For related HMS programs, see Related Programs Listing .

Human Services (with a Specialization in Early Childhood Development)

Purpose: The two year associate degree in Early Childhood Development is designed to prepare the student for employment in a variety of situations in which the care, health, safety, and development of young children are the primary objectives.

Occupational Objectives: Child care workers may be employed in facilities such as: Day Care Centers • Family Child Care Programs • Head Start Child Care Centers • Hospital-Based Child Care Programs • On-Site Programs in Business and Industry • Pre-Kindergarten Church-Sponsored Programs • Pre-School At-Risk Programs • Occupational titles may vary according to the workplace and the duties involved. Among the specialties are the following: Assistant Teacher • Day Care Worker • Director • Home-Based Provider • Lead Teacher • Master Teacher • Playroom Attendant • Teacher’s Aide

Admission Requirements: In addition to the requirements for general admission to the college, a personal interview with the program head is recommended.

Program Requirements: The Early Childhood program at NRCC combines general education with specialized courses to prepare students to become professional child care workers. To get the most benefit from the program, students should work closely with their faculty advisor in planning their curriculum including internship experiences. Some courses in the program may transfer to a four-year institution should students decide to continue their education beyond the community college program. Students who plan to transfer after completing the Associate of Applied Science degree requirements in Early Childhood should inform their academic advisor at the beginning of studies to determine the appropriate courses to meet transfer requirements.

Students must successfully complete two supervised internships that include on-the-job teaching experiences in early childhood settings, approved by the Program Head. Application for internship should be made the semester prior to placement. It is recommended that at least one internship be completed in the NRCC Early Learning Center and one internship be completed in the community. Students should note that early childhood programs require a criminal background report and a child abuse central registry search as a prerequisite to beginning the internship experience. A program may deny participation for findings on the reports. Affiliation agreements prevent the placement of a student who is denied internship participation at oneprogram into an internship agreement at another program.

Inability to meet the internship requirements prevents the student from satisfactorily achieving the course objectives resulting in failure of the course.

Students will be required to go through an oral interview at the conclusion of the program for assessment purposes. Upon satisfactory completion of the four-semester program, the student will be awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree in Human Services with a Specialization in Early Childhood Development.