Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education

Program Description

You can have a meaningful impact on the future through your work with young children. Our Early Childhood Education program prepares you to teach children and strengthen families in various early care and educational settings. You will create and teach in learning environments where children grow into self-confident, socially adept individuals who can succeed in today’s rapidly changing world.

We designed this program to prepare you to work directly with children from birth to age 8. Our courses are taught in classroom and lab settings that are exploratory and experiential in nature. You will understand child development, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and methods for supporting a child’s learning when you complete the program. The cornerstones of our program are inclusionary practices and understanding the important role of the family.

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Awards Offered: A.A. Degree / A.A.S. Degree / Diploma
Locations: Lincoln, Online
Formats: In-Person
Start: Fall / Spring
Schedule: Full-Time
Estimated Total Cost
$10,605.25 Associate of Arts
$11,586.50 Associate of Applied Science
$6,539.25 Diploma
$4,282.25 Certificate

You can start the Early Childhood Education program in the Fall or Spring Semester. Follow these steps to finish your application:

  1. Want to learn more about SCC? Come see how SCC will help you achieve Your Path to Possible! Schedule a campus visit!
  2. Need help exploring career opportunities or navigating the admissions process? Schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor.
  3. Ready to apply? Complete an Application for Admission.
  4. Submit ACT, SAT, Next Generation Accuplacer, or Accuplacer test scores (reading and math) or official college transcripts showing completion of post-secondary coursework in English and math to the Admissions Office at any SCC location.

A Criminal Background Check will be required of each student in this program. Based on the outcome of the CBC, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain laboratory experiences, or completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed for the CBC.


You’re a Good Fit

You will be a successful educator if you:

  • have the ability to plan developmentally responsive programs for children and their families
  • are a caring person with an accepting attitude
  • have strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • are self-aware and accept diversity
  • have skills in critical thinking
  • have the ability to perform physically demanding work, including lifting and getting up and down from the floor


Careers

Our Early Childhood Education program prepares you to work with children and families in diverse and inclusive early care and education settings. Recent graduates reported an average salary of $29,432. Career options include:

  • Assistant Preschool Teacher
  • Child Care Center Assistant
  • Teacher/Owner
  • Infant Teacher
  • Lead Teacher
  • Library Aid
  • Preschool Co-Teacher or Lead Teacher
  • Professional Nanny
  • Teacher Assistant
  • Toddler Specialist


Accreditation

The Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science Degree at Southeast Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The accreditation term runs from March 2021-August 2023.

2022 NAEYC Annual Report

Program Outcome Data (PDF)

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution

Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

For more information about the post-graduation achievements of SCC Graduates as well as average starting salaries, refer to the annual Graduate Report (PDF).

For information about the methodologies used to gather the post-graduation student achievement data contained in the annual Graduate Report, refer to the Institutional Research page or contact ir@southeast.edu.