No. of Credits: 64
Contact: P. Allen, Chair, Social Sciences and Public Services Division;
E. Settle, Program Coordinator
The Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) Early Childhood Education program is designed for students preparing to transfer to a four-year institution to obtain a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification. The program incorporates foundation coursework in teacher education, field-based experience, and content coursework in a selected certification area. Like the AAT in Elementary Education, the educational objectives of the program are detailed in the document entitled Maryland Outcomes For Teacher Preparation: The First Sixty Hours. Two-year and four-year higher education faculty from Maryland colleges and universities collaboratively produced the document. The document represents a broad consensus of what a prospective classroom teacher should know and demonstrate upon completion of the first 60 credits of an undergraduate teacher preparation program. The AAT/ECE program encompasses the standards set forth by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the Interstate Teacher Assessment & Support Consortium (INTASC), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Head Start Program Performance Standards, and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
Students earning the AAT/ECE must achieve a 2.75 or higher Grade Point Average at graduation; complete at least 45 hours of supervised field experience; and pass a Maryland State Department of Education approved basic skills test.
The maximum number of credits accepted in transfer from other institutions to this program is 48.
Career Opportunities:
transfer in Early Childhood Teacher Education
Transfer Opportunities:
A complete list of all transfer opportunities can be found on the Transfer Services page
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will…
- Identify and describe cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of learners.
- Identify and implement ways to accommodate the needs of diverse learners in the classroom.
- Locate and synthesize current research on school and classroom environments that support active learning and student achievement.
- Plan and implement developmentally appropriate lessons that integrate effective strategies and assessments.
- Reflect on and analyze personal professional learning and practice to foster continued professional growth.