Early Childhood Education - Associate in Early Childhood Education

68 credits

The Early Childhood Education associate degree program is designed to prepare students to become highly qualified teachers, assistant teachers, or family day care providers in professional child-care for children ages birth through eight years. Students will gain a broad understanding of the specific needs of young children and develop strategies for meeting those needs. Students may choose to continue their education at any four-year institution in New Mexico. The NMSU Grants program includes the lower division courses required for entry into the Teacher Education Program (TEP), a baccalaureate program at New Mexico State University. Completion of this program does NOT guarantee admission into a Teacher Education Program at a four-year institution. Early in their second year of study at NMSU Grants, students should contact the four-year institution they have chosen to obtain application information.

Requirements and Limitations

  1. Students in the Early Childhood Education Program are required to complete and pass a security background check in order to take practicum courses and field experiences. Practicum Courses ECED 2121 and 2131 require a Criminal Background Clearance in order to complete 60 hours of practicum per course. Past criminal violations may prevent a student from completing the degree and from being hired by school systems or other child care facilities upon graduation.
  2. Students must complete all technical requirement courses as well as the following courses with a grade of C or better:
    Prefix Title Credits
    CEPY 1120GHuman Growth and Behavior3
    ENGL 1110GComposition I4
    ENGL 2221GWriting in the Humanities and Social Science3
    MATH 1215Intermediate Algebra3
    MATH 1134Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I3
    MATH 2134GFundamentals of Elementary Math II3
  3. Students must have a 2.0 GPA to graduate from this program. However, because a 2.75 GPA is required for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program at NMSU, it is highly recommended that Grants students complete the Early Childhood Education program with a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
  4. Any education course more than seven years old taken at NMSU, NMSU community colleges or other institutions will not be counted toward the student’s baccalaureate program. It is highly recommended that students request a review of their cumulative coursework by the appropriate department at NMSU. The student must repeat any course not approved.
  5. Completion of all requirements does not guarantee acceptance in the NMSU Teacher Education Program. Please see the NMSU College of Education Advising Center for more information.

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
Area I: Communications
English Composition - Level 1
ENGL 1110GComposition I4
English Composition - Level 2
ENGL 2221GWriting in the Humanities and Social Science3
Oral Communication
COMM 1130GPublic Speaking3
or COMM 1115G Introduction to Communication
Area II: Mathematics
MATH 2134GFundamentals of Elementary Math II 13
Area III: Laboratory Sciences
Choose two courses from two different departments from the following recommended course list (8 credits):8
The Planets Lecture & Laboratory4
Introduction to Astronomy Lecture & Laboratory
Human Biology
and Human Biology Laboratory
4
Contemporary Problems in Biology4
Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory
4
Introduction to Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory (non majors)4
General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors4
Environmental Science I4
Physical Geology4
Physical Geography4
Survey of Physics with Lab4
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences
CEPY 1120GHuman Growth and Behavior3
Area V: Humanities
Choose one of the following3
World History I3
World History II3
Western Civilization I3
Western Civilization II3
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts
Choose one from the following:3
Orientation in Art3
Music Appreciation: Western Music3
Music Appreciation: Jazz
Introduction to Theatre3
General Education Elective
HIST 1110GUnited States History I3
or HIST 1120G United States History II
Core Requirements
MATH 1134Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I3
Choose one from the following:3
Introduction to Anthropology3
Macroeconomic Principles3
Principles of Microeconomics 3
World Regional Geography3
Human Geography
American National Government3
Introduction to Political Science
Introduction to Sociology3
Major Requirements
ECED 1110Child Growth, Development, and Learning3
ECED 1115Health, Safety, and Nutrition2
ECED 1120Guiding Young Children3
ECED 1125Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs3
ECED 1130Family and Community Collaboration3
ECED 2110Professionalism2
ECED 2115Introduction to Language, Literacy, and Reading3
ECED 2120Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK)3
ECED 2121Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK) Practicum2
ECED 2130Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 33
ECED 2131Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 Practicum2
Total Credits68
1

MATH 2134G Fundamentals of Elementary Math II requires a prerequisite of a grade of C or better in MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics IMATH 1134 requires a placement into this course, or a C or better in MATH 1215.

Additional courses may be needed based on placement test results and/or course prerequisites.  Visit with your Program Manager or advisor for help in creating a customized plan.

A Suggested Plan of Study for Students

This roadmap assumes student  placement in MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I   and ENGL 1110G Composition I The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and english. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change. Students planning to apply to a Teacher Education Program at NMSU must have a 2.75 GPA.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGL 1110G Composition I 4
MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I 3
CEPY 1120G Human Growth and Behavior 3
Choose one from the following: 3
Orientation in Art
Music Appreciation: Western Music
or Music Appreciation: Jazz
Introduction to Theatre
 Credits13
Spring
ENGL 2221G Writing in the Humanities and Social Science 3
MATH 2134G Fundamentals of Elementary Math II 1 3
HIST 1130G
World History I
or World History II
3
ECED 1115 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 2
ECED 1110 Child Growth, Development, and Learning 3
 Credits14
Summer
ECED 2115 Introduction to Language, Literacy, and Reading 3
ECED 1120 Guiding Young Children 3
 Credits6
Second Year
Fall
COMM 1130G
Public Speaking
or Introduction to Communication
3
Area III: Laboratory Science Course 2 4
HIST 1110G
United States History I
or United States History II
3
ECED 2120 Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK) 3
ECED 2121 Curriculum Development through Play Birth through Age 4 (PreK) Practicum 2
 Credits15
Spring
An additional Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences Course 3 3
Area III: Laboratory Science Course 2 4
ECED 2130 Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 3
ECED 2131 Curriculum Development and Implementation Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 Practicum 2
ECED 1125 Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs 3
 Credits15
Summer
ECED 1130 Family and Community Collaboration 3
ECED 2110 Professionalism 2
 Credits5
 Total Credits68
1

MATH 1220G College Algebra requires a prerequisite of a grade of C or better in MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics IMATH 1134 requires a placement into this course, or a C or better in MATH 1215

2

 See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

3

Choose one from the following:

Program Manager: Kathleen O'Connor
Phone: (505) 287-6693
Email: katioco@nmsu.edu
Office:
Lucy Belle Ma Hall