Early Childhood Education - AAS - Pine Technical and Community College

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE, DIPLOMA, CERTIFICATES

Shape the future by supporting young learners. PTCC’s Early Childhood Education AAS program prepares students to work in a variety of early learning environments through coursework grounded in child development and evidence-based teaching practices. Students develop practical skills in curriculum design, assessment, classroom management, and family engagement. Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce immediately or continue advancing their education.

All Early Childhood program options require the successful completion of a Minnesota Criminal Background Study.

PROGRAM FACT SHEET – AAS

The Early Childhood Education Certificate and The Early Childhood Education Teaching Assistant Certificate will give you the education you need, at a cost that won’t hold you back, in a timeframe that keeps you moving forward.

Two Certificate Options

Students completing this AAS will be able to:

employ skills in the areas of child safety, health and nutrition;
apply evidence-based teaching strategies that cater to the diverse needs of young learners, fostering engagement and promoting a positive learning environment;
demonstrate professionalism in interactions with children, families, colleagues and community partners;
explore the physical, cognitive, creative, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age eight;
utilize content knowledge to design and implement meaningful curriculum;
demonstrate foundational knowledge of early childhood education to design and implement age-appropriate learning experiences that support the physical, cognitive, creative, social and emotional development of young children;
utilize basic observation techniques to assess children’s behavior, interactions, and developmental progress to make informed decisions and adapt teaching strategies;
foster an inclusive learning environment that recognizes and respects the diversity of children and families;
engage in reflective practices to assess the effectiveness of teaching strategies and continuously improve instructional approaches;
use a variety of assessment tools to gather data, make informed decisions, and adapt teaching strategies to meet individual needs;
design and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities that align with early childhood standards, fostering optimal learning experiences for young children; and
design and implement effective instructional strategies tailored to the unique needs of students with disabilities.

JOB OUTLOOK COURSE SEARCH

Additional Information

T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood MINNESOTA is a scholarship program that helps early childhood and school-age care professionals increase their education, compensation and commitment to the field. More information about the T.E.A.C.H. MINNESOTA Grant.

MN Child Care Provider Background Study

State law requires background studies for certain people who provide direct contact services or have access to vulnerable adults and children. The background study determines whether a person has a disqualifying characteristic, which could prevent the person from being in certain jobs or positions. Learn more at MN Department of Human Services.

Child Care Aware of Minnesota

Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a network of organizations, funded by the Department of Human Services, from across the state dedicated to assisting families, early childhood professionals and the community with child care information, grants, services, and training. The mission of Child Care Aware of Minnesota is to promote high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care for all Minnesota families.

Credit for Prior Learning

Although many early childhood educators and providers have not completed college degrees, most have several years of relevant experience and many hours of non-credit-based training. This experiential learning often addresses components found in college courses.

The promising news is that sometimes this learning-through-experience can be counted towards college credit. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is an opportunity to recognize the current skill and knowledge level of early childhood educators, improve child care quality, and meet expectations of Parent Aware. Pine Technical and Community College has opportunities for you to earn college credit. Your knowledge and skills might be gained through experiences such as working in the field of early childhood or family education, military training, early childhood industry training, internships and/or volunteering.

Learn more about Credit for Prior Learning by visiting the web page.

Potential Funding Sources for PTCC Early Childhood Students

Programs Supplies and Tools

Each program at PTCC may have specific requirements for laptops, tools, supplies, and uniforms. These items are essential for your success and are tailored to the unique needs of your program.

To ensure you’re fully prepared, please review the specific requirements for your program on our Program Supplies page. This page provides detailed information on what you’ll need, including:

Laptops: Recommended models and specifications
Tools, Supplies & Uniforms: Required items for your field of study

Why Pine?

At PTCC, we make college possible for those starting out or starting over. Whether you seek a career program, new skills or general education transferable to another college or university, Pine is an excellent choice! Join us for an on-campus or virtual information session.

Start your educational journey at PTCC!

Early Childhood Education – AAS