The Career
Early childhood 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, early childhood educators organize activities and implement curricula that stimulate children’s physical, emotional, intellectual and social growth. These professionals help children explore individual interests, develop talents and independence, build self-esteem and learn how to get along with others. Many are also the directors of child care centers.
Professional Traits
Early childhood educators 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 and Salary Information
In May 2012, median annual earnings of early child care workers were $19,510, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries for these professionals ranged from less than $16,328 (lowest 10 percent) to more than $29,515 (highest 10 percent).
Average annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of early child care professionals in 2012 were as follows:
| Elementary/Secondary Schools |
$22,838 |
| Other Child Care Organizations |
$18,948 |
| Child Day Care Services |
$18,803 |
The Program
The Associate of Applied Science degree in early childhood development includes coursework in general education plus an additional curriculum sequence in child development, educational strategies, technology and related academic disciplines. Students use state-of-the-art equipment and are instructed by faculty who have worked in the field.
Those completing the program are prepared to enter the workforce as trained early childhood educators. Moreover, employers know that graduates of the ECC program are well-trained and dependable.
Students may complete all early childhood program coursework online. This may not be possible, however, for all general education requirements.
Admissions Requirements
Students must have completed:
- High school diploma or the equivalent (documentation must be sent to the registration office)
- Application for admission
- A placement test as specified by the college (please note: some coursework requires minimum placement results)
Transfer Options
The Associate of Applied Science degree is designed for those students seeking employment immediately upon graduation. Many of the credits, particularly the general education electives received with this degree, are accepted as transfer credit by four-year colleges and/or universities.
Please note that transferring credit is decided by the bachelor degree-granting institution. Students seeking transfer are advised to contact the four-year institution of their choice before beginning a program or reviewing other degrees and coursework offered through East Central College.
Accreditation
East Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504
800-621-7440
Contacts
|
Program Faculty/Coordinator
Mary Beth Huxel, Division Chair
636-584-6613
Mary.Huxel@eastcentral.edu
|
Division
Business, Education, Social Science and Technology
636-584-6139
|
