Start your journey toward a meaningful career nurturing and educating young children. Stark State College's associate of applied science in early childhood education program offers a comprehensive, child-centered approach that celebrates diversity and supports the individual needs of children and families in today’s world.
Major code: 1050 Arts and Sciences Division Communication, Humanities, Reading, Education, and American Sign Language Department
The catalog in force is assigned to students based on the academic year they first applied to the college, and changes only when students change their major or request the change in writing. Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-28.
2026-27 Catalog
Effective Summer 2026
Some courses listed within the program may require a prerequisite or co-requisite.
Pre/Co-requisites will be listed within each course hyperlink below.
Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-04 and 3357:15-13-05
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | ||
| EDU122 | Curriculum Design and Instruction (10 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU123 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition (5 O.H.) | 2 |
| EDU124 | Infant Toddler Curriculum (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Educational Technology | ||
| Early Childhood Program Administration | ||
| Phonics for Young Children | ||
| EDU131 | Child Development (10 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU132 | Observation, Assessment, and Group Management (10 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU221 | Language Arts (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU223 | Community and Family-based Programs (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU232 | Literature Across the Curriculum (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU235 | Inclusive Classrooms for Young Children (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU227 | Early Childhood Education Practicum and Seminar (210 Hours) | 3 |
| Non-technical | ||
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC225 | Diversity in American Society | 3 |
| or SOC121 | Sociology | |
| PHL122 | Ethics | 3 |
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Statistics 1 | ||
| COM121 | Effective Speaking | 3 |
| EDU121 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDU225 | The Exceptional Child | 3 |
| EDU229 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Select one (1) Natural Sciences (with lab) Elective | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
- 1
MTH124 Statistics should only be taken by students planning to transfer to a four-year institution.
Note: O.H. = Observation Hours Required. Students must successfully complete all required observation hours and other course assignments in order to pass the course.
Full-time Student Advising Notes
Academic Advising
Students should make an appointment to see their advisor before registering for classes each semester. They should have prepared a completed registration form, including courses they wish to take, prior to this meeting.
Course Sequence
The semester-by-semester listing below provides the normal scheduling option for full-time associate degree students who plan to finish in two years.
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| EDU131 | Child Development (10 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU132 | Observation, Assessment, and Group Management (10 O.H.) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Statistics 1 | ||
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EDU121 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education (30 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU122 | Curriculum Design and Instruction (10 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU123 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition (5 O.H.) | 2 |
| EDU124 | Infant Toddler Curriculum (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU225 | The Exceptional Child | 3 |
| COM121 | Effective Speaking | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| EDU221 | Language Arts (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU223 | Community and Family-based Programs (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| SOC225 or SOC121 |
Diversity in American Society or Sociology |
3 |
| EDU232 | Literature Across the Curriculum (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| EDU235 | Inclusive Classrooms for Young Children (5 O.H.) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| EDU227 | Early Childhood Education Practicum and Seminar (210 Hours) | 3 |
| EDU229 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| PHL122 | Ethics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Educational Technology | ||
| Early Childhood Program Administration | ||
| Phonics for Young Children | ||
| Natural Sciences (with lab) Elective | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Note: O.H. = Observation Hours Required. Students must successfully complete all required observation hours and other course assignments in order to pass the course.
Natural Sciences Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO126 | Environmental Science | 4 |
| BIO127 | Human Biology | 4 |
| CHM100 | Exploring Science and Technology | 4 |
| GEO141 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| PHY105 | Astronomy | 4 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Apply content knowledge in early childhood learning environments.
- Create learning environments that promote growth and development and achievement for all children.
- Know and apply instructional strategies to promote children’s learning and meet the needs and interests of all students.
- Construct and use varied assessments to inform instruction, evaluate, and ensure child learning in Pre-Kindergarten learning environments.
- Collaborate and communicate with children, families, and other educators, administrators and the community to support children’s learning.
- Demonstrate responsibility for professional growth, performance and involvement as an individual and as a member of a learning community.