Child Development Information

The Program

The ECC Child Development Certificate of Specialization program is designed for students working toward their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. The 18-hour  program includes coursework in general education, plus a specialized curriculum sequence in child development, educational strategies and practium experience.

Students use state-of-the-art equipment and are instructed by experienced, qualified faculty who have worked in the field. Those who complete the program can have their  coursework applied to their CDA requirements, and are prepared to obtain positions in child development and early childhood education. Moreover, employers know that ECC graduates are well-trained and dependable.

Students may take all early childhood program coursework online (classes with the ED prefix). This may not be possible, however, for all general education curriculum. East Central College also offers a related Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Development.

Department of Education, Social Science, and Humanities   (636) 584-6923

The Career

Early child care workers and educators nurture and care for children ranging from newborns to age eight. They also supervise older children before and after school, playing an important role in their development by caring for them when parents are at work or away for other reasons. Besides attending to children’s basic needs, these professionals also organize activities and implement curricula that stimulate children’s physical, emotional, intellectual and social growth.  Early child care workers and educators help children explore  individual interests, develop talents and independence, build self-esteem and learn how to get along with others. With sufficient experience, training and education, they are also often the directors of child care centers.

Professional Traits

Early child care professionals should:

• Provide fair, but firm guidance
• Anticipate and prevent problems
• Be enthusiastic and constantly alert
• Communicate effectively with the children and their parents, as well as with teachers and other child care professionals
• Be mature, patient, understanding, articulate, energetic and have physical stamina

Employment & Salary Information

In May 2014, median annual earnings of early child care workers were $19,730 per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries for these professionals ranged from less than  $16,570 (lowest 10 percent) to more than $30,080 (highest 10 percent). 

In 2014, the average annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of early child care professionals were:

Additional Program Information

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 39-9011