Learn about the developmental needs and while exploring your academic interests with a major in early childhood education at Dean College.
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 offers both a bachelor’s degree and an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Designed to prepare you for certification through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) as Lead Teacher, Infant-Toddler Teacher, the Early Childhood Education program offers training in child development, adaptive curriculum planning, developmentally appropriate teaching methodologies, evaluation of children and programs, and establishing partnerships with families.
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.
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.
Uniquely Dean
What makes our Early Childhood Education program best of the breed?
Participating in the student-teacher practicum at the Dean College Children’s Center has been one of the best hands-on experiences that I've had. I learned how to interact with children and what teaching techniques work best. This program has allowed me to feel supported, challenged and excited for my future as an ECE educator.
The Early Childhood Education program at Dean gives me the opportunity to create my own lesson plans for students in The Children's Center. I can see how the topics we have talked about in class actually work, and also test if the children would enjoy the plans I create.
Degree Offerings
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor's Degree*
*The course listing below is based on the Bachelor's Degree program.
Early Childhood Education Courses
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 111 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDU 114 | Infants and Toddlers: Care and Curriculum | 3 |
| EDU 130 | Classroom Behavior Management | 3 |
| EDU 231 | Curriculum for Young Children | 3 |
| EDU 240 | Social and Emotional Learning | 3 |
| EDU 261 | The Diverse Learner | 3 |
| EDU 270 | Collaboration for the Child: Engaging Family and Community Connections | 3 |
| EDU 280/281 | Field Observation and Participation | 3 |
| EDU 282/283 | Seminar in Early Childhood Education Practicum and Lab for Practicum in Early Childhood Education | 6 |
| EDU 285 | Observation and Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 211 | Child Development | 3 |
| EDU 323 | Language Development and Early Literacy: Birth-K | 3 |
| EDU 327 | STEM Learning in Early Childhood | 3 |
| EDU 475 | Student Teaching | 12 |
| EDU 495 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| DCA 100 | Campus Connections: Making the Transition | 1 |
| DCA 110 | Career Connections: Developing Your Brand | 1 |
| DCA 350 | Future Connections: Launching Your Career | 3 |
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 111 | Composition l | 3 |
| ENG 112 | Composition ll | 3 |
| SPC 101 | Communication Fundamentals | 3 |
| MATH ELECTIVE | Core Mathematics Elective | 3 |
| LAB SCIENCE ELECTIVE | Core Lab Science Elective | 4 |
| ARTS ELECTIVE | Core Distribution Arts Elective | 3 |
| NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATH ELECTIVE | Core Distribution Natural Sciences and Mathematics Elective | 3 |
| HUMANITIES ELECTIVE | Core Distribution Humanities Elective | 3 |
| PSY 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
| COM 327 | Applied Professional Communication | 3 |
| UDLA ELE | Upper-Division Liberal Arts Electives | 9 |
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELE | Electives | 18 |
Learn More
The Early Childhood Education program is designed to provide you with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge in the fundamentals of child care and education for young children.
A student provides manipulative toys to help strengthen the child's motor skills while outside of the Children's Center.
You will gain valuable hands-on experience in our on-campus lab school, which reflects current research in child development and early childhood education.
Students plan and teach lessons and can 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.