The Early Childhood Education program focuses on early child growth and development including adult-child relationships. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills and techniques for providing appropriate environments and care for young children. Instruction is provided in the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive areas of early childhood. Students will develop competencies through classroom instruction, observation, and participation in early education and care settings.
Whether students are engaging in on-campus lab experiences, or participating in community learning opportunities, students have many opportunities to practice and analyze their emerging skills through observation and hands-on work with community mentors and faculty. In practicum experiences, students engage in in-depth exploration of concepts, analyze new-found knowledge by practice with groups of children, as well as fellow students and community members. Students build their sense of "community" by participating in various service learning opportunities embedded in course content as well as various field experience opportunities. These experiences provide students with opportunities to engage with community leaders on issues related to Early Childhood Education.
Our Graduates
An associate degree graduate is able to work as a lead teacher in a community based early childhood education center, a director of a community program, serve as a family-life specialist, and work as a teacher’s aide in the public schools for all age levels, including special needs, etc. Associate degree graduates can also transfer to many of our four-year partners. To find out more about transfer opportunities in early childhood education, click here.
Transfer Partners
Ivy Tech has several transfer partners for the Early Childhood Education associate degree, including Anderson University, Ball State University, Indiana University East, Indiana Wesleyan University, IUPU Fort Wayne, Martin University, Purdue University North Central, Purdue University Calumet, Saint Mary of the Woods College, Walden University, and Western Governor’s University. Talk to your transfer advocate for more information about transfer opportunities!
