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Why Study Early Childhood?
The field of Early Childhood includes a wide variety of opportunities for professionals to profoundly impact the lives of children and families. NPC’s Early Childhood programs prepare students to work in diverse and inclusive early childhood environments, including public and private schools, libraries, preschools, childcare, health programs and other community settings that work with or on behalf of young children. Child-centered, developmentally effective, and culturally sensitive practices are emphasized throughout the program.
Through a combination of general and specialized areas of early childhood, we aim to enable our students to become outstanding educators, decision-makers, quality coaches, early interventionists, advocates and intellectual and ethical leaders. Each of NPC’s Early Childhood programs provides a comprehensive set of knowledge and competencies aligned with state and national standards for early childhood professional preparation.
NPC students interested in the field of Early Childhood have two Associate Degree, and one Bachelor’s Degree (*Pending HLC Approval), pathways available to them. Depending on the student’s career goals, the student chooses either the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood (AAEC) or the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Studies. Students who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree may then choose to continue on to the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education (BAS-ECE) (*Pending HLC Approval).
The AAEC also includes the AGEC - Arizona General Education Curriculum requirements for ease of transfer to a university teacher preparation program. The AAEC supports students who wish to continue their education toward a Bachelor’s degree with the intent of attaining early childhood teacher certification and/or endorsement.
The AAS in Early Childhood Studies is an appropriate option for individuals interested in pursuing a career working directly with, or on behalf of, young children and who may not wish to attain teacher certification and/or endorsement through an educator preparation program at a state university. Examples of some of the early childhood professions and organizations that do not require teacher certification include: Head Start, home visitation programs (e.g. FACES, Healthy Families America, etc.), parent education programs, early intervention and others. The AAS degree does not supply the AGEC (see page 65) requirements for university transfer to a BA or BS degree, but transfers smoothly for those in pursuit of a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree where offered, including the BAS-ECE (*Pending HLC Approval) at NPC. See your academic adviser to design an educational pathway that meets your educational and career goals if you wish to attain a BAS degree.
Degree Requirements
All certificates and degrees offered through the Early Childhood Department require a “C” or better in all courses within the chosen program of study. The certificate programs that lead to the AAS degree also require a “C” or better in all courses within the chosen program of study.
Some courses have placement requirements or prerequisites that may result in coursework beyond 64 credits for Associate Degrees and 120 credits for Bachelor’s Degrees. These courses, too, require a grade of “C” or better. For information about prerequisites, check with your NPC academic adviser.
Much of the Early Childhood coursework in the program is practicum-based. Students conduct assignments and receive observation at an early childhood location in or near where students work or volunteer.
Students in this program are required to complete 16-32 hours of practicum for each Early Childhood course for which a practicum is a requirement. Level I Fingerprint clearance is required by practicum sites where students work or volunteer. Prior to enrolling in Early Childhood courses, you must provide proof of current Level I Fingerprint clearance. If you need assistance accessing fingerprint clearance, or you do not have access to an early childhood practicum setting, contact the Educator Preparation Programs Department before registering for classes.
Need help paying for classes?
The state of Arizona believes strongly in a highly qualified early childhood workforce. As such, there are state-funded programs that offer full tuition, fees, and textbook scholarships for individuals pursuing an Associate degree (AAEC or AAS) in Early Childhood. These scholarships also come with significant cash incentives for reaching educational milestones. See the Educator Preparation Programs Advisor for details. Early Childhood degree seekers are also eligible for the Claude M. Endfield Scholarship offered through NPC’s Friends and Family Foundation. To apply, search scholarships at npc.edu. Additionally, many students can qualify for financial aid if they take the time to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at studentaid.gov.
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