Program Overview

Early Childhood Education Program

The Early Childhood Education degree is offered by the Teacher Education unit at Hostos Community College. It is designed to prepare students with the background, knowledge, and skills for employment in schools, child-care centers, and other agencies providing programs for infants and young children from birth through age 8.

Program Description

The course of study combines classroom instruction with workshops, seminars, and field experiences. Students have an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge through first-hand experiences in the methods and materials of instruction and by observing and participating in early-childhood activities.

Degree Options

There are two paths for students considering a career in teaching or child care:

• The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) has a required core of nine Education courses, which provides a solid background in early-childhood education.
• The Associate in Arts (A.A.) with the concentration in Teacher Education gives students majoring in Liberal Arts the opportunity to see if a future major in Education is of interest to them.

Concentration and Electives

The program offers an optional concentration in bilingual education for those interested in working, and also prepares students for future studies in elementary and/or special education. EDU 226 Introduction to Instructional Technology can be taken as an elective, meeting the New York State guidelines for developing the ability of future teachers to include computational thinking and computer literacy into their lesson plans and activities.

Course Offerings

All required Education courses are typically offered in multiple, rotating modalities (on campus, online, and hybrid) to meet the scheduling needs of students. Classes are scheduled during the day, evening, and on Saturdays, and there are four courses that have writing-intensive (WI) sections.

Program Outcomes and Requirements

The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of early childhood education, including the theoretical foundations, methods, and materials of instruction. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for employment in schools, child-care centers, and other agencies providing programs for infants and young children from birth through age 8.