Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies
Program Description:
The associate’s degree program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide students with the requisite general education foundation and then present the skills needed to gain a competitive edge when pursuing or advancing in the fields of child care, early childhood programs, and national Head Start programs. The coursework in the associate of applied science degree can also be applied as a stepping-stone to Aspen University's bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies, providing all admission standards are met. This program is not designed as a teacher certification program nor does it lead to state licensure.
The Early Childhood Studies program promotes the learning and development of children in early care and educational settings, encourages application of the latest knowledge in early childhood education and child development, and provides opportunities for placement, advancement, and ongoing professional development of caregivers.
Degree Requirements: 60 Credits
Program Goals:
It is intended that Graduates of the Aspen University Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies program will learn or be able to do the following:
- Child Development and Strategies of Support: Introduce theories and research that focus on children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Graduates will be able to apply this knowledge in order to optimize learning and to design settings that positively influence children’s healthy development in all aspects of growth. This domain is aligned to the NAEYC Standard #1: Promoting Child Development and Learning.
- The Parent, Family, and Community Connection: Introduce the importance and impact of the child’s world outside of school and how those influences correlate with a child’s success in school. Graduates will be able to apply this knowledge by designing programmatic strategies to include, empower, and value families and communities. This domain is aligned with the NAEYC Standard #2: Building Family and Community Relationships.
- Evidence-Based Decision Making: Introduce a range of knowledge and skills for gathering and analyzing data that is used to inform decisions about children’s development, teacher effectiveness, and accountability, in order to connect teaching and learning. Graduates will apply their knowledge and skills related to assessment in responsible ways, using multiple types of data sources to collaborate with families and other educators/professionals in the child’s life. This domain is aligned with NAEYC Standard #3: Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families.
- Developmentally Responsive Pedagogy: Introduce key instructional strategies that acknowledge each child’s complex characteristics related to age, interests, background, and abilities. Graduates will examine how these variables interact with setting and will create conditions that promote growth through developmentally appropriate practices. This domain aligns with NAEYC Standard #4: Using Developmentally Effective Approaches.
- Multidisciplinary Integration and Teaching: Develop foundational knowledge and skills for integrating multiple content areas so that learning is relevant, meaningful, and multidisciplinary. Graduates will implement knowledge of developmental milestones related to different subject areas (e.g., math, science, reading, writing, social studies, health and safety, technology, art and music) and design learning experiences that synthesize multiple subjects and that address the developmental level of the child. This domain is aligned with NAEYC Standard #5: Using Content Knowledge to Build Meaningful Curriculum.
- Ethics, Activism, and Advocacy within the Field: Introduce how to participate as active members and leaders in the early childhood education community who remain current on the issues that exist in the field and who advocate for policy changes that improve services for children and conditions for early childhood educators. Graduates will behave in an ethical manner, according to the accepted standards of the profession, and demonstrate caring, professional dispositions. This domain is aligned with NAEYC Standard #6: Becoming a Professional.
- Settings and Stages: Develop a foundational knowledge base of the different contexts for early childhood programs and will demonstrate expertise in understanding the different age groups and their developmental stages. This domain aligns with NAEYC Standard #7: Early Childhood Field Experiences, even though the ECS programs at Aspen do not require field experiences.
Academic Schedule
Courses:
| COM100 | Introduction to Communications | 3 |
| ECE103 | Professionalism and Growth in the Early Childhood Field | 3 |
| Mathematics Choice | |
| ECE102 | Skills for Early Childhood | 3 |
| CMP160 | English Composition I | 3 |
| Natural and Physical Sciences Choice | |
| Mathematics Choice | |
| ECE101 | Family, School and Community | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Choice | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Choice | |
| Humanities Choice | |
| Communications Choice | |
| Natural and Physical Sciences Choice | |
| Humanities Choice | |
| CMP170 | English Composition II | 3 |
| ECE108 | Cultural and Linguistic Diversity | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Choice | |
| Humanities Choice | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences Choice | |
| ECE109 | Problem Solving in Early Childhood Studies | 3 |
| Final Proctored Exam | |
Additional Information:
Applicants who hold valid and current CDA certification are eligible to receive twelve credits in lieu of the following courses: ECE101, ECE102, ECE103, & ECE109.