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
- 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.
- Students must complete all technical requirement courses as well as the following courses with a grade of C or better:
Course List Prefix Title Credits CEPY 1120G Human Growth and Behavior 3 ENGL 1110G Composition I 4 ENGL 2221G Writing in the Humanities and Social Science 3 MATH 1215 Intermediate Algebra 3 MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I 3 MATH 2134G Fundamentals of Elementary Math II 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.
- 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.
- 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 1110G | Composition I | 4 |
| English Composition - Level 2 | ||
| ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | 3 |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM 1130G | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | |
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 2134G | Fundamentals of Elementary Math II 1 | 3 |
| Area III: Laboratory Sciences | ||
| Choose two courses from two different departments from the following recommended course list (8 credits): | 8 | |
| The Planets Lecture & Laboratory | 4 | |
or ASTR 1115G | Introduction to Astronomy Lecture & Laboratory | |
| Human Biology and Human Biology Laboratory | 4 | |
| Contemporary Problems in Biology | 4 | |
| 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 Majors | 4 | |
| Environmental Science I | 4 | |
| Physical Geology | 4 | |
| Physical Geography | 4 | |
| Survey of Physics with Lab | 4 | |
| Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| Area V: Humanities | ||
| Choose one of the following | 3 | |
| World History I | 3 | |
| World History II | 3 | |
| Western Civilization I | 3 | |
| Western Civilization II | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts | ||
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Orientation in Art | 3 | |
| Music Appreciation: Western Music | 3 | |
or MUSC 1110G | Music Appreciation: Jazz | |
| Introduction to Theatre | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| HIST 1110G | United States History I | 3 |
| or HIST 1120G | United States History II | |
| Core Requirements | ||
| MATH 1134 | Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I | 3 |
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | 3 | |
| Macroeconomic Principles | 3 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| World Regional Geography | 3 | |
or GEOG 1130G | Human Geography | |
| American National Government | 3 | |
or POLS 1110G | Introduction to Political Science | |
| Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| ECED 1110 | Child Growth, Development, and Learning | 3 |
| ECED 1115 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition | 2 |
| ECED 1120 | Guiding Young Children | 3 |
| ECED 1125 | Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs | 3 |
| ECED 1130 | Family and Community Collaboration | 3 |
| ECED 2110 | Professionalism | 2 |
| ECED 2115 | Introduction to Language, Literacy, and Reading | 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 |
| 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 |
| Total Credits | 68 | |
- 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 I. MATH 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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| 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 | ||
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | 3 |
| MATH 2134G | Fundamentals of Elementary Math II 1 | 3 |
| HIST 1130G or HIST 1140G | World History I or World History II | 3 |
| ECED 1115 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition | 2 |
| ECED 1110 | Child Growth, Development, and Learning | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| ECED 2115 | Introduction to Language, Literacy, and Reading | 3 |
| ECED 1120 | Guiding Young Children | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 1130G or COMM 1115G | Public Speaking or Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| Area III: Laboratory Science Course 2 | 4 | |
| HIST 1110G or HIST 1120G | 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 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| ECED 1130 | Family and Community Collaboration | 3 |
| ECED 2110 | Professionalism | 2 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 68 | |
- 1
MATH 1220G College Algebra requires a prerequisite of a grade of C or better in MATH 1134 Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I. MATH 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:
- ANTH 1115G Introduction to Anthropology
- ECON 2110G Macroeconomic Principles
- ECON 2120G Principles of Microeconomics
- GEOG 1120G World Regional Geography or GEOG 1130G Human Geography
- POLS 1120G American National Government or POLS 1110G Introduction to Political Science
- SOCI 1110G Introduction to Sociology
Phone: (505) 287-6693
Email: katioco@nmsu.edu
Office: Lucy Belle Ma Hall