Early Childhood Education

Program Description

Did you know your love of children opens the door to many rewarding professions? Bristol-Plymouth’s Early Childhood Education Program will prepare you for a gratifying career working with young children. Our curriculum is designed to instruct students in the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of children from infancy through age eight. You’ll learn how to maintain a safe and nurturing environment and plan developmentally appropriate activities that are aligned with the MA Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences. By participating in our on-site laboratory child care center along with junior and senior year community internships, you can master Early Childhood Education and Care competencies. The field of Early Childhood Education is one of the fastest growing professions in Massachusetts, with plentiful career opportunities available to well-educated child care professionals. You’ll explore the career ladder of early childhood education and become familiar with the education requirements for various job opportunities. Upon graduating, you’ll be on your way toward productively shaping the lives of countless children through a career in Daycare, Teaching, Social Work, or even Pediatric Nursing.

Instructed Areas

• Child Growth and Development (birth to age eight)
• Maintaining a Safe Environment
• First Aid and CPR (infant, child and adult)
• OSHA 10 Certification
• On-site Laboratory Child Care Center
• Internships in Community Centers
• Opportunity to earn MA EEC Preschool Teacher Certification

Program of Study

Freshman Year: Introduction to child growth and development, guiding children’s health and safety, exploring the role of the early childhood teacher.

Sophomore Year: Child growth and development (birth to age eight), maintaining a safe environment for children, developing interpersonal skills to work with children, planning developmentally appropriate children’s activities, participation in on-site laboratory child care center, OSHA 10 certification.

Junior Year: Investigate career opportunities, develop positive guidance techniques, plan and implement developmentally appropriate children’s activities, basics of child care administration, participation in on-site laboratory child care center, participation in community based early childhood internships.

Senior Year: Opportunity to participate in cooperative education program. participation in community based early childhood internship, accreditation and licensing for child care programs, introduction to administration of child care programs, opportunity to earn MA Early Education and Care (EEC), preschool teacher certification, CPR and First-Aid Certification.

Career Opportunities

• Preschool Teacher
• Kindergarten Teacher
• Elementary Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• Daycare Director
• Daycare Teacher
• Nanny
• Social Worker
• Pediatric Nurse
• Recreation