Early Childhood Education - Associate in Early Childhood Education
NMSU Alamogordo 2025-2026 Catalog
Note: Any education course more than seven years old taken at NMSU or at another institution will not be counted toward the student’s undergraduate program. A student may ask for a review of this time limit by the appropriate department. The department head and/or faculty may recommend accepting a course that is seven years old with approval from the Dean’s office. Any course not approved must be repeated by the student.
Students must have a 2.5 GPA to graduate from this program. However, a 2.75 GPA is required for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program at NMSU. A grade of C- or better is required in the following TEP prerequisites.
Total Credits Required for Degree: 68
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 68 credits. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Courses specified in the General Education areas below are Program required courses that will also fulfill General Education requirements. | ||
| Area I: Communications | ||
| English Composition - Level 1 | ||
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| English Composition - Level 2 | ||
| ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science 1 | 3 |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 1130G | Public Speaking | |
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 2134G | Fundamentals of Elementary Math II 1 | 3 |
| Areas III/IV: Laboratory Science and Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| Select two Area III Laboratory Science courses (must be from two different subjects with labs) (8 credits) 4 | 8 | |
| Area V: Humanities | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| World History I | 3 | |
| World History II | 3 | |
| Western Civilization I | 3 | |
| Western Civilization II | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative/Fine Arts | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Orientation in Art | 3 | |
| Music Appreciation: Jazz | 3 | |
| Music Appreciation: Western Music | 3 | |
| Introduction to Theatre | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| HIST 1110G | United States History I | 3 |
| or HIST 1120G | United States History II | |
| Program Requirements | ||
| ECED 1110 | Child Growth, Development, and Learning 1 | 3 |
| ECED 1115 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition 1 | 2 |
| ECED 1120 | Guiding Young Children 1 | 3 |
| ECED 1125 | Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs 1 | 3 |
| ECED 1130 | Family and Community Collaboration 1 | 3 |
| ECED 2110 | Professionalism | 2 |
| ECED 2115 | Introduction to Language, Literacy, and Reading 1 | 3 |
| ECED 2120 | Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK) 1,2 | 3 |
| ECED 2121 | Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK) Practicum 1,2 | 2 |
| ECED 2130 | Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 2 | 3 |
| ECED 2131 | Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 Practicum 2 | 2 |
| EDLT 2110 | Integrating Technology with Teaching 1 | 3 |
| MATH 1134 | Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I 1, 3 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 68 | |
- 1
Pre/co-requisites for Teacher Education Program (TEP). A grade of C- or better is required for course.
- 2
Courses are available online from NMSU Grants. Check with Advisor.
- 3
Note: Prerequisite for MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I is MATH 1215 Intermediate Algebra and ENGL 1110G Composition I.
- 4
See the General Education Section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
NMSU Alamogordo 2025-2026 Catalog
A Suggested Plan of Study - Early Childhood
Additional classes may be needed based on placement test results and course prerequisites. Visit with an advisor for help with creating a customized plan.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ECED 1110 | Child Growth, Development, and Learning | 3 |
| ECED 1115 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition | 2 |
| ECED 1120 | Guiding Young Children | 3 |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I | 4 |
| MATH 1134 | Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| ECED 1125 | Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs | 3 |
| ECED 1130 | Family and Community Collaboration | 3 |
| ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | 3 |
| MATH 2134G | Fundamentals of Elementary Math II | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| COMM 1115G or COMM 1130G | Introduction to Communication or Public Speaking | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECED 2110 | Professionalism | 2 |
| ECED 2120 | Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK) 2 | 3 |
| ECED 2121 | Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK) Practicum 2 | 2 |
| Area III: Laboratory Science Course 1 | 4 | |
| HIST 1110G or HIST 1120G | United States History I or United States History II | 3 |
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Orientation in Art | ||
| Music Appreciation: Jazz | ||
| Music Appreciation: Western Music | ||
| Introduction to Theatre | ||
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECED 2115 | Introduction to Language, Literacy, and Reading | 3 |
| ECED 2130 | Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 2 | 3 |
| ECED 2131 | Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 Practicum 2 | 2 |
| EDLT 2110 | Integrating Technology with Teaching | 3 |
| Area III: Laboratory Science Course 1 | 4 | |
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| World History I | ||
| World History II | ||
| Western Civilization I | ||
| Western Civilization II | ||
| Credits | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 68 | |
- 1
See the General Education Section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 2
Course is available online from NMSU Grants. Check with Advisor.