Early Childhood Care and Education - Associate of Arts (Major Code - ECE)
The Early Childhood Care and Education Associate of Arts degree prepares students for transfer to a university program in the care and education of young children. It offers in-depth child development theory, practical applications in the workplace, and comprehensive skills for working with children and their families. To ensure seamless transfer, students must develop their specific program of study in close coordination with a Cochise College advisor.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this program will be able to do the following:
- Analyze public education, including the workings of a public school; current educational issues and the role, duties, and qualifications of educators; and educational theories and methods.
- Demonstrate an understanding of special education, current educational practices, and related educational theories.
- Identify emotionally disabled, learning disabled, mentally disabled, and gifted children.
- Analyze the relationship of culture on the child's self-concept and learning style.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and analyze children's language growth, literacy development, family and social input, and special cases in relation to the spoken language from birth to age five.
- Examine and analyze childcare or pre-school settings.
- Demonstrate an understanding of, analyze, and articulate the growth and development from conception to middle childhood, including socialization, health, safety, and nutrition.
Degree Map
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (AGEC-A) 35 CREDITS
Composition 6 credits
Mathematics 3-5 credits
| MAT 142 | College Mathematics** | 3 |
| | or higher (3-5 credits) | |
Laboratory Sciences 8 credits
Arts 3 credits
| ART 120 | Appreciation of Visual Arts | 3 |
| | OR | |
| MUS 260 | Music Fundamentals through Experience | 3 |
Humanities 3 credits
Social and Behavioral Sciences 6 credits
General Education Electives 4-6 credits
General education electives must be chosen from the general education list. See www.cochise.edu/AGEC.
Six credits of arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, or general education electives must be chosen from the current listing of intensive writing courses. See www.cochise.edu/AGEC.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT 0-16 CREDITS
Non-English language second- or fourth-semester proficiency.
University non-English language requirements vary. Check with an advisor.
CORE CURRICULUM 24 CREDITS
| ECE 150 | Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education* | 3 |
| EDU 201 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDU 222 | Introduction to Special Education* | 3 |
| EDU 226 | Cultural Diversity in Education* | 3 |
| MAT 154 | Mathematics for Elementary Education Majors I* | 3 |
| MAT 156 | Mathematics for Elementary Education Majors II* | 3 |
Select two of the following three (6 credits):
| ECE 155 | Children's Language Development* | 3 |
| ECE 156 | Children's Literature and Literacy* | 3 |
| ECE 160 | Early Childhood Growth and Development* | 3 |
ELECTIVES (AS NEEDED TO COMPLETE 64 CREDITS)
Elective courses must be transferable to the university or universities to which the student plans to transfer. See www.aztransfer.com.
TOTAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 64 CREDITS
Note: Some students will have more than 64 credits because of varying credits in language, math, and other courses; 64 credits represent the minimum for this degree.