Early Childhood Director Certificate

CIP 190709 (ECCF)

Want to make a difference in a young child’s life? Consider the field of Early Childhood Education. Research supports the importance of high quality, early childhood programs which impact children’s development throughout their school years and on into adult life. One of the most important influences is the teacher.

Arapahoe Community College and the Early Childhood Education program faculty are committed te prepare professionals to work with young children, birth through age 8, in a variety of settings. The Early Childhood Director Certificate will prepare students for early childhood director positions in early childhood care and education settings. Upon completion of these classes, you will have met academic requirements as an Early Childhood Director. In addition to the academic requirements, the Colorado Department of Human Services requires at least twenty four months (3,640 hours) of verifiable work experience.

All Early Childhood and general education coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Arapahoe Community College
Prospective new students for the Early Childhood Director certificate are required to meet with an Advisor to plan their program of study. Please connect with your Advisor prior to registering for classes - https://www.arapahoe.edu/student-resources/academic-advising/meet-your-advisors
Completion of an FBI background check is required for all students entering the program. The process is completed online with an associated cost. Contact Castle Branch
Those that wish to have Early Childhood Education coursework transferred in should have their official transcripts mailed to ACC. Only ECE coursework from Regionally Accredited Institutions will be accepted. ECE trainings from institutions like Montessori can be used to satisfy prerequisites but will not be used as transfer credit that can be applied to your program.

Program Requirements

Major Courses (33 credit hours)

ECE 101 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education 3 Credits
ECE 102 - Introduction to Early Childhood Techniques 3 Credits
ECE 103 - Guidance Strategies for Young Children 3 Credits
ECE 111 - Infant and Toddler Theory and Practice 3 Credits
ECE 205 - Nutrition, Health and Safety 3 Credits
ECE 220 - Curriculum Development: Methods and Techniques 3 Credits
ECE 238 - Child Growth and Development 3 Credits
ECE 240 - Administration of Early Childhood Care and Education Programs 3 Credits
ECE 241 - Administration: Human Relations for Early Childhood Professions 3 Credits
ECE 260 - The Exceptional Child 3 Credits
ECE 288 - Practicum: Early Childhood Education 3 Credits

Total: 33 credit hours

Graduation Requirements

All Early Childhood and general education coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
To graduate, students must apply for graduation and complete the graduation survey (available via myACC). (form available at www.arapahoe.edu/graduation)
After applying for graduation, all correspondence to a student about the status of their program conferral will be sent to their student email address only.
As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.
“Information regarding occupations, completion rates, placement rates, program costs and median loan debt may be found at www.arapahoe.edu/departments-and-programs/gainful-employment-disclosure-information.”