Early Childhood Education - Associate Degree
Start a meaningful career helping young children learn and grow. The Early Childhood Education program gives you the skills, experience, and confidence to work with children from birth through age eight. You’ll take engaging classes and gain real-world practice in high-quality early learning settings. You’ll learn how to create welcoming, nurturing, and supportive environments where children feel safe and ready to learn. You’ll also discover how to support all areas of development—physical, social-emotional, language, cognitive, and creative growth. Along the way, you’ll practice planning fun and meaningful learning activities, guiding children’s behavior in positive ways, and working as part of a team with families and fellow educators. When you finish the program, you’ll be ready for a variety of careers in early childhood settings—making a real difference every day as an Early Childhood Educator who supports young children’s learning, growth, well-being, and curiosity. "From Building Practices to Professional Impact”
Delivery
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Program Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition: $10,379, Books: $175, Supplies: $900
This program is fully eligible for financial aid.
Estimates based on in-state residency. Please visit the following URL to learn more about tuition and fees for this program. https://www.nwtc.edu/admissions-and-aid/paying-for-college/tuition-and-fees?ProgramCode=103071
Requirements for Program Entry
- For instructions on how to get started, download the application checklist for this program.
- Attend mandatory program orientation. Check your email for invitation to register for orientation.
Program Outcomes
- Apply child development theory to practice.
- Cultivate relationships with children, family, and the community.
- Assess child growth and development.
- Use effective, research-based practices in teaching and learning.
- Demonstrate professionalism.
- Integrate health, safety, and nutrition practices.
Curriculum
Students following the study plan below will complete the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree in the number of semesters shown. Courses can be taken in-person, online, web conference, and blended, as long as prerequisites are met.
First Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Second Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Third Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Fourth Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Social Science Course Options (the Recommended Program Course is Identified with an *):
- Curriculum Note: Field experience courses include student teaching placement hours which must be completed in person at a local early childhood setting, in addition to course work. NWTC faculty arrange student teaching settings for/with students. Students are required to complete student teaching in each center placement.
- Failure to pass a field experience course on the second attempt, may result in removal from the program. See Program Handbook.
- If a student is considering pursuing a 4-year degree, Intermediate Algebra w/Apps, 10-804-118, should be taken in place of Principles of Sustainability, 10-806-112.
- Students must earn a “C” or higher in 10-890-101, College 101. This course must be taken in the first semester.
- Students must earn a grade of a "C" or higher in all 10-307-XXX courses to successfully graduate the Early Childhood Associate Degree Program. If a grade earned is "D" or "F", the course must be retaken to earn the grade of "C" or better to continue in and graduate from this program. If the course is sequential, the successful retake must occur before continuing the sequence.
Course Descriptions
Students gain skills that lead to success in college, employment, and life. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course introduces the early childhood profession through a historical overview of the field. The course will explore program trends, quality indicators, and developmentally appropriate practices for children birth to 8 years of age (Corequisite: 10-809-101, College 101).
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course examines the topics of health, safety, and nutrition within the context of the early childhood educational setting for children from birth through 8 years of age. This course includes training for Abusive Head Trauma, SIDS, and Mandated Reporter certifications.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringLearners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 15 AND English greater/equal to 18; OR Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 250; OR "preparatory course(s)", contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course examines child development within the context of the early childhood education setting. This course focuses on children ages 3-8 years of age.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit introductory field experience course, introduces the foundations of early childhood education under guided supervision of a mentor teacher in an early childhood setting, working with children birth through age 8. This course meets the requirements for the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards 18-hour training. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program or Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Technical Diploma; 10-307-167 ECE: Health Safety & Nutrition. Corequisite: 10-890-101 College 101 and 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringThis 3-credit course explores infant and toddler development as it applies to an early childhood education setting. This course focuses on children's development from conception through thirty-six months (3 years). This course includes training for Wisconsin Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care certification.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of social studies, art, music, & movement (SSAMM) for children from birth to 8 years of age.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringElements of quality, philosophical foundation, respect, relationships, culturally sensitive care, diversity in group care, brain development, assessment and planning in a variety of settings for young children.
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringThis 3-credit intermediate field experience course includes assisting the mentor teacher in carrying out classroom routines and implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote child development and learning through play for children birth to age 8. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program or Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Technical Diploma; 10-307-160 ECE: Field Experience 1; 10-307-169 ECE: Infant Toddler Group Care and 10-307-151 ECE: Infant Toddler Development; Corequisite: 10-890-101 College 101)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringDevelopmental Psychology is the study of human development throughout the lifespan. This course explores developmental theory and research with an emphasis on the interactive nature of the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that affect the individual from conception to death. Application activities and critical thinking skills will enable students to gain an increased knowledge and understanding of themselves and others.(Prerequisite: GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 15 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course focuses on the child with differing abilities in an inclusive early childhood education setting while examining strategies for cultivating partnerships with families and community supports for children from birth to 8 years of age.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course examines positive strategies to guide children's behavior in the early childhood education setting for children from birth to 8 years of age. This course meets the requirements of the Wisconsin Pyramid Model training.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis course focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication. (Prerequisite: GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 15 AND English score greater/equal to 15; OR preparatory course-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit advanced field experience course focuses on supporting young children's development birth to age 8 through observation, assessment, and implementation of developmentally appropriate teaching strategies. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program, 10-307-170 ECE: Field Experience 2, 10-307-148 ECE: Foundations of ECE and 10-307-187 ECE: Children w Differing Abilities)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringThis 3-credit course will focus on beginning level curriculum development in the specific integrated content areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in children birth to age 8. (Prerequisites: 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music and 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course explores strategies to encourage the development of early language and literacy knowledge and skill building in children birth to 8 years of age. (Prerequisite: 10-307-110 ECE: Social Studies, Art, Music and 10-307-179 ECE: Child Development)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis 3-credit course will examine the role of relationships with family and community in early childhood education for children from birth to 8 years of age. In this course, students will complete the Strengthening Families Training.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringPrepares the student to develop sustainable literacy, analyze the interconnections among the physical and biological sciences and environmental systems, summarize the effects of sustainability on health and well-being, analyze connections among social, economic, and environmental systems, employ energy conservation strategies to reduce the use of fossil fuels, investigate alternative energy options, evaluate options to current waste disposal and recycling in the U.S., and analyze approaches used by your community to promote and implement sustainability. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 15; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis final 3-credit pre-professional field experience course focuses on demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of children birth to age 8, and families. An emphasis is on practicing the lead teacher role to design, implement and evaluate a connected unit of learning experiences. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Program, 10-307-112 ECE: STEM, 10-307-190 ECE: Field Experience 3, and 10-307-108 ECE: Early Language & Literacy. Corequisite: 10-307-195 ECE: Family & Community Relationships)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringThe nature and variety of groups; inequality, race and ethnicity; family, population, social integration, and change; collective behavior; politics, economics, religion, education, and the effects of technology. (Prerequisite: GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 15 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall Spring