Program Description

The degree will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to work with children, birth through age 8, and their families in a variety of settings including child care centers, heard start programs, family care settings, preschools and in public schools as early childhood teaching assistants. This degree, plus experience, meets the qualification requirement for director of a child care center as specified in the New Mexico child care facilities licensing regulations.

---

Career and Educational Advancement Opportunities

The degree addresses the seven general early childhood education competency areas required as partial fulfillment of the New Mexico Department of Education licensure in early childhood education (birth to third grade). In addition, all course work can be applied toward a bachelor's degree offered by UNM-Main Campus. The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education leads to licensure by the State for public school teachers working with children from birth through the age 8 who are developing both typically and atypically. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all preadmission work.

---

Contact and Advising Information

Information about the associate of arts in early childhood education degree program is available from Advisement Center at 505.925.8560 or vcadvise@unm.edu, or the Academic Affairs Office, at 505.925.8600.

---

Course Prerequisites

Students must meet prerequisites in English and mathematics by achievement of minimum placement scores on the Accuplacer of ACT or through completion of course work.

Course: ENGL 100 and FYEX 1110 or equivalent – or place into ENGL 1110;

ACCUPLACER/ACT Minimum Scores: 263+/19+

Course: MATH 100 and MATH 1996 – or place into MATH 1215 or MATH 1215X;

ACCUPLACER/ACT Min. Scores: 244+ (QRAS)/20

---

Degree Requirements

Communication (6 credits)

ENGL 1120 (Composition II)			3
			3
Select an additional course from CJ 2150, ENGL 2220, or LING 2110. Students pursuing a BS in Early Childhood Education degree at UNM must take CJ 2150 and select an additional course from ENGL 2220 or LING 2110.
Students who do not place into ENGL 1120 may apply the credit hours from the prerequisite ENGL 1110 (or its equivalent ENGL 1110 Y or Z) to help fulfill the Student Choice area requirements below.

Mathematics and Statistics (3 credits)

MATH 2118 (Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers III)

3

Physical and Natural Sciences (4 credits)

			4
Students pursuing a BS in Early Childhood Education at UNM should take all three NTSC courses (1110, 1120, 2110). Any science courses in the UNM Core Curriculum that includes a lab will meet the requirements for the AA degree and are transferable for the BS.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)

			3
Select from ANTH 1115 or 1140, ECON 2110 or 2120, LING 2110, POLS 1140 or 2110, PSYC 1110, and SOCI 1110. Students pursuing a BS in Early Childhood Education at UNM must take an additional course selected from the courses above.

Humanities (3 credits)

			3
Select an additional course from HIST 1150, 1160, 1110, or 1120. Students who intend to continue their studies at UNM must also take HIST 260 and an additional HIST course selected from the UNM Core Curriculum in Humanities.

Second Language (3 credits)

			3
Select one course from the UNM Core Curriculum in Second Language.

Arts and Design (3 credits)

			3
Select one course from the UNM Core Curriculum in Arts and Design.

Student Choice (6 credits)

Select two additional General Education courses from the areas above. Students who do not place into ENGL 1120 may apply the credit hours from the prerequisite ENGL 1110 (or its equivalent ENGL 1110 Y or Z) to help fulfill this area.

Early Childhood Education Core Requirements (29 credits)

ECED 1110 (Child Growth, Development and Learning)			3
ECED 1115 (Health, Safety and Nutrition)			2
ECED 1130 (Family and Community Collaboration I)			3
ECED 1120 (Guiding Young Children)			3
ECED 2120 + 2121 (Curriculum Development through Play – Birth through Age 4 + Lab)			5
ECED 2115 (Introduction to Language, Literacy, and Reading)			3
ECED 2130 + 2131 (Curriculum Development through Play -- Age 3 through Grade 3 + Lab)			5
ECED 1125 (Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs)			3
ECED 2110 (Professionalism)			2