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Early Childhood Education

Program Description

The Early Childhood Mission Statement: The Early Childhood Program is committed to making quality education accessible, building creative learning environments, and developing more effective ways of providing quality learning experiences. Program faculty members work cooperatively with high schools, public and private child care homes and centers, four-year colleges, universities and other agencies in an effort to make higher education more accessible for students. The program is also committed to making culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse learning opportunities accessible to all students.

The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares individuals to work with children from birth through eight in diverse learning environments. Students will combine learned theories with practice in actual settings with young children under the supervision of qualified teachers. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Students will foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional and creative development of young children.

Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs; preschools; public and private schools; recreational centers; Head Start Programs; and school- age programs.

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Contact
TRACEY
CARTER
B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Program Head, Education/Program Head, Early Childhood Education
MAIN CAMPUS - Henderson
Room:
7319
(252) 738-3471
Degree
Diploma
Certificate
Workforce Training

Program Details

Discover the specifics of our programs, including required courses, course sequence, pathways, and learning outcomes.

In Class Program Outcomes

  1. Early Childhood students will be able to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for all children.
  2. Early Childhood students will be able to design and implement developmentally effective curriculum that addresses all domains of learning.
  3. Early Childhood students will be able to support and empower all children, families, and communities through trusting and respectful reciprocal relationships.
  4. Early Childhood students will be able to use authentic assessment responsibly to make informed decisions to guide all children’s learning.
  5. Early Childhood students will be able to communicate effectively using standard written and verbal skills.
  6. Early Childhood students will be able to utilize technology to enhance learning for all children.
  7. Early Childhood students will serve as a leader, advocate, and professional in the field of early education.

Students enrolled in pre-approved continuing education training courses may request awarded credit in corresponding curriculum programs. They must first register, pay, and pass the continuing education course with a grade of satisfactory. In order to request awarded credit, the student must be enrolled in the corresponding curriculum program.

The credit will be awarded by the appropriate department with a grade of “PR”, Credit for Prior Learning. The credit hours of the course will count toward graduation at VGCC but may not transfer to other colleges or universities.

For a more comprehensive list of Continuing Education courses and their corresponding curriculum programs, please visit Approved CE to CU Prior Learning Credits.

Approved Prior Learning Equivalencies

CE Course Taken Equivalent CU Course Credit Hours Awarded Effective Date
EDU 3119A Introduction to Early Childhood Education, 6.4 CEU’s EDU 119 Introduction to Early Childhood Education 4 February 28, 2024