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Early Childhood Education
ECE Special Education
Lead Teacher
Inftant / Toddler Lead Teacher
General Information
Early Childhood Education
The ECE program is designed to prepare individuals to be competent
professionals. Graduates meet the New Hampshire Child Care Licensing (NHCCL) requirements for a lead teacher and center director (with some job-related experience). The campus offers flexibility in scheduling and course and career options.
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program provides a
combination of theory and practical experience to prepare graduates for immediate entry into the ECE field or for transfer to a bachelor degree
program for those who wish to teach in the public schools. Graduates have approximately 300 hours of supervised experience with children of two different age levels (infant/toddler, preschool, primary grade),
adhering to the NAEYC standards.
In addition, the program offers four certificates that provide training for
different aspects of early childhood education: Lead Teacher
Certificate, Infant/Toddler Certificate; Special Education Certificate and
Early Childhood Professional Certificate.
Program Mission
The mission of the Early Childhood Education program is to provide
students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will enable
them to become exemplary early childhood educators. To do so we
maintain high academic and professional expectations which adhere to the standards of quality set forth by the National Association for the
Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Students will learn to be
competent, reflective practitioners able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the early childhood profession and a
commitment to its Code of Ethical Conduct.
- Demonstrate understanding of the diverse developmental, cultural,
and individual needs of all children.
- Create high quality, inclusionary, positive, and nurturing learning
environments & curriculum for young children.
- Demonstrate skillful observation, documentation, and assessment of
children's progress.
- Build and maintain positive, productive, and reciprocal relationships
with children, families, and colleagues.
- Serve as an advocate on behalf of young children and their families
to improve the quality of early childhood programs and services.
Program Goal/Objectives
By the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Explain and demonstrate knowledge of the multiple interacting influences
on children’s development and learning, and demonstrate the ability
to support the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of
young children from birth to age twelve, including those with unique
developmental or learning needs.
- Establish and maintain safe, healthy, supportive, inclusionary, and
culturally pluralistic learning environments for young children.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the goals, benefits, and purposes
of assessment and the ability to utilize a variety of assessment and
evaluation strategies and tools effectively to observe and document
children's development and behavior in a positive and constructive
manner, noting each child's strengths and interests as well as needs.
- Design, implement and evaluate a meaningful, challenging, and
developmentally appropriate curriculum that demonstrates a wide
array of teaching practices reflecting the spectrum of content areas
as well as taking into consideration the individual needs, learning styles,
and interests of young children.
Accreditation
MCC'S ECE Degree Program is the first and only ECE Associate Degree in New Hampshire accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Admission Requirements
In addition to college-wide admission requirements, ECE applicants:
- Are required to attend an informational session before acceptance into
the program
- Must provide a copy of health form required by NHCCL for childcare
personnel indicating the individual is "recommended to work with
young children."
Note: Students in the ECE programs must be free from criminal felony convictions. All students enrolled in any practicum class must complete a criminal records check through the practicum site that includes
fingerprinting. There is a $40-$50 charge for this for each practicum.
Applicants who are unsure of their status in this area should discuss the matter with their academic advisor, as it may impact their ability to
participate in practicum, observation assignments, and to be employed
in the field of childcare or early childhood education.
Technical Standards
Technical Standards provide insight for students into the skills and abilities required to function successfully in the ECE program and eventually the profession. Applicants who do not feel they can meet these standards should contact the ECE program coordinator before applying.
Students enrolling in the ECE program must have sufficient strength, stamina and motor coordination to:
- Stand for sustained periods of time, walking, running, bending, sitting
on the floor and on child-size furniture to meet the child’s needs and
accomplish tasks.
- Lift, move and transfer children, especially infants and toddlers.
- Sufficient visual and hearing acuity to ensure a safe environment and
the ability to respond quickly in an emergency.
- Sufficient verbal ability to express and exchange information and ideas
and to interpret instructions to children, co-workers and parents.
- The ability to work with frequent interruptions, to respond appropriately in
unexpected situations, and to cope with extreme variations in workload
and stress levels.
Early Childhood Education Transfer Credit Policy
In addition to MCC transfer credit policies, transfer of courses in early childhood education more than 10 years old will be evaluated by the Department Chair on an individual basis.
