Many of our classes are offered in the evening, but some classes include a lab that must be taken during the day.

Earning an associate's degree in early childhood education won't make you a licensed/certified teacher.

You will not be able to teach in the public schools with only an associate's degree in early childhood education, but you may be able to work as a paraeducator in public schools, and credits may transfer to other colleges and universities.

Teacher licensure is not required to work in early childhood care and education centers.

Earning your associate’s degree could help you become a center director, a lead teacher in a preschool setting or child care classroom, a home child care provider or an employee of an agency that advocates for young children.

While an associate's degree in early childhood education is not required to become a preschool teacher or child care worker, many centers are requiring some education in early childhood education prior to employment.

If you begin in the one-year certificate program and decide to earn your associate's degree in early childhood education, most of your certificate class credits will transfer.

And, through a partnership with Emporia State University, you can earn a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from ESU right here on the JCCC campus.

For additional information, see:

• Early Childhood Education, AS, in the JCCC catalog
• Transfer Information and Services
• JCCC/ESU Elementary Education Partnership