Degree: Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences
The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares students to teach in preschools, child care centers or child care homes; to serve as nannies in private homes; or to relate with parents and young children in other settings. Emphasis on special education also prepares the student for employment as a paraprofessional in special education preschool classrooms. Selection of sociology or psychology coursework for the elective courses can further prepare students for employment in other family- and child-related professions.
Required Program Courses: 22 hours (grade of C or better required):
Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Teaching/Learning Strategies in ECE, Infants and Toddlers, Early Childhood Environments, Child Health Care, Field Experience, sociology course.
General Education Note: take General Psychology or Developmental Psychology to meet the psychology requirement. Sociology Course Note: options include Social Diversity, Cultural Anthropology and Sociology of Families.
First Year Fall Program courses
Introduction to Early Childhood Education
Recommended courses
First-Year Seminar
Personal Finance or Intermediate Algebra or higher math course (may be met with ACT Score of 20 or higher, SAT score of 950 or higher or ASSET numerical raw score of 23 or higher)
computer course or competency exam
Fitness Concepts
General Psychology or Developmental Psychology
College Writing I
electives
Spring Program courses
Teaching/Learning Strategies in ECE
Infants and Toddlers or Child Health Care
Recommended courses
Biblical Literature
Speech Communication or Interpersonal Communication
humanities course
Second Year Fall Program courses
Early Childhood Environments
Sociology of Families, Social Diversity or Conflict Resolution
Recommended courses
science course with lab
electives
Spring Program courses
Field Experience (in Early Childhood Education)
Infants and Toddlers or Child Health Care
Recommended courses
second Hesston College distinctive
electives
Recommendations for pursuing teacher licensure: Introduction to Education, Diverse Learners
Recommendations for Early Childhood and Family Studies: Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Social Welfare, Cultural Anthropology, Religions of the World (for second Hesston College distinctive).