Associate Degree

This 67 credit two-year program is designed to meet entry-level Pennsylvania requirements for assistant teachers in preschools and kindergartens, as well as childcare and Head Start programs.

For those students who decide later to continue their education, all qualifying credits earned in the program within a seven year time frame will transfer to the four year baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education/Special Education. Students who wish to earn teacher certification will need to meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements in effect at the time of admission to the School of Education and at the time of application for certification.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

Core of Discovery: (15 credits)

3	College Composition/LENG 111
3	Hist of West & World/LHST 111
3	Sacred Scriptures/LTHE 121
3	Introduction to Philosophy/LPHI 131
3	Theology/Philosophy Series III/LTHE or LPHI

Professional Ed Core: (16 credits)

3	Planning and Managing Instruction/EDCR 200
3	Children with Exceptional Needs/SPED 201
1	Associate Degree Professional Seminar/EDCR 205
1	Eled/Eced/Sped Practicum II/EDFL 210
1	Eled/Eced/Sped Practicum III/EDFL 211
1	Eled/Eced/Sped Practicum IV/EDFL 310
6	Associate Degree Intensive Practicum/EDFL 312

Required Education Courses: (15 credits)

3	Child Development/EDCR 100
3	Early Reading and Literacy/EDCR 202
3	Children's Literature/EDCR 300
3	Physical Well-being of the Child/EDCR 301
3	Expressive Arts/EDCR 302

Early Childhood Block (9 credits):

3	Early Childhood Education Overview/ECED 220
3	Early Care and Education/ECED 221
2	Integrated Curriculum in Preschool and Kindergarten/ECED 320

Special Education Block (9 credits):

3	Meeting the Needs of Students with Exceptionalities Nursery through Preschool /SPED 240
3	Collaboration and Partnerships/SPED 242
3	Programming and Assessment/SPED 243

Electives (3 credits):

Total credits: 67