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Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Educational Studies Early Childhood

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Educational Studies Early Childhood provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum that emphasizes community, early childhood, and youth education. This program of study is designed to provide students with a foundation of knowledge in educational practices for use in the community setting. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Education, students may work with children and youth outside of traditional public school classroom settings. The AA, Educational Studies Early Childhood does not provide a pathway for students seeking Arizona Department of Education teacher certification.

Details

Field of Interest
Education
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Educational Studies Early Childhood (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8134
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

For some employment and field experiences (including internship courses), students will be required to have a current Identity Verified Print (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card and a current TB test.

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Evaluate developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate learning experiences that promote growth and development in the following domains: Social-Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, and Language and Literacy.
  2. Identify the components necessary for a safe, caring, inclusive, and healthy learning environment according to best practices and local, state, and national standards.
  3. Analyze learning and development through observation and documentation, using standards and best practices.
  4. Identify reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships between educational professionals, families and communities.
  5. Develop communication skills necessary for education and community advocacy.
  6. Practice ethical and professional standards and behavior.
  7. Advocate for ethical, equitable, diverse, and effective community, early childhood, and youth education professions.
  8. Engage in reflective practice and continuous learning through education and research.
  9. Develop problem solving skills relevant to community, early childhood, and youth education.
  10. Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

$59,980

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

$43,160

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

$49,130

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

$29,800

Recreation Workers

$31,950

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School

$51,640

Special Education Teachers, Preschool

$49,990

Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary

$29,580

* Wage information sourced from the . Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or Critical course FYC or FYC 3
OR Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 3–6
HU 3
or
( and
)		 or ( and ) 2–3
or
 or 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or FYC or FYC 3
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
SQ 4
or
 or C, SB or C, SB 3
or
 or SB or SB 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
C, HU 3
Note: will meet the [HU] requirement if completed Spring 2022 or later HU 3
or
or
or
or
or
 or or or or or or recommended CS or CS or CS or CS or CS or CS 3–4
recommended L 3
or
or
or
 or or or May be met by Public Speaking in the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] area SB or SB or L or SB 0–3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or SB or SB 3
or
 or SG or SQ 4
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 0–3
RE Restricted Elective 0–3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or Critical course FYC or FYC 3
or
 or HU or None 3
or
 or 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or FYC or FYC 3
or
or
or
or
or
 or or or or or or recommended CS or CS or CS or CS or CS or CS 3–4
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
( and
)		 or ( and ) 2–3
OR Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 3–6

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
recommended L 3
or
 or SB or SB 3
or
or
or
 or or or May be met by Public Speaking in the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] area SB or SB or L or SB 0–3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or SB or SB 3
SQ 4
or
 or C, SB or C, SB 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
C, HU 3
Note: will meet the [HU] requirement if completed Spring 2022 or later HU 3
RE Restricted Elective 0–3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or SG or SQ 4
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 0–3

Restricted Electives: Educational Studies Track Courses

Students should select Educational Studies Track Courses in one of the emphases below. If interested in the Environmental Education, Global Studies, Health Innovation, or Nonprofit Administration track, the courses will need to be completed at ASU:

Business Educational Studies:
Macroeconomic Principles

Community Health Educational Studies:
Introduction to Nursing and Health Care Systems

Family and Human Development Educational Studies:
Personal Growth and Family Relations

Organizational Leadership Educational Studies:
Leadership Development: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives OR
Management and Leadership I AND
Management and Leadership II

Personal Health Educational Studies:
Introductory Nutrition

Political Science Educational Studies:
American National Government
Comparative Government
Political Ideologies

Recommended Electives

Electives should be completed once all other requirements have been met and only if needed to complete the 60 credits required for the associate degree.

Recommend students select courses from the following prefixes:
Any CFS Child/Family Studies course(s)
Any ECH Early Childhood Education course(s)
Any EDU Education course(s)
Any EED Early Education course(s)
Any FCS Family and Consumer Science course(s)
Any ITD Infant/Toddler Development course(s)

Course Area Key

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s for additional details regarding the requirements of this award .

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.