Early Childhood Education
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Early Childhood Education

The OCC Early Childhood Education program provides training to effectively work with young children in a variety of areas. A degree in Early Childhood Education offers many transfer and career opportunities.

The program satisfies requirements for Michigan licensing as directors of a child care centers, lead teachers in child care centers, home-based center providers, and assistant teachers in public school early childhood programs and Head Start agencies.

Our teaching approach and curriculum is based on the constructivism approach. We believe that active learning is not just for young children, but also for adult learners. Learning is experienced in the Early Childhood Education program-not just taught

Did you know? There are many potential directions this degree can take you including, Child Care Center Directors, Child Care Center teachers and aides, State-funded Preschool and Head Start teachers and aides, Home Child Care providers, Early Childhood Education Non-Profit agencies staff, Community Program staff, Teacher Para-professionals, Preschool teachers and aides, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies staff. 

Scholarships

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

This program is offered on the Highland Lakes campus.

Prospective students must meet standard OCC eligibility requirements - there is an open admissions policy, placement test and a new student orientation required in most cases. Students must meet with an OCC counselor before attempting this plan of study.

PROGRAM POLICIES

  1. ECE courses are offered mornings, afternoons, and evenings. We also have hybrids and Saturday (7 weeks) offerings. Attendance is required for all courses. There is na ECE specific attendance policy.
  2. Students must earn a minimum of 2.0 in all ECE and supportive courses. Students who are planning to transfer to a bachelor program should check the transfer guide for the institution to which you are transferring for more information about transfer requirements.
  3. All required fieldwork and internship hours must be completed in an assigned setting
  4. Students may not count any previous hours or double count hours from 2 classes.
  5. Students will need a DHS – Central Registry Clearance and a State of Michigan Criminal Background check (ICHAT) to complete the hours. Additionally, students may be asked for others documents such as TB test and physicals.
  6. Students can take classes in any order as long as prerequisites are completed.
  7. General education classes can be interwoven throughout the semesters