This program was established for students who desire to work in early childhood education (birth to age eight). Career opportunities include childcare teacher or assistant teacher, Head Start teacher or assistant teacher, childcare center director, family childcare teacher, before and after school teacher and elementary school teacher’s assistant. The curriculum also includes the necessary course work for application for a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA).

While designed to articulate with all Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) two-year colleges, many of the courses in the associate of applied science degree in Early Childhood Education will also articulate to other institutions offering bachelor’s programs in Early Childhood Education (Pre-K to third grade).

Summary of Required Hours

¹Students will be advised on which courses to take depending on whether planning on this being a terminal degree or courses that will transfer. An articulation agreement, available on the Cleveland State Community Web site, under Academics/Transfer/Articulation is currently in effect between Cleveland State Community College, Lee University, Tennessee Wesleyan College, and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Note: Students in the Early Childhood Education concentration must make a “C” or better in all required early childhood coursework.