WELCOME TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM AT KAUA'I COMMUNITY COLLEGE!
Launch Your Early Childhood Education Career!
The Early Childhood Education program equips you with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to thrive in various early childhood settings.
What You'll Gain:
- Solid Foundation: Learn the theory and best practices for working with young children and their families.
- Hands-On Learning: Gain practical experience through coursework and real-world preschool placements.
- Career Flexibility: Prepare for careers as preschool teachers, assistant teachers, or pursue further education.
Pathways to Success:
This Associate in Science (AS) degree opens several doors for graduates within Hawai'i:
- Transfer Seamlessly: Continue your education with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at UH West Oʻahu or UH Mānoa.
- Pursue Diverse Specializations: Choose between Elementary & Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood & Special Education at UH Mānoa.
We Recommend:
- Early Academic Advising: Connect with an advisor upon admission to create a personalized transfer plan (if applicable).
This program is your stepping stone to a rewarding career nurturing young minds. Enroll now and embark on your early childhood education journey!
Start Making a Difference Today!
Professional Licensure Program
The Kaua‘i Community College (KauCC) Early Childhood Education Program curriculum is approved by the Hawaii State Director of the Department of Human Services and meets Hawaii Administrative Rules 17-892.1-17. If you are not residing in the state of Hawaii and are taking a KauCC online course or program leading to professional licensure, KauCC cannot confirm whether the course or program meets your state’s professional licensure requirements. Please verify with the appropriate licensing board in the state you intend to practice.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To be admitted to the Early Childhood Education Program students must:
- Be qualified for ENG 100
By the beginning of the second semester, students must:
- Pass the fingerprinting and background check required by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services for individuals working with young children (fee required)
Outcomes
- Completion Rates (PDF)
PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Use knowledge of child development and of individual children to create healthy, challenging learning environments and experiences.
- Build respectful partnerships with children, their families, and their communities.
- Observe, document, and assess children’s development and learning in partnership with families.
- Use supported interactions to build positive relationships and guide all children.
- Use content knowledge and appropriate pedagogy to create/design, implement and assess learning experiences.
- Use reflective practice to demonstrate professionalism.
GUIDED PATHWAYS TO COMPLETION
(Please click on the degree or certificate name to expand the tab to read
Early Childhood Education Associate in Science Degree (AS), 60 credits
Fall Semester 1
- ECED 105 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
- ECED 110 - Developmentally Appropriate Practices (3 credits)
- ECED 131 - Child Development: Theory Into Practice (3 credits)
- ENG 100 - Composition I (3 credits)
- Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Issues (HAP) or Pacific Cultures (PC): Any HAP or PC course (3 credits)
Note:
- ENG 100: This course fulfills the Communication category.
Spring Semester 2
- ECED 140 - Guidance of Young Children in a Group Setting (3 credits)
- ECED 191 - Field Experience in Early Childhood Education I (4 credits)
- ECED 245 - Child, Family, and Community (3 credits)
- Cultural Environment: Any Arts (DA) (3 credits) and Humanities (DH) (3 credits) course (3 credits)
- Mathematics: MATH 100 or higher (3 credits)
Fall Semester 3
- ECED 115 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child (3 credits)
- ECED 263 - Language and Creative Expression Curriculum (3 credits)
- Cultural Environment: Any Arts (DA) (3 credits) and Humanities (DH) (3 credits) course (3 credits)
- Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) or Physical Sciences (DP): Any DB or DP course (3 credits)
- Diversification: Laboratory (science) (DY): Any DY course (1 credit)
- Diversification: Social Sciences (DS): Any DS course (3 credits)
Note:
- Cultural Environment: Any DA (3 credits) and any DH (3 credits) are required. If the DA course(s) is taken in semester 2, the DH course should be fulfilled in semester 3 or vice versa.
- Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) or Physical Sciences (DP) and Diversification: Laboratory (science) (DY): These courses fulfill the Natural Environment category.
- Diversification (DS): This course fulfills the Social Environment category. HDFS 230 is recommended.
Spring Semester 4
- ECED 170 - Introduction to Working with Infants and Toddlers (3 credits)
- ECED 264 - Inquiry and Physical Curriculum (3 credits)
- ECED 291 - Field Experience in Early Childhood Education II (4 credits)
- SP 151 - Personal and Public Speaking (3 credits)
Total credits: 60
Early Childhood Education Certificate of Achievement (CA), 25 credits
Fall Semester 1
- ECED 105 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
- ECED 110 - Developmentally Appropriate Practices (3 credits)
- ECED 115 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child (3 credits)
- ECED 131 - Early Child Development: Theory Into Practice (3 credits)
Spring Semester 2
- ECED 140 - Guidance of Young Children in a Group Setting (3 credits)
- ECED 191 - Field Experience in Early Childhood Education I (4 credits)
- ECED 245 - Child, Family, and Community (3 credits)
- ECED 264 - Language and Creative Expression Curriculum (3 credits)
Total credits: 25
Early Childhood Education Certificate of Competence(CO) (Initial Early Childhood Education), 9 credits
Fall Semester 1
- ECED 105 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
- ECED 110 - Developmentally Appropriate Practices (3 credits)
- ECED 131 - Early Child Development: Theory Into Practice (3 credits)
Total credits: 9
Early Childhood Education: Certificate of Competence (Practitioner I), 16 credits
Fall Semester 1
- ECED 105 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
- ECED 110 - Developmentally Appropriate Practices (3 credits)
- ECED 131 - Early Child Development: Theory Into Practice (3 credits)
Spring Semester 2
- ECED 140 - Guiding Young Children in Group Settings (3 credits)
- ECED 191 - Early Childhood Practicum I (4 credits)
Total credits: 16
