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Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

Application Code 254

For curriculum information, contact the Social Sciences and Teacher Education Division – Room ST-149—443-518-1620.

Early Childhood Education is defined as grades Pre-K through three in the state of Maryland. This curriculum prepares students to transfer to an Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Special Education program at a four-year college or university in the state of Maryland. The Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree has been articulated with all of the transfer programs in early childhood education in the state of Maryland. Students who receive the A.A.T. degree must have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75, *pass a required basic skills test, and **complete 45 hours of field experience. Upon completion of the A.A.T. degree, students are eligible to be admitted as an early childhood education major at their Maryland transfer institution.

Suggested Semester 1

Course NumberTitleCredits
ENGL-121College Composition

3

BIOL-101General Biology I

4

EDUC-111Child Growth and Development

3

MATH-127Concepts of Mathematics I

4

Suggested Semester 2

Course NumberTitleCredits
EDUC-112Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education

3

EDUC-130Introduction to Early Childhood Education

3

HUMN-108Introduction to the Creative Arts

3

MATH-128Concepts of Mathematics II

4

PHYS-107Physical Science

4

Suggested Semester 3

Course NumberTitleCredits
EDUC-200Introduction to Special Education

3

MATH-138Statistics

4

PHYS-106Earth and Space Science

4

PSYC-101General Psychology

3

Select one of the following:

Course NumberTitleCredits
ENGL-201American Literature I

3

ENGL-202American Literature II

3

ENGL-203English Literature I

3

ENGL-204English Literature II

3

ENGL-205The Short Story

3

ENGL-206African American Literature

3

ENGL-210Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama

3

ENGL-213Latin American Literature

3

ENGL-214Middle Eastern Literature

3

ENGL-219Asian Literature

3

ENGL-226World Literature I

3

ENGL-227World Literature II

3

Suggested Semester 4

Course NumberTitleCredits
EDUC-201Processes and Acquisition of Reading

3

GEOG-101Introduction to World Geography

3

HIST-111American History to 1877

3

-OR

HIST-112American History Since 1877

3

SOCI-101Introduction to Sociology

3

-Arts & Humanities Core Group B

3

A graduate should be able to

  1. 1. Describe the theories and principles of child development and learning, and apply the theories and principles to classroom teaching.
  2. 2. Identify the policies, issues, trends, and historical events in the field of early childhood education.
  3. 3. Use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way.
  4. 4. Demonstrate knowledge of supporting and empowering families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.
  5. 5. Demonstrate understanding of content areas and apply developmentally appropriate approaches to enhance children’s learning and development.
  6. 6. Identify and explain the models of classroom and behavior management.
  7. 7. Identify and conduct themselves as early childhood professionals who use ethical guidelines and National Association for the Education of Young Children standards related to early childhood practice, and who are advocates for sound educational practices and policies.

Total Credit Hours: 63

*Students in a Teacher Education transfer pattern must submit qualifying scores as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on pre-professional basic skills tests (e.g., SAT, ACT, PRAXIS/CORE) approved by the State Board of Education to the Social Sciences and Teacher Education division prior to the completion of the 30th credit hour. Scores from the basic skills tests are used for admission to four-year Teacher Education programs and are required for teacher certification in Maryland and most other states.


**Students are required to complete 15 hours of field experience for each of the following courses as part of the degree requirements: EDUC-110, EDUC-200, and EDUC-260.

The Introduction to Special Education course required by Howard Community College is a necessary requirement of the College’s A.A.T. degree but is not sufficient to meet all special education or inclusion course requirements for four-year teacher education programs. Students may be required to take additional special education or inclusion courses as part of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and teacher education certification at four-year institutions.