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Early Childhood Education Degree Program
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program provides a combination of theory and practical experience to prepare the graduate for immediate entry into the ECE field or transfer to a bachelor degree program for those who wish to teach in the public schools. . Graduates have at least 300 hours of supervised experience with children of two different age levels (infant/toddler, preschool, primary grade), adhering to the standards established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
General Education Requirements | TH | LAB | CR |
| ENGL110 |
College Composition |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| EDU205 |
Technology in Education |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| MATH131 |
College Algebra I |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| INT101 |
College Success Seminar |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| PSYC110 |
Introduction to Psychology |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| PHIL240 |
Ethics |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| |
English Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| |
Science Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| |
Foreign Language/Humanities/Fine Arts Elective |
3 |
0 |
3 |
ECE Core Requirements |
TH |
LAB |
CR |
| ECE100 |
Early Childhood Growth and Development |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECE102 |
Practicum I: Observation and Recording |
1 |
3 |
2 |
| ECE104 |
Foundations of Early Childhood Education |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECE105 | Art, Music, Drama, Movement in Early Childhood Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE110 |
Children’s Literature and Language Arts |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECE111 | Infant / Toddler Practicum: Nurturing Environments | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| OR |
| ECE112 |
Practicum II: Learning Environments |
2 |
3 |
3 |
| ECE116 |
Child Health, Safety and Nutrition |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECE200 |
Math and Science in Early Childhood Education |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECE201 | Children's Individual and Special Needs | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE202 |
Practicum III: Student Teaching |
1 |
9 |
4 |
| ECE210 |
Child, Family and Community Relations |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECE212 |
Practicum IV: Professional Development |
1 |
9 |
4 |
| ECE214 |
Appropriate Guidance and Discipline for Young Children |
3 |
0 |
3 |
ECE Elective Courses |
| (MINIMUM 3 CREDITS) - Choose one course |
| ECE204 |
Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECE205 |
Developmentally Appropriate Programs for School Age Children |
3 |
0 |
3 |
Total Credits - 69
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Early Childhood Professional Certificate
Designed for students who already hold an associate or bachelor’s
degree, or 60 college credits from an accredited college in another field who wish to become center director qualified in NH
(with work experience).
Core courses must be taken first.
| Core Courses | TH | LAB | CR |
| ECE100 | Child Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE104 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE112 | Practicum II: Learning Environments | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE116 | Child Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE201 | Children's Individual and Special Needs | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE250* | Childcare Administration and Management | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Curriculum
Elective | Choose one |
| ECE110 | Children's Literature and Language Arts | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE200 | Math and Science Development in ECE | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Relationship
Elective | Choose one |
| ECE210 | Child, Family and Community Relations | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE214 | Appropriate Discipline and Guidance for Young Children | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Total Credits - 24
* Required for Center Director Credential in the State of New Hampshire. This course is not transferable to the Associate Degree Program in Early Childhood Education.
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ECE Special Education Certificate
Teachers and paraprofessionals are increasingly working in inclusive
settings and are responsible for meeting students’ Individualized
Educational Plans (IEP). They are members of the IEP or IFSP teams
and need adequate training to effectively work with children with unique learning characteristics. This certificate trains individuals interested in working as paraprofessionals in Early Intervention or Early Childhood Special Education and Inclusionary classrooms.
Birth-Grade 3 Option
| | TH | LAB | CR |
| ECE100 | Child Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE104 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSYC110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE112 | Practicum II: Learning Environments | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ECE201 | Children’s Individual and Special Needs | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU215 | Behavioral Challenges in the Classroom | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU220 | Families and Professionals in Special Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EDU225 | Curriculum Planning and Implementation for Children with Unique Learning Characteristics | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Total Credits - 24
Early Childhood Lead Teacher Certificate
This certificate will enable students to qualify as lead teachers in an early childhood program according to NH state child care program licensing rules. All courses in this program transfer directly into the associate
degree program for students who wish to continue their education.
| | TH | LAB | CR |
| ECE100 | Early Childhood Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE104 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE112 | Practicum II: Learning Environments | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ECE116 | Child Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE201 | Children's Individual & Special Needs | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE Elective | Choose one: ECE110, ECE200, or ECE214 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Total Credits - 18
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Infant / Toddler Lead Teacher Certificate
Quality infant/toddler care is a critical need in New Hampshire, and more caregivers are needed who are specifically trained in developmentally
appropriate practices for this age group. As evidence of this need, for the past several years the state has offered 100% funding for the infant/toddler curriculum course to encourage more caregivers to improve their skills. This certificate meets the licensing requirements of the State of NH for lead teachers (18 credits). All courses in this certificate program will transfer to the associate degree program.
| | TH | LAB | CR |
| ECE100 | Early Childhood Growth and Development | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE104 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE111 | Infant / Toddler Practicum II: Nurturing Environments | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ECE116 | Child Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE201 | Children’s Individual & Special Needs | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ECE204 | DAP Infant / Toddler Curriculum | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Total Credits - 18
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