Early Childhood Education
A.A.T. Degree

The Associate of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education degree is designed for those students preparing to transfer to a four-year institution in Maryland to obtain a baccalaureate degree and earn state teacher certification in early childhood education. The program has been articulated with all of the transfer programs in elementary education in the state of Maryland and makes degree holders eligible to transfer to the four-year institution with full junior status. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a total of 45 hours of field experience in a variety of educational settings. Degree students must complete all course work with a grade of “C” or better, obtain a minimum 2.75 GPA, and pass the PRAXIS I Exams (high school level reading, writing, and math basic skills).

General Education Requirements                           29-30 Credits

Arts/Humanities
   HUM 201 The Arts: A Creative Synthesis .......................... 3

Behavioral/Social Sciences
   HIS 201 American History I ...................................... 3
                                 OR
   HIS 202 American History II ................................... (3)
   PSY 201 General Psychology ...................................... 3

Biological/Physical Science
   BIO 106 Unity and Diversity of Living Things .................... 4
   PHS 104 General Physical Science ................................ 4

English
   ENG 101 English Composition ..................................... 3
   ENG 102 Composition and Literature .............................. 3

Information Technology
   IST 102 Introduction to Information Technology .................. 3

Mathematics
   MAT 101 College Algebra ......................................... 3
                                 OR
   MAT 118 Mathematic Modeling Using Algebra ..................... (4)

Program Requirements                                        37 credits
   EDU 103 Foundations of Early Childhood Education ................ 3
   EDU 114 The Developing Child .................................... 3
   EDU 115 Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education ...... 3
 * EDU 211 Introduction to Special Education ....................... 3
   EDU 212 Processes and Acquisition of Reading .................... 3
   ENG 104 Children’s Literature ................................... 3
   GEO 102 Human Geography ......................................... 3
   MAT 107 Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics I ................... 3
   MAT 108 Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics II .................. 3
   MAT 109 Introduction to Statistics .............................. 3
   PHS 111 Earth and Space Science ................................. 4
   PSY 203 Educational Psychology .................................. 3

Recommended Course Sequence
First Semester                                          Semester Hours
   BIO 106 Unity and Diversity of Living Things .................... 4
   EDU 103 Foundations of Early Childhood Education ................ 3
   ENG 101 English Composition ..................................... 3
   MAT 101 College Algebra ......................................... 3
                                 OR
   MAT 118 Mathematics Modeling w/Algebra ........................ (4)
   PSY 201 General Psychology ...................................... 3
Semester Total                                                   16/17

Second Semester                                         Semester Hours
   EDU 114 The Developing Child .................................... 3
   ENG 102 Composition and Literature .............................. 3
   MAT 109 Introduction to Statistics .............................. 3
   PHS 104 General Physical Science ................................ 4
   PSY 203 Educational Psychology .................................. 3
Semester Total                                                      16

Third Semester                                          Semester Hours
   EDU 115 Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education ...... 3
   EDU 212 Processes and Acquisition of Reading .................... 3
   HIS 201 American History I ...................................... 3
                                 OR
   HIS 202 American History II ..................................... 3
   HUM 201 The Arts: A Creative Synthesis .......................... 3
   IST 102 Introduction to Information Technology .................. 3
   MAT 107 Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics I ................... 3
Semester Total                                                      18

Fourth Semester                                         Semester Hours
 * EDU 211 Introduction to Special Education ....................... 3
   ENG 104 Children’s Literature ................................... 3
   GEO 102 Human Geography ......................................... 3
   MAT 108 Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics II .................. 3
   PHS 111 Earth and Space Science ................................. 4
Semester Total                                                      16

Degree Requirement ............................................. 66/67

* The Introduction to Special Education course required by Hagerstown Community College is a necessary requirement of the College’s A.A.T. Degree in Early Childhood Education, but is not sufficient to meet all special education or inclusion course requirements for four-year teacher education programs. Students may be required to take additional special education or inclusion courses as a part of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree and teacher education certification at four-year institutions.