Associate of Arts in Early Childhood, AAEC

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The Associate of Arts in Early Childhood (AAEC) degree offers foundational knowledge and competencies aligned with state and national standards for early childhood educator professional preparation. In Arizona, certified and endorsed early childhood educators are required to have specific coursework and practicum experiences working with children birth to age eight The AAEC supports students who wish to continue their education toward a Bachelor’s degree and who may have an interest in teaching in a public school (preschool - 3rd grade) as a state certified and/or endorsed educator.

The AAEC degree is an appropriate option for students pursuing transfer into NPC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education or to another public university in Arizona.

The AAEC fulfills both the set of lower division general education requirements of the Arizona General Education Curriculum and a portion of Arizona’s requirements for teacher certification and/or endorsement.

Total Credits: 61

Completion of the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood degree also fulfills the requirements for the Arizona General Education Certificate of Proficiency .

General Education Courses: 32 Credits

Arts and Humanities: 6 Credits

(Select two courses under Arts and Humanities in the General Education Course Options .)

Written and Oral Communication: 6 Credits

ENL 101 - College Composition I Credits: 3
ENL 102 - College Composition II Credits: 3

Natural Sciences: 4 Credits

(Select one course under Natural Sciences in the General Education Course Options .)

Quantitative Reasoning: 3 Credits

Select one of the following:
MAT 142 - College Mathematics with Contemporary Applications Credits: 3
MAT 152 - Advanced Algebra Credits: 3

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credits

(Select two courses under Social and Behavioral Sciences in the General Education Course Options . Between Social and Behavioral Sciences and Institutions in the Americas, students must take courses within at least two different prefixes.)

Institutions in the Americas: 3 Credits

Select one of the following. Between Social and Behavioral Sciences and Institutions in the Americas, students must take courses within at least two different prefixes.

HIS 105 - U.S. History to 1877 Credits: 3
POS 110 - United States Government Credits: 3

Additional Requirements: 4 Credits

Select one of the following:

Language…………………………………………………………….4 credits

One Language course in the General Education Course Options .
OR
Natural Sciences…………………………………………………4 credits
One unduplicated course under Natural Sciences in the General Education Course Options .

Core Requirements: 29 Credits

ECD 110 - Building Relationships with Families Credits: 1
ECD 128 - Culture, Language and Community Credits: 1
ECD 135 - Survey of Child Development Credits: 3
ECD 141 - Healthy and Safe Early Childhood Practices Credits: 2
ECD 145 - Foundations in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
ECD 175 - Professionalism Credits: 1
ECD 184 - Early Social and Emotional Development Credits: 2
ECD 186 - Effective Interactions for Learning Credits: 1
ECD 187 - Supporting STEM in Early Childhood Credits: 1
ECD 188 - Policies and Procedures in Early Childhood Programs Credits: 1
ECD 208 - Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Credits: 1
ECD 217 - Early Childhood Language and Literacy Credits: 1
ECD 222 - Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education Credits: 3
ECD 290 - Early Childhood Practicum I Credits: 1
ECD 297 - Early Childhood Education Capstone Credits: 1
MAT 161 - Algebra-based Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I Credits: 3
MAT 162 - Algebra-based Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II Credits: 3