Early Childhood Education

Program Overview

The Early Childhood Education program at Dean is designed to provide you with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge in the fundamentals of child care and education for young children.

Dean College offers an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in early childhood education which prepares students for certification through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) as Preschool Teacher, Lead Teacher and Infant-Toddler Teacher enabling students to prepare for career opportunities with young children from infancy through age six in the mixed delivery system outside the public schools. Students are provided with professional preparation in understanding the developmental stages of young children, developmentally appropriate teaching methodologies, adaptive curriculum planning, partnering with families and evaluation of children and programs.

You will gain valuable hands-on experience in our on-campus lab school, which reflects current research in child development and early childhood education. The student teaching experience requires a minimum of 200 hours working directly with children in an approved placement. You will work with an assigned college supervisor and an EEC licensed, site-based cooperating practitioner, increasingly taking responsibility for managing the classroom, designing learning experiences, and communicating with families and administrators. Students develop a performance portfolio documenting their competencies and attend scheduled seminars.

Click on the below videos to learn more about the Early Childhood Education Program. 

• Early Childhood Education Program Overview
• Early Childhood Education Q&A with Joanne Hogan

Requirements for Certification 

The Early Childhood program is designed specifically for EEC certification in Massachusetts and certification may not be required for this purpose in other states. The institution has not determined whether this program meets other states’ requirements for certification or professional licensure. Dean College’s Program Coordinator of Early Childhood Education works individually with out of state students who are considering certification and will provide appropriate contact information for these students. For further information, please contact Joanne Hogan, Program Coordinator of Early Childhood Education at 508-541-1525 or jhogan3@dean.edu. Students should verify whether this program will meet their home state’s or their intended state’s practice requirements for licensure and/or certification.

Information regarding the Massachusetts certification process and Dean College’s Early Childhood Program can be found below.

• Department of Early Education and Care Professional Qualification Certification Requirements and Frequently Asked Questions 
• Dean College Early Childhood Education Program 
• Requirements Letter for Early Childhood Education Students

Beyond the Classroom

Practice your skills and put your knowledge to use in the world. At Dean, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get hands-on childcare experience.

You'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a 14-hour-per-week practicum at the Dean College Children’s Center, an accredited laboratory school right on campus, where you'll:

• Develop your teaching and childcare skills while working alongside the Children's Center professional instructors.
• Plan and teach lessons.
• Meet with parents to discuss their children's development.

Graduates of our Early Childhood Education program can enjoy careers as preschool teachers, child care assistant directors, educational administrators, early childhood education curriculum coordinators and more.