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In addition to being a teacher, you will be a leader, protector, playmate, and role model. As an early childhood educator, it is up to you to create an atmosphere that promotes discovery and intentional learning. At Johnson County Community College, our Early Childhood Education program will prepare you to nurture today’s young learners.

What will I learn in JCCC’s Early Childhood Education program?

You will learn to be a competent professional who educates young children starting at just a few months old and up to age 8. Through observing, planning and interacting, you will help shape these young minds. Our Early Childhood Education program focuses on hands-on experiential learning.

Throughout our Early Childhood Education courses, you will learn:

  • Teaching concepts used in today’s elementary and secondary schools
  • The roles and responsibilities of teachers
  • General principles in child development
  • Curriculum design and classroom management
  • Principles of effective teaching techniques for exceptional children, including those with learning disabilities, behavior disorders or communication disorders
  • Child health, safety and nutrition guidelines

You can earn an Associate of Arts arts degree and a minium of 60 credit hours of diverse courses. When you've copleted the required courses, you will earn an associate degree. You can then go on to pursue a bachelor’s degree or choose to join the workforce as an Early Childhood Education professional.

Why JCCC’s Early Childhood Education program?

As a JCCC student, there will be many tools and resources to aid in your success. The following are several benefits of choosing JCCC’s Early Childhood Education program.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice model

At JCCC, our Early Childhood Education program grew from psychology and child development. We take a Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) approach to Early Childhood Education. The DAP model emphasizes families and other community agencies as important entities in a child’s early learning experiences. The course content of both classroom and lab experiences incorporates the DAP model.

The curriculum is viewed as a fluid process, and the course content is ever-changing as discoveries are made and society expands. A significant goal of the Early Childhood Education program is to provide meaningful learning experiences that meet the needs of individual children and families within the community.

Experienced Early Childhood Education instructors

In our Early Childhood Education program, your courses will be taught by experienced instructors with real-world experience. Each of our Early Childhood Education instructors has worked hands-on in Early Childhood Education while also studying child development and the most effective approaches to teaching.

Early Childhood Education Advisory Board

Many of our programs at JCCC have Advisory Boards that provide students with advice and guidance to be successful in their career field. Our Early Childhood Education Advisory Board is made up of a panel of education professionals as well as health and wellness experts. 

Transferable credits

Many of the credit hours that you earn at JCCC will be transferable to a four-year university. Therefore, if you decide to pursue your bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, you can make a seamless transition to the school of your choosing. Our Transfer Services office can help ensure you meet all the necessary requirements.

Hands-on learning at the HCDC

Thanks to our partnership with the Hiersteiner Child Development Center (HCDC), learning doesn’t just happen in books. HCDC is our nationally accredited, licensed facility for children of JCCC students, faculty and staff and the community. The facility provides education and care to young students, while also providing you with real-world experience.

With the knowledge and expertise you gain from your Early Childhood Education degree, you can enter the workforce to help children in so many ways, including:

  • Lead teacher in a preschool setting or childcare classroom
  • Home childcare provider
  • Child advocate

You can also choose to continue your education by receiving your bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. You then may explore professions such as kindergarten teacher, care center director or child psychologist.

The U.S. Department of Labor compiles statistics on the careers involving K-12 education. Check out information about salary estimates and job prospects here:

Download the Early Childhood Education Program Outlook (PDF) for employment projections and salary information.


Need help with career decisions? Visit the Career Development Center.

The cost of going to college can drastically impact your ability to succeed. At Johnson County Community College, we want our students to be able to afford a program that they love. That’s why we’re constantly working to make tuition more affordable for you.

Here’s what JCCC has to offer:

Textbook and other supply costs vary depending on your courses.

There are several things to consider when budgeting for college. Visit our Cost of Attendance page for detailed information.

Resources and Tools at JCCC

Being a student at JCCC means you have access to a range of services and resources to help you succeed. We offer professional tutoring and small, personalized class sizes. When you attend Johnson County Community College, your education truly matters.

The cost of going to school can be daunting. Fortunately, our Financial Aid office is here to help you through the process. Our counselors can help you find ways to fund your schooling, including scholarships and student loans, both of which can help to reduce the cost of your tuition every semester.

If you need help discovering what your passion will be post-graduation, our Career Development Center and Academic Counseling services are great support tools.

You can also further your education by transferring to a four-year school. JCCC is here to help make the transition to another college program easy and stress-free.