Early Childhood Education Degree—Career Concentration (ECC)

In addition to attending to children’s basic needs, early childhood education professionals organize activities that stimulate children’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth. They help children explore interests, develop independence, foster creativity, build self-esteem, and learn how to behave with others. MWCC’s program will prepare you to begin a career working with children ages 0-5. Benefits of MWCC’s program include a great job placement rate (90 percent of students find jobs), the option of both day and evening classes, day classes scheduled conveniently for parents of school-age children, opportunities to gain real world experience; and many excellent, local practicum sites.

Campus/format: This program can be completed during the day or evening at the Gardner Campus.

State certification: After completing the degree, students can apply for Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Lead Teacher certification. Lead Teachers must be age 21 or over (those under 21 can receive Teacher certification). EEC certification indicates that students are qualified to work in childcare facilities. The program helps students meet the new Massachusetts state guidelines that require an associate’s degree by 2010.

Helpful hints: To meet Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) requirements, students should attain First Aid certification. Childcare facilities are required to have one CPR certified professional always present, therefore, students who attain certification will be even more marketable.

Transfer options: This concentration is designed for immediate career entry. However, articulation agreements exist with Charter Oak State College and the University of Phoenix. This program qualifies for the Franklin University Community College Alliance program. Visit MWCC’s transfer services website: http://transfer.mwcc.edu.

Special requirements: Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

Career options: Graduates can work with children ages 0-5 in Head Start, preschool, daycare programs, or as classroom aides. They can also work toward becoming a center director or administrator.

Earning potential: $24,157 to $32,995 per year, according to a graduate survey.

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Program Competencies

Upon graduation from these programs, students shall have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Establish and maintain a safe, healthy environment for children (birth through age eight) that encourages play, exploration, and learning.
2. Demonstrate success and experience in implementing activities that advance children’s physical, intellectual, social, and emotional competence appropriate to the developmental levels and learning styles of children.
3. Demonstrate success and experience in providing a supportive environment where children learn to get along with others, learn self-control, and practice appropriate and acceptable behaviors.
4. Explain, analyze and evaluate the importance of establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with families that welcome diversity and encourage collaboration.
5. Demonstrate experience in record keeping, planning, communicating both oral and written, and participating as a member of a team.
6. Analyze career opportunities and individual strengths while developing job search skills and applying for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) teacher or lead teacher certification.

Technical Standards*

*general information about technical standards and accommodation.

Students entering these programs must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Comprehend textbook material at the 11th grade level.
2. Communicate and assimilate information either in spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
3. Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
4. Work as part of a team, as in team teaching or parent meetings.
5. Function as a team leader, including planning curriculums and daily schedules.
6. Maintain cleanliness and personal grooming consistent with close personal contact.
7. Remain calm, rational, decisive, and in control at all times, especially during emergency situations.
8. Identify behaviors that would endanger a person’s safety, and intervene quickly in a crisis situation with an appropriate solution.
9. Exhibit social skills appropriate to professional interactions.
10. Function without causing harm to self or others if under the influence of prescription or over-the-counter medications.
11. Respond to distress sounds or visual distress cues of children and emergency alarms.