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Courses & Programs Program Websites A-Z Pre-majors/Transfer Programs Early Childhood Education

ECE Degrees and Certifications

The SFCC Early Childhood Education program offers several options:

• Eight 20-27 credit Certificates of Specialization have been designed as add-ons or stand-alone certificates addressing the many areas of specialization in the field of early childhood education.
• A one-year certificate of completion satisfies state requirements for program supervisors, child care center directors, or family in-home providers.
• A two-year Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree degree is transferable to four-year universities, ideal for students interested in becoming elementary school teachers.
• A two-year professional technical degree called the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree prepares students for immediate employment.
• A two-year transfer degree called the Associate in Applied Science Transfer (AAS-T) degree prepares students for transfer to a four-year institution.
• WSU Articulation
• EWU Articulation
• College classes count toward STARS training!

Students in these courses are exposed to rigorous curriculum that includes many hours of actual work with children, as well as classroom discussion and theory. Most first quarter students can complete their field hours with children in the SFCC Early Learning Center, a Head Start and Early Head Start program providing day and evening care/education for children ages 6 weeks through school-age.

Students also are assigned to approved field site settings in private child care centers, special programs such as ECEAP and before/after school-age care, and public elementary schools to expose them to different program structures and teaching styles. This broad exposure to a variety of settings with children, under direct supervision of a master teacher, is one of the program’s strengths.

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