Early Care and Education Birth to Second Grade

Associate Degree Program

You will learn how to implement developmentally appropriate practices based on state standards. You will also participate in practicum activities in public and private school systems and gain hands-on experience at the Delaware Tech Child Development Center. You will develop lesson plans that are sensitive to diversity and establish and maintain safe environments and programs for early childhood children. This program is approved and accredited by the Delaware Department of Education.

This program is offered at the Dover, Georgetown, and Wilmington campuses.

What You Can Do

Delaware Tech's Early Care and Education Birth to Second Grade degree will prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete your bachelor's degree and become certified to teach in grades Kindergarten to Second.

In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare you for a position as a:

• Preschool teacher
• Child care center director
• Head Start teacher
• Early childhood curriculum coordinator
• Home/child care provider
• School age program supervisor

Note: The State of Delaware requires student teaching hours or equivalent supervised experience to qualify for employment.

What You Will Earn

Competitive salaries starting at $19,000.

What You Will Learn

Program Graduate Competencies

The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.

1. Implement developmentally appropriate practices based on theories, norms and milestones associated with development in early childhood.
2. Communicate information about student learning and behaviors in a collaborative manner with school, family and community members.
3. Plan developmentally appropriate curriculum for quality infant/toddler, preschool and kindergarten through second grade programs in multicultural settings.
4. Maintain a healthy, safe environment for children by following licensing requirements and legal issues affecting Early Childhood programs.
5. Apply knowledge of the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language development of birth to second grade children in a classroom setting.
6. Access and implement educational technology.

Core Curriculum Competencies

The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you, as a graduate, will be able to do upon completion of your degree, regardless of your major. You will acquire these core competencies through your general education courses (i.e. English, math, etc.) and your program of study courses.

1. Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
2. Demonstrate effective problem solving and reasoning skills.
3. Work effectively in groups of people from diverse backgrounds.
4. Demonstrate ethical and professional understanding and conduct.
5. Apply appropriate information literacy skills to locate, evaluate and use information effectively.
6. Use computer technology appropriate to the field.
7. Use scientific and mathematical reasoning appropriate to the technology.

Pursuing A Bachelor’s Degree?

This is a Connected Degree, an agreement with another institution in order to offer graduates a smooth transition into a four-year degree program.