Program Overview

Child Care Services

Program Overview

The Child Care Services technical diploma from Madison College prepares you to work as a teacher-caregiver in early childhood settings. It combines hands-on fieldwork in area centers with related academic work at the college. Graduates are prepared to assist in the care and education of children in the birth-to-6-years age range. You will create and maintain safe and healthy play environments, guide behavior, plan and implement learning activities, and work cooperatively with staff and parents.

Following completion of the Child Care Services technical diploma, you may transfer directly into the Associate Degree of Early Childhood Education as the courses in this technical diploma are part of the Applied Associate ECE degree.

Upon admission to the program, you will complete a background and criminal history check form and submit it to the program director. Look for this form in your student email. Information obtained from the background may affect your ability to secure a practicum placement.

Prior to taking ECE: Introductory Practicum, you must show evidence of a physical examination including TB test using the State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Staff Health Report - Child Care Provider Form.

Travel to fieldwork sites is necessary and is your responsibility.

Some courses in the program involve preparation of learning materials, field trips, etc. that may involve additional expenses.

Program Details

• Students in the Child Care Services Program may attend full or part time.
• Child Care Services courses may be offered at these Madison College campuses:
  • Madison - South
  • Online

Careers

Earning your diploma in the Child Care Services program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work as:

• Child Care Teachers
  • Work in full-day and part-day child care programs, nursery schools and Head Start programs.
• Child Care Assistant Teachers
  • Work under the supervision of a child care teacher.
• Family Child Care Providers
  • Care for eight children or less in provider's home.
• Infant or Toddler Caregivers
  • Care for children under two years of age.
• In-home Providers/Nannies
  • Provide care in the child's home.
• Early Childhood Educational Assistants
  • Work in district approved early childhood programs, and four-years-old kindergarten programs.
• Early Childhood Special Needs Assistants
  • Work in district approved early childhood programs, and four-years-old kindergarten programs.

Resources

• Essential Functions for ECE students
• Transfer Opportunities
• Placement Testing
• Foundational Non-Credit ECE Courses

Curriculum and Experience

First Semester

• ECE: Social Studies, Art, and Music (3 credits)
• ECE: Foundations of Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
• ECE: Infant & Toddler Development (3 credits)
• ECE: Health, Safety, & Nutrition (3 credits)
• ECE: Field Experience 1 (3 credits)

Second Semester

• ECE: Early Language and Literacy (3 credits)
• ECE: Child Development (3 credits)
• ECE: Guiding Children's Behavior (3 credits)
• ECE: Field Experience 2 (3 credits)

Admission

Admission Requirements

• All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
• Admission Application
• Education Completion
  • Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:
    • High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED completion
    • College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale

Additional Notes

• Individual courses may have prerequisites to enroll. Admission into a program or waiting list does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses.
• See the Curriculum section for the list of courses for the program.

Waiting List

This program uses a waiting list to manage program admission due to capacity limitations and high program demand. This means there are typically more applicants than there are open seats in the program.

A waiting list helps us manage applications in a way that is fair and transparent.

Students on the waiting list receive priority in future terms based on the date they complete all application requirements. Priority does not guarantee a spot in the program.

You may remain on the waiting list if you continue to follow the steps to notify Madison College of your continued interest.

Career Outcomes

Madison College Child Care Services graduates are prepared to:

• Apply child development theory to practice.
• Cultivate relationships with children, family and the community.
• Assess child growth and development.
• Use best practices in teaching and learning.
• Demonstrate professionalism.
• Integrate health, safety, and nutrition practices.

Graduate Summary

• Number of Program Graduates: 28 (2022), 26 (2023), 31 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Sent: 28 (2022), 26 (2023), 31 (2024)
• Number of Surveys Returned: 21 (2022), 21 (2023), 23 (2024)
• Percent of Surveys Returned: 75% (2022), 80.8% (2023), 74.2% (2024)

Graduate Employers

• Eagle's Wing Child Care Center
• Hickory Hill Academy
• Tenney Nursery & Parent Center
• The Playing Field
• Tiny's Academy

Related Programs

• Early Childhood Education
• Basic Early Childhood Educator
• Early Childhood Education Infant & Toddler
• Early Childhood Education Preschool
• Early Childhood Education Diversity Credential
• Early Childhood Education Administrator