Overview
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Grants are Available for ECE Training!
Did you know there are now robust grants available for those seeking a degree or certificate in Early Childhood Education? If you enroll in one of MCC’s ECE training programs, you are probably eligible for FREE tuition, including ECE and general education courses, books, fees and more!
Specific grant information can be found here:
To learn more about your grant eligibility, please contact Carrie Marshall.
Introduction to Early Childhood Education
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) program is designed to prepare you to work with children from birth through age 8 years in a variety of professional settings including but not limited to child care, public schools, early intervention and Head Start. Graduates meet the New Hampshire Child Care Licensing (NHCCL) requirements for a lead teacher and center director and are eligible for many transfer opportunities including public school certification Pre-K through 3rd grade.
The Associate of Applied Science degree provides a combination of theory and practical experience related to child development, curriculum design, social and emotional competencies, family supports, and health and safety training. Graduates have approximately 300 hours of supervised experience with children of at least two different age levels (infant/toddler, preschool or primary grade).
To learn more about MCC’s Early Childhood Education training options, please contact Carrie Marshall.
Degree & Certificate Options
The Early Childhood Education program offers one Associate of Applied Science (A.S.) degree and four certificates:
DEGREES
- Early Childhood Education (A.A.S)
CERTIFICATES
The Early Childhood education program also offers four certificates that provide training for different aspects of early childhood education:
- Advanced Early Childhood Certificate
- Early Childhood Lead Teacher Certificate
- Early Childhood Special Education Certificate
- Entry-Level Early Childhood Certificate
Accreditation
The Early Childhood Education program at MCC is accredited by NAEYC. For more details about NAEYC accreditation see the Curriculum tab above.
Program Goals
The goal of the Early Childhood Education program is to provide you with the most current knowledge and skills, as well as cultivate the disposition to enable you to become an exemplary early childhood educator. To do so, we maintain high academic and professional expectations which adhere to the standards of quality set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
You will learn to be a competent, reflective practitioner able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the early childhood profession and a commitment to its Code of Ethical Conduct.
- Demonstrate understanding of the diverse developmental, cultural and individual needs of all children.
- Create high-quality, inclusionary, positive and nurturing learning environments and curriculum for young children.
- Demonstrate skillful observation, documentation and assessment of children’s progress.
- Build and maintain positive, productive and reciprocal relationships with children, families, colleagues and the community.
- Serve as an advocate on behalf of young children and their families to improve the quality of early childhood programs and services.
Watch the Video!
Learn about Early Childhood Education programs at MCC and other colleges in the Community College System of New Hampshire here:
Curriculum
Accreditation
The Early Childhood Education A.A.S. degree at Manchester Community College is nationally accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
The current accreditation term runs from March 2024 through March 2031.
Admission Requirements
In addition to college-wide admission requirements, ECE applicants:
- Are required to meet with an Admissions Counselor.
- Must provide a copy of the health form required by the NH Child Development Bureau for childcare personnel indicating the individual is “recommended to work with young children” in order to participate in practicum experiences and to obtain a job in early childhood education.
- Must be free from criminal felony convictions and be able to complete a criminal records check through the NH Child Development Bureau, which includes fingerprinting, in order to participate in practicums, observations, and to obtain employment in early childhood education. The cost of this is approximately $20 and must be renewed every three years.
- Certificate and degree students must be available to complete day-time practicum hours.
Note: Students enrolled in any ECE course are required to purchase a subscription to Taskstream, an online portfolio server each semester in which one or more ECE courses are taken. You will develop an online portfolio highlighting work and competencies learned in your ECE courses. Due to program accreditation requirements, data will also be collected through the server (individuals will remain anonymous). Subscriptions can be purchased to cover one or more semesters through the college book store or directly from taskstream.com. Cost can be covered by financial aid.
Technical Standards
Technical Standards provide insight for students into the skills and abilities required to function successfully in the ECE program and eventually the profession. If you do not feel you can meet these standards, please contact the ECE program coordinator before applying.
