Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education Study Programs

Amador College Connect connects you to a variety of Child Development program options including AA Degrees, Certificates of Achievement, Degrees for Transfer & Apprenticeships from your choice of 3 different colleges. 

Coastline Child & Adolescent Development AA Degree Program

The Child and Adolescent Development Associate in Arts for Transfer was designed specifically to address the teacher shortage in California and as an alternative choice for students interested in the interdisciplinary field of Child and Adolescent development either as a stand-alone paraprofessional degree or a career ladder for transfer. This degree gives students the lower division preparation required by CSU’s to pursue alternative career paths in child and adolescent development such as elementary or special education teaching and other careers working with children and families. Visit the Coastline College website to learn more about program details, requirements, and a map to success.

Coastline Early Childhood Education Certificate of Achievement

The ECE certificate serves as an Early Child Education unit completion pathway and represents a career ladder approach to a credential or permit or a stand-alone entity to document that a student has taken 16 units of Early Childhood Education coursework. Coursework is aligned with subject matter proficiency for the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills for successful employment as a teacher’s aide, after-school program assistant, tutoring or other paraprofessional level classroom career in ECE classrooms. Visit the Coastline College website for more program details, employment examples, program requirements, & a road map to success.

Foothill College AA Degree & Degree for Transfer

The Child Development Program is an academic and vocational training program that prepares students for future work as early childhood educators in diverse early childhood settings. Courses and certificates are designed to meet entry-level requirements for the level of work chosen and/or meet the requirements needed to obtain a California Child Development Permit to become an Assistant Teacher, Associate Teacher, Teacher, Master Teacher and/or Site Supervisor in state-licensed, publicly funded, center-based child care and development programs. Students planning to transfer to a four-year university as a child development or related major may be able to apply some child development units toward the lower division major preparation requirements or qualify for the AS-T in Early Childhood Education.

Columbia College Child Development Degrees

Our program offers courses that align with the hands-on experiences of an early childhood educator while meeting the requirements for employment and/or transfer to 4-year university. Whether you’re a new student or a seasoned teacher, our classes can help you achieve your goals of higher education, stay up-to-date with the latest research, learn best practices, and earn the units you need to be hired or advance at your workplace.

Columbia College Child Development Apprenticeship

A two-year program that results in an Associate Teacher Permit and a Certificate of Completion as a Registered Apprentice through the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Apprentices work as aides, assistants, or associate teachers in infant, toddler, or preschool classrooms or elementary after-school programs and are strongly encouraged to pursue additional coursework toward an Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education.