Learn about the developmental needs while exploring your academic interests with a major in Early Childhood Education at ¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ.
The Early Childhood Education program at Dean is designed to provide you with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge in the fundamentals of childcare and education for young children.
¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ offers an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, which prepares students for certification through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) as Preschool Teacher, Lead Teacher and Infant-Toddler Teacher.
You’ll study the developmental stages of young children, developmentally appropriate teaching methodologies, adaptive curriculum planning, partnering with families and evaluation of children and programs, and more as you prepare for career opportunities with young children from infancy through age six in the mixed-delivery system outside the public schools.
You will gain valuable hands-on experience in our on-campus lab school, which reflects current research in child development and early childhood education. The student teaching experience requires a minimum of 200 hours working directly with children in an approved placement. You will work with an assigned college supervisor and an EEC licensed, site-based cooperating practitioner, increasingly taking responsibility for managing the classroom, designing learning experiences, and communicating with families and administrators. You’ll also develop a performance portfolio documenting your competencies and attend scheduled seminars.