Programs/Courses

The Clark State Community College Early Childhood Education (ECE) program prepares individuals for employment in licensed child care centers, nursery schools, hospitals, group homes, children's homes and other programs concerned with the well-being, development and education of the infant, toddler, preschool child and the school-aged child enrolled in a child care program.

Degree and Certificate Programs

• Early Childhood Education (AAS Degree)
• Early Childhood Education Administration (AAS Degree)
• Early Elementary Paraprofessional (AAS Degree)
• Early Literacy Development Certificate      
• Child Development Associate Program (for students currently working in a classroom without a degree)
• Early Childhood Education Special Needs
• Early Childhood Education Early Literacy Option
• Early Childhood Education Transfer Option (see catalog)
• Career and Technical Education (ATS)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Child Development Associate Certificate
The program will involve completion of (3) continuous quarters beginning in either January (Winter Series) or September (Fall Series).  The Winter series will be offered at the Greene Center in Beavercreek, and the Fall series will be offered at the Leffel Lane campus in Springfield.  Each quarter a 4.0 credit hour course will focus on specific competencies, for a total of three courses.  The second of the three courses will be an age-specific focus for preschool or infant toddler candidates.

The Winter series will prepare students to meet the September 1 application deadline which involves verification visits during October, November, and December.  The Fall series will prepare students to meet either the June 1 application deadline with verification visits during July, August, and September or the September 1 deadline with verification visits during October, November, and December. STUDENTS SHOULD PLAN TO COMPLETE THE COURSES IN ONE SERIES

Overview
Students receive a total of 320 clock hours of supervised experiences in approved early childhood education settings during Practicums I and II. They are given the opportunity to observe and to complete student teaching with young children in the learning environment. Students have the unique opportunity to spend their practicums in the state-of-the-art Early Childhood Education Center adjacent to the Leffel Lane Campus, operated by Clark State and Springfield-Clark JVS. Seminars I and II give the students the chance to discuss their experiences and share ideas concerning curriculum planning and behavior management.

Certification
The Early Childhood Education program is approved by the Ohio Department of Education as meeting all criteria for preparing individuals for pre-kindergarten associate certification. Students who choose to obtain Pre-Kindergarten certification must meet all guidelines listed in the pre-kindergarten associate certification orientation packet, which is available in the ECE Office.