Early Childhood Development with Child Development Associate Credential Certificate Program

• Use knowledge of child development and relationships with children and families to understand children as individuals and plan for their unique development by organizing environments which facilitate development in all developmental areas.
• Design and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences using methods and materials which promote growth and development.
• Work with parents, families, and community leaders to support growth and development of children by engaging each child in meaningful experiences.
• Observe children in their care to analyze and synthesize information about those children so as to improve their work with children, families, and communities.
• Analyze, evaluate and strengthen their work with children by reflecting upon effective practices and collaborating with other professionals in the field.

Graduates of this program are academically qualified in the State of Massachusetts through the Department of Early Education and Care to be either teacher or lead teacher qualified once work experience is completed as required by the state. For more information contact the Department Chair.

General Advising Notes for this Program

• All developmental courses:  RDG-90, RDG 095 or ESL-098, ENG-090 and ENG-095 must be taken and completed with a grade of C or higher before beginning the first semester towards a two semester certificate plan. 
• Students are encouraged to take fewer courses and go slower if they have life responsibilities with family, work and personal challenges; these part-time students and/or those taking 1, 2 or 3 per semester are encouraged to use a longer route to completion to assure quality work. 
• ENG-111 is required at the beginning semester as the program requires much reading and writing and student must be fully prepared for intense writing assignments in ECE courses.
• ECE-103 must be completed in first semester with a C or better to move to other ECE courses in subsequent semesters.  All ECE courses after the first semester require ECE-103 to be completed with this grade requirement. 
• ECE-103 and ECE-106 are courses required to be certified by Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC).
• No other developmental Psychology courses may be substituted for ECE-103.  Only ECE-103 is allowed for this degree plan and will not be counted toward qualifications for certification by Massachusetts DEEC. 
• The LCS must be taken in first semester and is only allowed for those students with no prior college experience; if the student is transferring or has prior college experience, the student may substitute a previous college course for the LCS through the college course waiver process (see Department Chair or ECE Coordinator for assistance). Recommended LCS for ECE students:  LCS-101J Parents as First Teachers.