Early Childhood Education
Associate Degree
If you are interested in nurturing and teaching preschool children (age 5 or younger), consider a career in early childhood education. Preschool teachers and child care workers help children explore their interests, develop their talents and independence, build self-esteem, and learn social skills
Preschool teachers and child care workers care for and teach young children in child care centers, nursery schools, preschools, public schools, and family child care homes. They spend most of their day working with children but also maintain contact with parents and guardians. They help children learn about trust and gain a sense of security, and teach children language development, social skills, and scientific and mathematical concepts through play and creative activities.
The curriculum for the Associate Degree program includes classroom instruction and work experiences in local early childhood settings, and addresses the specific needs and abilities of preschool-age children. Some of the coursework will cover professional education topics, including educational psychology, child growth and development, and designing and implementing developmentally appropriate environments for young children. The remainder of the coursework provides a firm liberal arts background and includes English, fine arts, music, psychology, nutrition, sociology, math and communication.
An integral part of teacher education is the time spent in the classroom—the real world of teaching. At IPFW this is known as the Field Experience Program, a series of field experiences and supervised practical experiences that start as early as the freshman year. In the Associate Degree program, a student complets one extensive and three brief work/observation periods in community early childhood settings. While completing each field experience, a student might work with computers, textbooks, and other instructional materials that were used in IPFW’s curriculum and computer labs.
260-481-IPFW
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