A.S. Early Childhood Education

The Associate in Science degree in Early Childhood Education has been designed to provide a solid, thorough understanding of the young child. Each component of the program supports the next course to create a broad perspective on normal and abnormal child and family development patterns. Learners develop skills to guide children in their early education. This degree prepares students for a smooth transition to the B.S in Early Childhood Education degree.

*General Education Courses*		*28 credits*
Core
*CRIT 500	Critical Thinking	4 cr
*ENG 500	The Writing Process	4 cr
*MATH	MATH 502, 504, 505, or 506	4 cr
CMPL 511	Software Tools	4 cr
Arts and Culture OR Literature and Ideas		4 cr
History and Politics OR Social Science		4 cr
Science		4 cr
Concentration: Early Childhood Education		28 cr (minimum)
Electives		Variable
Total		64 cr (minimum)

*These three courses must be successfully completed with the first 24 credit hours you take at the college. Placement will be required for CRIT 500, ENG 500 and Math courses.

Required Courses in the Concentration
EDU 550	Foundations of Early Childhood Education
EDU 551	Learning and Early Childhood Environments**
EDU 553	Creative Arts in Early Childhood Education**
EDU 555	Language and Literacy Development**
EDU 600	Mathematics and Science in Early Childhood Education**
PSY 508	Child Development (may be used as a social science gen ed)
One Early Childhood Education-related elective

Transfer courses may be used to meet these requirements.

Graduates completing an associate degree in Early Childhood Education are qualified for the Early Childhood Credential through the Child Development Bureau, Division of Children, Youth and Families, Department of Health and Human Services. This degree does not lead to public school teacher certification through the N.H. Department of Education.

**Note: These courses have prerequisites.

Portfolio Requirement for Early Childhood Education Majors
Each student enrolled in an Early Childhood Education program at GSC is required to prepare a portfolio as part of the graduation requirement.

Academics

A.S. Early Childhood Education