Students enrolling in the ECE program must have the following skills and dispositions:
- Physical Skills – The mobility, strength and dexterity to be able to perform all classroom duties
- Sensory Skills – Effective use of vision and hearing
- Communication Skills – Good verbal, nonverbal, listening and writing skills
- Behavioral Skills – Interpersonal, self-regulatory and task-related behaviors enable successful performance. The role of an early childhood educator requires flexibility, motivation and the ability to multitask.
- Workforce skills – Conducting yourself in a professional manner
- Supervisory Skills –Maintaining a safe environment for children
Incoming Transfer Policy
In addition to MCC transfer credit policies, transfer of courses in early childhood education more than 10 years old will be evaluated by the Department Chair on an individual basis.
Practicum Requirements
ECE students can earn practicum hours through the MCC Child Development Center, which serves as the program’s lab school.
If you have had quality and lengthy work or training experiences, you may wish to test out of the freshman practicum experience. You must first meet with your academic advisor and provide documentation to indicate your knowledge and skills. Testing out may include exams, projects, lesson plans, essays, journal entries and other documentation that meets course requirements. Students seeking to test out of Early Childhood Education practicum must have completed a minimum of nine Early Childhood Education credits with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
Curriculum: Required Courses
Course Sequencing
Degree Program – First Year
Degree Program – Second Year
Outcomes
Acquired Skills
After earning your Early Childhood Education degree, you will be able to:
- Compare, contrast and discuss the diversity and breadth of learning and developmental theories, philosophies, and educational approaches from a historical and current perspective.
- Explain and demonstrate knowledge of the multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, and demonstrate the ability to support the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of young children from birth to age twelve, including those with unique developmental or learning needs.
- Establish and maintain safe, healthy, supportive, inclusionary and culturally pluralistic learning environments for young children.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the goals, benefits and purposes of assessment and the ability to utilize a variety of assessment and evaluation strategies and tools, including technology, effectively and ethically to observe and document children’s development and behavior in a positive and constructive manner, noting each child’s strengths and interests as well as needs.
- Design, implement and evaluate a meaningful, challenging, and developmentally appropriate curriculum that demonstrates a wide array of teaching practices reflecting the spectrum of content areas as well as intentionally taking into consideration the individual needs, learning styles and interests of young children.
- Establish and maintain positive, productive relationships with families by respecting families’ choices and goals for children, communicating effectively and meaningfully with families, and using families as a primary source of information in planning to meet the needs of individual children.
- Establish and maintain positive, productive relationships with colleagues, work effectively as members of instructional teams and communicate effectively with other professionals, agencies, and the larger community to support children’s development, learning and well-being.
- Demonstrate an awareness of professional standards that will guide your practice and a commitment to the profession’s code of ethical conduct.
- Demonstrate reflective thinking and the ability to continually evaluate the effect of your choices and actions on others, seek out opportunities to grow professionally, and serve as an advocate for children, families and the early childhood profession.
Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities for students with Early Childhood Education training include jobs like:
- Childcare Teacher
- Childcare Center Director
- Childcare Worker
- Child Protective Services
- Paraprofessional Teacher
- Substitute Teacher
Potential Salary
There is a wide range of jobs in the education industry. See below for the average annual salary range in NH for a Childcare Worker.
| ENTRY-LEVEL | MID-RANGE | EXPERIENCED |
| $26,824 | $32,762 | $39,583 |
*Salary.com, 2024
Certificates
Advanced Early Childhood Certificate
This certificate is designed for students who already hold an associate or bachelor’s degree, or 60 college credits from an accredited college in another field, who wish to become a center director in NH (with work experience).
Early Childhood Lead Teacher Certificate
This certificate will enable you to qualify as a lead teacher in an early childhood program according to NH state child care program licensing rules. All courses in this program transfer directly into the Early Childhood Education associate degree program if you wish to continue your education.
Early Childhood Special Education Certificate
The Early Childhood Special Education Certificate is ideal for you if you are training to work as a paraprofessional in public schools and will be part of the team that helps develop, maintain and evaluate the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) required to support students with special needs.
Entry-Level Early Childhood Certificate
The Entry-Level Early Childhood certificate provides you with the training needed to earn the credential of associate teacher in the state of New Hampshire. It is also a building block to the Lead Teacher certificate and the Early Childhood Education degree.
