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, and walk, run, bend, sit 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.

In addition, students should have:

• 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.

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.

*NOTE: Students planning to tranfer to a 4-year degree program should take MATH131 and a 4 credit science course.

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.

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* Required for Center Director Credential in the State of New Hampshire.

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

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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.

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. 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.