Child Care and Early Childhood Education

The Child Care and Early Childhood Education program is designed to help the student prepare for a career in childcare education, or other related fields. It will guide the student through practical ways to guide children through a variety of daily experiences in healthy, safe, and educational ways. The student will learn about how children develop physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally so that the student will understand children. This understanding of children will help enable the student to plan for and react to children with confidence and ensure that the student's actions are developmentally appropriate. All students will have the opportunity to participate in the on-site Playschool Program and work directly with three, four, and five year old children. Full-time students will be able to participate in the Regional Day School at Mannington clinical. This is a hands-on experience with special needs children. This course of study follows the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Program.

Program Outcome

Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for entry-level employment in early childhood programs. Successful graduates can apply for work in a child care center, family or group family home, or as an aide or assistant teacher in a nursery school. Many students build on their experiences gained in this program by studying early childhood or elementary school education at the college level.

Students who complete the Child Care and Elementary Education program may be eligible for 11 credits at Salem Community College, 3 credits at Cumberland County College, and 6 credits at Delaware Technical and Community College.