This program provides students with a background in general education and specific skills necessary to work effectively with young children. The curriculum is designed to prepare students, through class and laboratory experience, to become a teacher (head of group) or assistant in preschool/day care/nursery school settings. 

Upon successful completion of a NYSED exam, graduates may become teacher assistants in a public school. This degree, with experience and further coursework, qualifies graduates to become the director of a child care center.

The College conducts an on-campus Laboratory Nursery School where students can gain practical teaching experience under professional supervision. Students also participate in various day care centers, pre-schools and kindergartens in the community.

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is awarded upon completion of the requirements for this program. 

Upon completion of the ECH program, students will be able to display knowledge and appropriate applications in the following areas:

• Promote child development and learning by creating a learning environment that addresses the developmental characteristics and needs of young children;

• Build family and community relationships by demonstrating the learners’ understanding of the impact on children’s development and learning of families and the communities in which they live;

• Observe, document and assess to support young children and their families by using systematic observations, documentation and other strategies to develop age-appropriate curricula and strategies to positively impact children’s development and learning and communicate with families and other professionals; 

• Actuate the teaching and learning process by integrating the knowledge of developmentally effective approaches to design, implement and evaluate learning experiences for young children in a variety of curricular areas; 

• Become a professional by illustrating an understanding of the ethical implications and consequences of decisions regarding policies and practices in early childhood.

Courses should be selected in consultation with an advisor.

First Semester

Course No.	Descriptive Title	Credit Hours
ENG 101	Composition I	3
PSY 111	Introduction to Psychology	3
ECH 101	Introduction to Early Childhood	3
ECH 102	Introductory Seminar: Programs for Young Children	1
ECH 120	Infant and Toddler Curriculum	3
ECH 121	Infant and Toddler Curriculum Fieldwork (a,b)	1
ECH 111	Curriculum Activities for Young Children	2
TOTAL		16

Second Semester

Course No.	Descriptive Title	Credit Hours
ENG 102	Composition II	3
ECH 107	Preparing to Teach Young Children	2
ECH 108	Early Childhood Practicum I (a,b)	2
PSY 221	Child Development	3
SPE 101, PSY 134, or THE 120		3
MAT 109 or higher		3
TOTAL		16

Third Semester

Course No.	Descriptive Title	Credit Hours
ECH 254	Diverse Early Childhood/Elementary Classrooms	3
ECH 205	Early Childhood Practicum II (a,b)	4
BHS 103	Social Problems in Today's World	3
American History (Appendix D)		3
Free Elective (c)		3-4
TOTAL		16-17

Fourth Semester

Course No.	Descriptive Title	Credit Hours
ECH 206	Early Childhood Practicum III (a, b)	5
ECH 212	Language and Literature in Early Childhood	3
ECH 214	Dev. Appropriate Practice: Observation and Assessment	3
BIO 104	Environmental Biology	4
TOTAL		15
	TOTAL CREDIT HOURS	63-64

NOTE:

a. Transportation to and from fieldwork/observation site(s) is the responsibility of all students in the program, including those in the dorm. If you do not have a car, please be sure that you are able to find alternate means of transportation as placements in on-campus sites are frequently not available.

b. All students are required to submit a completed physical examination form to the Health Office prior to their first day of fieldwork.

c. Read a full discussion of the free elective requirement. The subject area
for Early Childhood includes all courses labeled ECH. Since Early Childhood is a physically demanding profession, WFE 101 is strongly recommended.