Description
This degree aligns with the National Association for the Education of Young Children standards and is focused on understanding the development of children from birth to eight years of age through hands on practical fieldwork and classroom instruction.
An emphasis will be placed on an anti-bias curriculum covering the physical, intellectual, emotional and social domains of development. Students will be prepared for the Child Development Associate (CDA) assessment process, as part of the national credential recognized by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition.
Accreditation
The Associate in Applied Science in Child Development Associate at Muskegon Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org. The accreditation term runs from April 2022-April 2024.
Click here to view Early Childhood Program Outcome Data
Click here to view Student Learning Objectives for the Program
Career Opportunities
A wide variety of potential jobs with the associate degree only may include preschool assistant, preschool aide, nutritional aide, daycare provider, preschool teacher, home visitor, center director, and family advocate.
Salary ranges include $16,000 for classroom assistant, $28,000 for preschool teachers and $42,000 for center directors.
Transfer paths and requirements
This program is not designed for students wishing to transfer to a four-year college for a bachelor’s degree. Students planning to transfer should consult with an MCC counselor.
Full-Time and Part-Time Options
Listed below are four options for earning the degree:
- Two-year plan for full-time students (see below)
- Three-year plan for 3/4 time students (see below)
- Four-year plan for part-time students
- Four-year plan for T.E.A.C.H. students
TWO-YEAR PLAN FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 111A Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, and Online | |
| ED 109A Parent Child Connection | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
| ED 225A Child Development
or ED 250A Human Growth and Development |
3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Elective Course | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| ENG 101 English Composition | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | Prerequisite: Ready To Succeed and ENG 091 with a minimum grade of a “C” |
| Education Fieldwork hours | 100 hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | 19 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 120C Anti-Bias Curriculum | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | Prerequisite: Meet Ready to Succeed |
| ED 211A Behavior Management | 3 | 3 | Winter and Online | |
| ED 220B Early Childhood Observation & Assessment | 2 | 3 | Fall, Winter and Online | Prerequisite: ED 111 |
| PEA 101A, PEA 103, PEA 104A, PEA 118, or PEA 201 | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter and Summer | |
| BCOM 102 Advanced Business and Technical Communications | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| CIS 110 or CIS 120A | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Elective Course | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork Hours | 100 Hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 18 | 25 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 214A Infant and Toddler Development and Care | 3 | 4 | Fall and Online | |
| ED 230A Children’s Literature | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
| ED 216A Educating Exceptional Children | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Elective Course | 4 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| BUS 127 or COM 101 | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| PEA/DNC of choice | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork Hours | 75/100 Hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 17 | 21 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 210 Child Care and Guidance | 3 | 3 | Winter and Online | Prerequisite: Department Approval |
| ED 252B Child Development Practicum | 3 | 6 | Winter and Online | Co-requisite: ED 210 |
| *Core Option (One Course) | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| BUS 126 Business Math or MATH 105 | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork Hours | 205/180 Hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 12/14 | 15/17 |
* Core Option – Select one
GEOG 104 Cultural Geography (FW)
PHIL 205 Business Ethics (FW)
PSCI 111 Introduction to American Government (FWSO)
PSCI 211 Comparative Governments (FWO)
PSYC 102 Applied Psychology (FWSO)
PSYC 201 General Psychology (FWSO)
MINIMUM CREDITS NEEDED FOR DEGREE- 62
Additional notes: This degree requires a cleared background check, which may include fingerprinting and a TB clearance. Fieldwork is required in all education courses. Courses are offered both face-to-face and online and delivery varies by semester. All Education courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
THREE-YEAR PLAN FOR THREE-QUARTER-TIME STUDENTS
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 111A Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, and Online | |
| ED 109A Parent Child Connection | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
| ED 225A Child Development
or ED 250A Human Growth and Development |
3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| ENG 101 English Composition | 4 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork hours | 75 hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 13 | 16 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 120C Anti-Bias Curriculum | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | Prerequisite: Meet Ready to Succeed |
| ED 211A Behavior Management | 3 | 4 | Winter and Online | |
| ED 220B Early Childhood Assessment | 2 | 3 | Fall, Winter and Online | Prerequisite: ED 111 |
| PEA 101A, PEA 103, PEA 104A, PEA 118, or PEA 201 | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter and Summer | |
| BCOM 102 Advanced Business and Technical Communications | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork hours | 75 hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | 17 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 214A Infant and Toddler Development and Care | 3 | 4 | Fall and Online | |
| ED 230A Children’s Literature | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter and Online | |
| BUS 127 or COM 101 | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork Hours | 50 Hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | 11 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| CIS 110 or CIS 120A | 3 | 3 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Elective Course | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Elective Course | 4 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| PEA/DNC of choice | 1 | 2 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork Hours | 25 Hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 11 | 13 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 216A Educating Exceptional Children | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Elective Course | 3 | 4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| BUS 126 Business Math or MATH 105 | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork Hours | 50 Hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 9/10 | 11/12 |
| Course | Credits | Contact Hours | Semester(s) Offered | Comments |
| ED 210 Child Care and Guidance | 3 | 3 | Winter and Online | Prerequisite: Department Approval |
| ED 252B Child Development Practicum | 3 | 6 | Winter and Online | Co-requisite: ED 210 |
| *Core Option (One Course) | 3/4 | 3/4 | Fall, Winter, Summer and Online | |
| Education Fieldwork Hours | 205 Hours | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 9/10 | 12/13 |
* Core Option – Select one
GEOG 104 Cultural Geography (FW)
PHIL 205 Business Ethics (FW)
PSCI 111 Introduction to American Government (FWSO)
PSCI 211 Comparative Governments (FWO)
PSYC 102 Applied Psychology (FWSO)
PSYC 201 General Psychology (FWSO)
MINIMUM CREDITS NEEDED FOR DEGREE- 62
Additional notes: This degree requires a cleared background check, which may include fingerprinting and a TB clearance. Fieldwork is required in all education courses. Courses are offered both face-to-face and online and delivery varies by semester. All Education courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
