Early Childhood Education

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Early Childhood Education is designed to prepare students for employment as early childhood teachers in a variety of educational programs. Students learn effective teaching skills as they apply developmentally appropriate early childhood educational theory in the classroom setting. Courses have been selected with a focus on developing an educational career ladder. An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Education is also available and includes additional early childhood electives and general education classes to broaden the student's base of knowledge.

Details

Field of Interest
Education
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Early Childhood Education (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5056
Total credits required
36
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

For some employment and field experiences (including internship courses), students will be required to have a current Identity Verified Print (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card and a current TB test.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Design developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate learning experiences that promote each child's growth and development in the following domains: Social-Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, and Language and Literacy.
  2. Implement developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate learning experiences.
  3. Implement the components necessary for a safe, caring, inclusive, and healthy learning environment according to best practices and local, state, and national standards.
  4. Assess children's learning and development through observation and documentation, using guidelines established by the profession.
  5. Establish reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with families and communities.
  6. Practice communication skills to advocate for children and their families.
  7. Practice ethical and professional standards and behavior.
  8. Advocate for an ethical, equitable, diverse, and effective early childhood education profession.
  9. Engage in reflective practice and continuous learning through education and research.
  10. Collaborate with peers to problem solve within early childhood education.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

$32,930

There are additional career opportunities associated with this certificate that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
  • Teaching Assistants, All Other
  • Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education
  • Teaching Assistants, Special Education
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH176 or
CFS235 or
EED205		 Child Development or Developing Child: Theory into Practice, Prenatal to Age Eight or The Developing Child: Prenatal to Age Eight Critical course Gateway course SB or SB or SB 3
(CFS123 and
CFS125 and
ECH280) or
EED215		 (Health and Nutrition in Early Childhood Settings and Safety In Early Childhood Settings and Food Experiences With Young Children) or Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Physical Fitness 3
(CFS/ECH271 and
CFS282 and
ECH282) or
EED212		 (Arranging the Environment and Inclusion of Young Children with Special Needs and Discipline/Guidance Of Child Groups) or Guidance, Effective Interactions and the Environment 3
EED222 Introduction to the Exceptional Young Child: Birth to Age Eight C, SB 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EED200 Foundations of Early Childhood Education Critical course 3
EED225 Language and Literacy in the Context of Culture and Relationships C, HU 3
(CFS101AH and
ECH281) or
ECH128 or
EED210		 (Art Activities for the Young Child and Movement/Music for the Young Child) or Early Learning: Play and the Arts or Creative and Cognitive Play 2–3
(ECH140 and
ECH270) or
EED280		 (Learning Made Visible Through Documentation and Observing Young Children) or Standards, Observation and Assessment of Typical/Atypical Behaviors of Young Children Birth to Age 8 Critical course 2–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
(ECH272 and
ECH273 and
ECH275 and
ECH279) or
EED278		 (Science For The Young Child and Math for the Young Child and Literacy Development and the Young Child and Early Childhood Curriculum Development) or Early Learning Curriculum and Instruction - Birth to Age Eight 3–4
CFS/ECH284AB or
(EED260 and
EED261) or
(CFS/ECH284AA)		 Early Childhood Teaching Internship or (Early Childhood Infant/Toddler Internship and Early Childhood Preschool Internship) or (Early Childhood Teaching Internship) Select CFS/ECH284AB (3) or
[EED260 and (EED261 or CFS/ECH284AA)] (2) 		2–3
EED255 or
(ECH269 and
ECH287)		 Portfolio Development and Writing for the Profession or (Child Care Seminar and Professional Development in Early Childhood Education) 2–3
RE Restricted Elective 2–7

Restricted Electives

Students must select 2-7 credits from the following courses to meet a minimum of 36 credits for the certificate. Cannot be shared with Required Courses Area.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS+++ Any CFS Child/Family Studies course(s)
ECH+++ Any ECH Early Childhood Education course(s)
EDU+++ Any EDU Education course(s)
EED+++ Any EED Early Education course(s)
FCS+++ Any FCS Family and Consumer Science course(s)
ITD+++ Any ITD Infant/Toddler Development course(s)

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH176 or
CFS235 or
EED205		 Child Development or Developing Child: Theory into Practice, Prenatal to Age Eight or The Developing Child: Prenatal to Age Eight Critical course Gateway course SB or SB or SB 3
(CFS123 and
CFS125 and
ECH280) or
EED215		 (Health and Nutrition in Early Childhood Settings and Safety In Early Childhood Settings and Food Experiences With Young Children) or Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Physical Fitness 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EED200 Foundations of Early Childhood Education Critical course 3
EED222 Introduction to the Exceptional Young Child: Birth to Age Eight C, SB 3
(ECH140 and
ECH270) or
EED280		 (Learning Made Visible Through Documentation and Observing Young Children) or Standards, Observation and Assessment of Typical/Atypical Behaviors of Young Children Birth to Age 8 Critical course 2–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
(CFS/ECH271 and
CFS282 and
ECH282) or
EED212		 (Arranging the Environment and Inclusion of Young Children with Special Needs and Discipline/Guidance Of Child Groups) or Guidance, Effective Interactions and the Environment 3
EED225 Language and Literacy in the Context of Culture and Relationships C, HU 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
(CFS101AH and
ECH281) or
ECH128 or
EED210		 (Art Activities for the Young Child and Movement/Music for the Young Child) or Early Learning: Play and the Arts or Creative and Cognitive Play 2–3
(ECH272 and
ECH273 and
ECH275 and
ECH279) or
EED278		 (Science For The Young Child and Math for the Young Child and Literacy Development and the Young Child and Early Childhood Curriculum Development) or Early Learning Curriculum and Instruction - Birth to Age Eight 3–4

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH284AB or
(EED260 and
EED261) or
(CFS/ECH284AA)		 Early Childhood Teaching Internship or (Early Childhood Infant/Toddler Internship and Early Childhood Preschool Internship) or (Early Childhood Teaching Internship) Select CFS/ECH284AB (3) or
[EED260 and (EED261 or CFS/ECH284AA)] (2) 		2–3
EED255 or
(ECH269 and
ECH287)		 Portfolio Development and Writing for the Profession or (Child Care Seminar and Professional Development in Early Childhood Education) 2–3
RE Restricted Elective 2–7

Restricted Electives

Students must select 2-7 credits from the following courses to meet a minimum of 36 credits for the certificate. Cannot be shared with Required Courses Area.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS+++ Any CFS Child/Family Studies course(s)
ECH+++ Any ECH Early Childhood Education course(s)
EDU+++ Any EDU Education course(s)
EED+++ Any EED Early Education course(s)
FCS+++ Any FCS Family and Consumer Science course(s)
ITD+++ Any ITD Infant/Toddler Development course(s)
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm?id=175656).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.