Early Childhood Development

Program Options

Students may choose to pursue one or several options within the Early Childhood Development program:
 --  Certificate, 16 credits
 --  Diploma, 36 credits
 --  Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree, 63 credits
 --  Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree, 64 credits

A.A.S. Degree Program Overview

The Early Childhood Development program is designed to prepare students as child development professionals in a variety of settings. Courses include child development, family dynamics, teaching strategies, children with special needs and more. Courses are delivered in a convenient and flexible format -- during the day and in the evenings, plus, courses are enhanced with online delivery so learners may collaborate with peers via virtual class discussions, e-mail and message boards. These courses meet the Minnesota Department of Human Services requirements for childcare workers.

Program Plan  

Certificate (16 credits)

CDEV 1200 Professional Relations in Early Childhood Careers (3)
CDEV 1210 Foundations of Child Development (3)
CDEV 1220 Child Safety, Health & Nutrition (4)
CDEV 1230 Guidance: Managing the Physical & Social Environment (3)
CDEV 1240 Family & Community Relations (3)


Diploma (20 additional credits)

ENGL 1276 College Composition (4)
CDEV 1340 Planning & Implementing Curriculum (4)
CDEV 2510 Internship (3)
COCP 1201 Microsoft Office Basics (2)
PTCG 1225 Job Seeking (1)
Technical Elective (3)
General Education Elective, Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal Area 5 - History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (3)

A.A.S. Degree (27 additional credits)

PHIL 1220 Human Ethics (3)
PHIL 1271 Critical Thinking in Modern Society (3)
General Education Elective, Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, any goal area (3)
CDEV 2530 Challenging Behaviors (3)
CDEV 2600 Professional Leadership (3)
CDEV 2620 Inclusion: Special Needs & Mixed Age Groups (3)
CDEV 2640 Program Planning (3)
CDEV 2810 Practicum (3)
Technical Elective (3)

Recommended technical electives include: American Sign Language, First Aid/CPR, Infant & Toddler Development & Learning, Preschool Development & Learning, School Age Development & Learning, Profiles of the Exceptional Child, Sensory-Motor Learning Experiences, Emotional Learning Experiences, Multicultural Learning Experiences, Creative Development Learning Experiences, Language & Literature Learning Experiences.

A.S. Degree Program Overview

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree prepares students to organize and lead activities and provide nurturing care for children in early childhood programs such as child care centers, family child care, preschool/nursery schools, elementary classrooms and before/after-school programs. Graduates of the A.S. degree will know how to promote and communicate knowledge of child development; create healthy, respectful and challenging learning environments; create and maintain respectful and supportive relationships with families; and design and implement developmentally and culturally appropriate activities and curriculum. Articulation opportunities exist with other colleges and universities to complete bachelor degree programs after completing the A.S. degree.

Program Plan

A.S. Degree (64 credits)

ENGL 1276 College Composition (4)
ENGL 2200 Advanced Composition (3)
SPCH 1270 Introduction to Speech (3)
SOCI 1220 Marriage, Family and Relationships (3)
MN Transfer Goal Area 3 - Natural Sciences (7)
MN Transfer Goal Area 4 - Mathematical / Logical Reasoning (3)
MN Transfer Goal Area 5 - History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences (3)
MN Transfer Goal Area 6-10 - Electives (6)
CDEV 1200 Professional Relations in Early Childhood Careers (3)
CDEV 1210 Foundations of Child Development (3)
CDEV 1220 Child Safety, Health & Nutrition (4)
CDEV 1230 Guidance: Managing the Physical & Social Environment (3)
CDEV 1240 Family & Community Relations (3)
CDEV 1340 Planning & Implementing Curriculum (4)
CDEV 2510 Internship (3)
CDEV 2600 Professional Leadership (3)
CDEV 2620 Inclusion: Special Needs & Mixed Age Groups (3)
CDEV 2810 Practicum (3)

Course Outlines

For more specific information about this program's required courses, visit the Course Outlines page.

About E-LECT

Thirteen (13) of Minnesota's community and technical colleges created a consortium to make courses in early childhood development more accessible, and consortium members deliver required child development courses online. PTC is proud to be a member of the E-LECT Consortium. For more information about E-LECT at PTC, contact the PTC Early Childhood Development advisor directly: Melissa Felland, tel: 320-629-4537, or e-mail: fellandm@pinetech.edu.

Cost of Program 

To determine the cost of this program, visit the Tuition and Fees page. Specific to the Early Childhood Development program and per PTC Policy 223, students are required to complete an annual criminal background study. A $20 fee is charged for the background study.

Career and Employment Information

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of teacher assistants is expected to grow somewhat faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. Although school enrollments are projected to increase only slowly over the next decade, the student population for which teacher assistants are most needed-special education students and students for whom English is not their first language-is expected to increase more rapidly than the general school-age population.

Employment of childcare workers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012. The number of women of childbearing age (widely considered to be ages 15 to 44) in the labor force and the number of children under 5 years of age is expected to rise gradually over the projected 2002-12 period.  

Transfer Options

PTC's Early Childhood Development program has several transfer/articulation agreements with four-year colleges or universities, listed below (in alphabetical order by university name):

Metropolitan State University

PTC's A.A.S. and A.S. degrees are articulated with Metropolitan State University's bachelor degree programs in Child Studies and Psychology.

Southwest Minnesota State University

PTC's A.A.S. and A.S. degrees are articulated with Southwest Minnesota State University's Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education (Birth to Grade 3); plus, the program is offered online.

University of Wisconsin, River Falls

PTC's A.A.S. and A.S. degrees are articulated with the Early Childhood Education (Birth to Age 8) licensure program at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. 

Testimonials 

"I work full time, and I'm only able to go to school part time. The instructors are very encouraging and want to help you succeed in whatever path you choose to follow. Classes are very fun, interesting, challenging and especially beneficial because they are taught in a hands-on method. I would encourage anyone interested in the early childhood field to attend PTC." -- Heidi M., alumna

"I have been enrolled in the program for two years, and it's continually fascinating to learn about the most useful techniques and applications. PTC's instructors and the overall program is spot-on, as far as staying current with industry practices and standards and relaying those lessons and practices to us." -- Rechelle T., alumna