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 of applied science degree program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the field of early childhood education. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application as well as general core competencies necessary for successful employment. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers, Head Start, Georgia Pre-K programs, and elementary school paraprofessional positions. Graduates of this program will receive one of five areas of specialization: exceptionalities, infant/toddler, program administration, paraprofessional/school age, or family child care).
Course # Course Title Credit Hours General Education Core (Required minimum: 18 Semester hours) Area I - Language Arts/Communications (6 hrs) ENGL 1101 Composition and Rhetoric 3 Language Arts/Communication Elective (3 hrs) Area II - Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 hrs) PSYC 1101 Introductory Psychology 3 Area III - Natural Sciences/Mathematics (3 hrs) MATH 1101 Mathematical Modeling 3 MATH 1111 College Algebra 3 MATH 1100 Quantitative Skills and Reasoning 3 Area IV – Humanities/Fine Arts (3 hrs) Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 hrs) Program-Specific General Education Course Requirements (3 hrs) General Core Elective (3 hrs) 3 Occupational Courses ECCE 1101 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 3 ECCE 1103 Child Growth and Development 3 ECCE 1105 Health, Safety and Nutrition 3 ECCE 2115 Language and Literacy 3 ECCE 1112 Curriculum and Assessment 3 ECCE 1113 Creative Activities for Children 3 COMP 1000 Introduction to Computers 3 ECCE 2201 Exceptionalities 3 ECCE 2202 Social Issues and Family Involvement 3 ECCE 2203 Guidance and Classroom Management 3 ECCE 1121 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum 3 ECCE 2116 Math and Science 3 ECCE 2240 Early Childhood Care and Education Internship 12 Specializations - Select ONE Pair (Two Courses) Paraprofessional Specialization ECCE 2310 Paraprofessional Methods and Materials 3 ECCE 2312 Paraprofessional Roles and Practices 3 Program Administration ECCE 2320 Program Administration and Facility Management 3 ECCE 2322 Personnel Management 3 Infant/Toddler Development ECCE 2330 Infant/Toddler Development 3 ECCE 2332 Infant/Toddler Group Care and Curriculum 3 Family Child Care ECCE 2340 Family Child Care Program Management 3 ECCE 2342 Family Child Care Business Management School Age and Youth Care 3 ECCE 2350 Early Adolescent Development 3 ECCE 2352 Designing Programs and Environments for School Age Children and Youth 3 Exceptionalities ECCE 2360 Classroom Strategies for Exceptional Children 3 ECCE 2362 Exploring Your Role in the Exceptional Environment 3 Total Hours required for Graduation 72
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 a variety of careers in the field of early childhood education. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application as well as limited general core competencies necessary for successful employment. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers and Head Start.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours Basic Skills Courses (8-9 hrs) ENGL 1010 Fundamentals of English I 3 Select EMPL 1000 (2 hrs) or PSYC 1010 (3 hrs) EMPL 1000 Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development 2 PSYC 1010 Basic Psychology 3 MATH 1012 Foundations of Mathematics 3 Occupational Courses ECCE 1101 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 3 ECCE 1103 Child Growth and Development 3 ECCE 1105 Health, Safety and Nutrition 3 ECCE 1112 Curriculum and Assessment 3 ECCE 1113 Creative Activities for Children 3 ECCE 1121 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum 3 ECCE 2115 Language and Literacy 3 ECCE 2116 Math and Science 3 ECCE 2202 Social Issues and Family Involvement 3 ECCE 2203 Guidance and Classroom Management 3 COMP 1000 Introduction to Computers 3 ECCE 2240 Early Childhood Care and Education Internship 12 Total Hours required for Graduation 53
Technical Certificates of Credit
- Child Development Specialist
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The Early Childhood Care and Education Child Development Specialist TCC is a sequence of five courses designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the field of early childhood education. The program emphasizes the basics needed for a career in early childhood, but this TCC also includes more content about planning curriculum and working in the field. In addition, the student may complete a practicum and work in a child care program. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers and Head Start.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECCE 1101 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 3 ECCE 1103 Child Growth and Development 3 ECCE 1105 Health, Safety and Nutrition 3 ECCE 1112 Curriculum and Assessment 3 ECCE 1121 or EMPL 1000 Option ECCE 1121 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum 3 EMPL 1000 Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development 2 Credits Required for Graduation 14
- Early Childhood Care and Education Basics
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Basic TCC includes three basic Early Childhood and Care Education courses that are needed for entry level workers. The program provides an introductory course to the ECCE field, a child growth and development course, and health, safety, and nutrition course. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers, Head Start, and Georgia Pre-K programs. Bright from the Start (BFTS), the regulatory agency in Georgia, requires the basic knowledge included in this TCC for a person to be a lead teacher in a child care center and family day care center.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECCE 1101 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 3 ECCE 1103 Child Growth and Development 3 ECCE 1105 Health, Safety and Nutrition 3 Credits Required for Graduation 9
- Early Childhood Care and Education Exceptionalities
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The Early Childhood Care and Education Exceptionalities TCC is a sequence of three courses designed to prepare students to work with children with special needs. The program emphasizes an inclusive classroom including strategies and activities for exceptional children (both low and high achieving students). Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers, Head Start, and Georgia Pre-K programs.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECCE 2201 Exceptionalities 3 ECCE 2360 Classroom Strategies for Exceptional Children 3 ECCE 2362 Exploring Your Role in the Exceptional Environment 3 Credits Required for Graduation 9
- Family Child Care Specialist
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The Early Childhood Care and Education Family Child Care Specialist TCC program is a sequence of four courses designed to prepare students for in home family child care. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application as well as management and regulations for in home family child care. Graduates have qualifications to offer child care in his/her home or to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers, Head Start, and Georgia Pre-K programs.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECCE 1101 Introduction to Childhood Care and Education 3 ECCE 1103 Child Growth and Development 3 ECCE 1105 Health Safety & Nutrition 3 ECCE 2340 Family Child Care Program Management 3 ECCE 2342 Family Child Care Business Management 3 Credits Required for Graduation 15
- Infant/Toddler Child Care Specialist
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The Early Childhood Care and Education Infant/Toddler Child Care Specialist TCC program is a sequence of five courses designed to prepare students with the basics needed for working with infants and toddlers. The program provides an intense look at understanding and learning activities and proper care needed for infants and toddlers. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers, Head Start, and Georgia Pre-K programs.
Course # Course Title Credit Hours ECCE 1101 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education 3 ECCE 1103 Child Growth and Development 3 ECCE 1105 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 3 ECCE 2330 Infant/Toddler Development 3 ECCE 2332 Infant/Toddler Group Care and Curriculum 3 Credits Required for Graduation 15
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Gainful Employment
MGTC has provided Gainful Employment disclosure data for its credit programs. This information can be used to estimate the cost of various programs, program length, average student debt upon program completion, and potential employers upon completion.
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 institutions and other 4-year colleges 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 1-2 semesters to complete and generally focus on very specialized knowledge. These programs teach students specific skills that they can apply in the workforce.