program Director
AAS Early Childhood
419-433-5560 ext 2-0868
email: dlinda@bgsu.edu

NOTE: Information in this guide is subject to change without notice. To learn more about the official program of study, please check the undergraduate catalog online: http://www.bgsu.edu/catalog - Updated 01/31/07