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

Offered At
Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale, South Mountain
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 wages* for this degree. 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. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

$57,010

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

$45,570

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

$50,830

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

$32,930

Recreation Workers

$33,560

Special Education Teachers, Preschool

$52,650

There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
  • Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
  • Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
  • Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

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 Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center 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
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics OR Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 3–6
EDU/ENH291 Children's Literature HU 3
EED215 or
(CFS123 and
CFS125)		 Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Physical Fitness or (Health and Nutrition in Early Childhood Settings and Safety In Early Childhood Settings) 2–3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4
EDU222 or
EED222		 Introduction to the Exceptional Learner or Introduction to the Exceptional Young Child: Birth to Age Eight C, SB or C, SB 3
EDU221 or
EED200		 Introduction to Education or Foundations of Early Childhood Education 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
EDU230 Cultural Diversity In Education C, HU 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Note: EDU230 will meet the [HU] requirement if completed Spring 2022 or later HU 3
BPC110 or
CIS105 or
CSC180 or
CSC180AA or
CSC180AB or
EDU/EED115		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Computer Literacy or Computer Literacy or Computer Literacy or Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education EDU115 or EED115 recommended CS or CS or CS or CS or CS or CS 3–4
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry COM225 recommended L 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication May be met by COM225 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
CFS205 or
CFS/ECH176		 Human Development or Child Development SB or SB 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative 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
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
EDU/ENH291 or
CPD104		 Children's Literature or Career and Personal Development HU or None 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
BPC110 or
CIS105 or
CSC180 or
CSC180AA or
CSC180AB or
EDU/EED115		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Computer Literacy or Computer Literacy or Computer Literacy or Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education EDU115 or EED115 recommended CS or CS or CS or CS or CS or CS 3–4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking 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
EED215 or
(CFS123 and
CFS125)		 Early Learning: Health, Safety, Nutrition and Physical Fitness or (Health and Nutrition in Early Childhood Settings and Safety In Early Childhood Settings) 2–3
MAT14+ College Mathematics 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
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry COM225 recommended L 3
EDU221 or
EED200		 Introduction to Education or Foundations of Early Childhood Education SB or SB 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication May be met by COM225 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
CFS/ECH176 or
CFS205		 Child Development or Human Development SB or SB 3
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4
EDU222 or
EED222		 Introduction to the Exceptional Learner or Introduction to the Exceptional Young Child: Birth to Age Eight 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
EDU230 Cultural Diversity In Education C, HU 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Note: EDU230 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
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative 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:
ECN211 Macroeconomic Principles

Community Health Educational Studies:
HCR220 Introduction to Nursing and Health Care Systems

Family and Human Development Educational Studies:
CFS112 Personal Growth and Family Relations

Organizational Leadership Educational Studies:
HON201 Leadership Development: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives OR
MGT229 Management and Leadership I AND
MGT230 Management and Leadership II

Personal Health Educational Studies:
FON100 Introductory Nutrition

Political Science Educational Studies:
POS110 American National Government
POS140 Comparative Government
POS210 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:
CFS+++++ Any CFS Child/Family Studies course(s)
ECH+++++ Any ECH Early Childhood Education course(s)
EDU+++++ Any EDU Education course(s)
EED+++++ Any EED Early Education course(s)
FCS+++++ Any FCS Family and Consumer Science course(s)
ITD+++++ 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 official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=188761).

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.