Early Childhood Care and Education
The Early Childhood Care and Education Department’s mission is to prepare students for careers in child care and related fields. Students will receive training in human growth and development and will learn the appropriate practices for teaching young children. Our goal is to prepare students so they can enter any childcare facility, whether center-based or family home-based, or elementary school. Our program’s graduates learn to provide the best possible childcare experience and/or learning environment. Part of our curriculum includes children’s art, music and movement and math and science. If you enjoy being creative and working with children, come join the Early Childhood Care and Education program at MGTC. We offer day and night courses as well as some online courses.
Job Outlook:
Individuals pursuing careers in Early Childhood Care and Education can enter careers in local school systems of other child-care facilities. Many graduates pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and start their own childcare business. Entry-level salaries in the Middle Georgia area range from $13,000-$19,000.
Associate Degrees
- Early Childhood Care and Education Degree
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The Early Childhood Care and Education associate degree program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for careers in child care and related fields. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Program graduates receive an Early Childhood Care and Education Associate of Applied Science Degree with a specialization in one of the following areas: paraprofessional, exceptionalities, Family Childcare Provider, Infant and Toddler, School Age and Youth Care, or program management.A satisfactory criminal records check is required for all students prior to being placed in any lab setting.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours General Core Courses 30 ENG 1101 Composition and Rhetoric 5 ENG 1102 Literature & Composition 5 or XXX xxxx Humanities Elective (5) ENG 1105 Technical Communications 5 or SPC 1101 Public Speaking (5) MAT 1111 College Algebra 5 PSY 1101 Introductory Psychology 5 SOC 1101 Introduction to Sociology 5 or XXX 11XX General Core Elective (1101 Level or above) (5) Occupational Courses 65 ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 5 ECE 1030 Human Growth and Development I 5 ECE 1050 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 5 ECE 1012 Curriculum Development 3 ECE 1013 Art for Children 3 ECE 1014 Music and Movement 3 ECE 2115 Language Arts and Literature 5 ECE 2116 Math and Science 5 ECE 1021 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum I 3 or ECE xxxx Program Elective (3) ECE 1022 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum II 3 or ECE xxxx Program Elective (3) ECE 2010 Exceptionalities 5 ECE 2020 Social Issues and Family Involvement 5 ECE 2240 Early Childhood Care and Education Internship 12 SCT 100 Introduction to Microcomputers 3 Completion of one specialization is required Exceptionalities Specialization 15 ECE 2260 Characteristics of Young Children with Exceptionalities 5 ECE 2262 Classroom Strategies and Intervention 5 ECE 2264 Exploring Your Role in the Exceptional Environment 5 Family Childcare Provider Specialization 15 ECE 2142 Early Childhood Business Management 5 ECE 2144 Early Childhood Business Management 5 ECE xxxx Elective 5 Infant and Toddler Specialization 15 ECE 2132 Infant/Toddler Development 5 ECE 2134 Infant/Toddler Group Care 4 ECE 2136 Infant/Toddler Curriculum 6 Paraprofessional Specialization 15 ECE 2030 Human Growth and Development II 5 ECE 2110 Methods and Materials 5 ECE 2120 Professional Practices 5 Program Management Specialization 15 ECE 2170 Program Administration 5 ECE 2210 Facility Management 5 ECE 2220 Personnel Management 5 School Age and Youth Care Specialization 15 ECE 1052 Early Adolescence 5 ECE 2251 Designing Program and Environments for School-Age Children and Youth 4 ECE xxxx Elective 6 Total Hours required for Graduation 110
Diploma Programs
- Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma
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The Early Childhood Care and Education diploma program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for career in child care and related fields. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Program graduates receive an Early Childhood Care and Education diploma and have the qualification of an early childhood care and education provider. A satisfactory criminal records check is required for all students prior to being placed in any lab setting.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours General Core Courses 13 ENG 1010 Fundamentals of English I 5 MAT 1012 General Mathematics 5 EMP 1000 Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development 3 Occupational Courses 60 - 64 ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 5 ECE 1030 Human Growth and Development I 5 ECE 1050 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 5 ECE 1012 Curriculum Development 3 ECE 1013 Art for Children 3 ECE 1014 Music and Movement 3 ECE 2115 Language Arts and Literature 5 ECE 2116 Math and Science 5 ECE 1021 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum I 3 or ECE xxxx Program Elective (3 - 5) ECE 1022 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum II 3 or ECE xxxx Program Elective (5) ECE 2020 Social Issues and Families 5 ECE 2240 Early Childhood Care and Education Internship 12 SCT 100 Introduction to Microcomputers 3 Total Hours required for Graduation 73 - 77
Technical Certificates of Credit
- Child Development Associate I
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The Child Development Associate I Certificate Program is provided since early childhood care and education programs are encouraging and in some cases requiring their employees to either obtain the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential within a certain length of time or have the credential before being hired as a lead teacher. This program provides training which will allow individuals to test for the Child Development Associate Credential.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 5 ECE 1030 Human Growth & Development I 5 ECE 1050 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 5 ECE 1025 Professionalism through CDA Certification Preparation 2 ECE 1026 CDA Certificate Assessment 2 Credits Required for Graduation 19
- Family Child Care Provider
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The Family Child Care Provider Certificate of Credit Program is intended to provide home-based childcare providers with the knowledge required to implement a program that meets the emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development of children. Training will also include CPR and first aid; and training in effective business practices that are tailored to the home-based daycare provider. Certificate recipients will have the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement a nationally accredited home-based daycare business.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECE 1010 Introduction to Childhood Care and Education 5 ECE 1030 Human Growth and Development 5 ECE 1050 Health Safety & Nutrition 5 ECE 2142 Family Child Care Program Management 5 ECE 2144 Family Child Care Business Management 5 Credits Required for Graduation 25
- Infant/Toddler Child Care Specialist
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The Infant and Toddler Child Care Specialist Certificate of Credit Program provides a solid Early Childhood Care and Education foundation of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and techniques that will improve the quality of care for Georgia’s infants and toddlers. Competencies are aligned with the Child Development Associate standards from the Council for Early Childhood Recognition.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 5 ECE 1030 Human Growth & Development I 5 ECE 1050 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 5 ECE 2132 Infant/Toddler Development 5 ECE 2134 Infant/Toddler Group Care 5 Credits Required for Graduation 25
- Child Development Specialist
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The Child Development Specialist Certificate Program is designed to provide the necessary skills for entry-level employment as a Child Development Specialist. Skill areas include planning a safe and healthy learning environment, steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development, positive ways to support children's social and emotional development; strategies to establish productive relationships with families; strategies to manage an effective program operation, professionalism; observing and recording children's behavior, and principles of child growth and development.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 5 ECE 1030 Human Growth & Development I 5 ECE 1050 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 5 ECE 1012 Curriculum Development 3 ECE 1021 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum I 3 OR 3 EMP 1000 Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development (3) Credits Required for Graduation 21
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Degree Types
At MGTC we offer three different levels of credit programs:
- Associate Degree
- Middle Georgia Technical College offers associate level degrees. They usually take 2 years to complete. AAS programs include general education (core) courses that may transfer to University System of Georgia schools in our state.
- Diploma
- Middle Georgia Technical College's Diploma Level programs usually take between 1 and 1.5 years to complete and include basic courses, as well as specific technical or occupational courses to prepare students for the workforce.
- Certificate
- Technical Certificates of Credit (TCCs) usually take about 2 quarters (half a year) to complete and generally focus on very specialized knowledge. These programs teach students specific skills that they can apply in the workforce.