Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Early Childhood Education

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Early Childhood Education provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum in early childhood education. Students study child development, curriculum design and development, theory and practice in the education of young children, and the intersections of family, community, and childhood learning and development. Students who earn the AA, Early Childhood Education may work in early childhood settings and programs as early childhood educators and teacher assistants. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Education, students may work as teachers of children from birth to third grade. The AA, Early Childhood Education provides a pathway for students seeking Arizona Department of Education teacher certification.

Details

Field of Interest
Education
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Early Childhood Education (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8132
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

For some employment and field experiences (including internship courses), students will be required to have a current Identity Verified Print (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card and a current TB test.

This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following transfer partners:

ASU, Early Childhood Education, BAE

MCC, Early Childhood Education-Dual Language, BA

NAU, Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education, BSE

Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: ASU , NAU .

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

What You'll Learn
  • Evaluate developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate learning experiences that promote each child`s growth and development in the following domains: Social-Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, and Language and Literacy.
  • Identify the components necessary for a safe, caring, inclusive, and healthy learning environment according to best practices and local, state, and national standards.
  • Analyze children`s learning and development through observation and documentation, using standards and best practices.
  • Identify reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships between early childhood professionals, families and communities.
  • Develop communication skills necessary to advocate for children and their families.
  • Practice ethical and professional standards and behavior.
  • Advocate for an ethical, equitable, diverse, and effective early childhood education profession.
  • Engage in reflective practice and continuous learning through education and research.
  • Develop problem solving skills relevant to early childhood education.
  • Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Statistics

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
$45,570
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
$50,830
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$32,930
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$52,650

There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:

  • Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
  • Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
  • Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH176 Child Development SB 3
EED200 Foundations of Early Childhood Education 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MAT14+ or
MAT15+ or
MAT187		 College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions or Precalculus Critical course OR Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT15+ is a prerequisite MA or MA or MA 3–6
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU225 Professionalism and Ethics in Education 1
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
MAT256 Investigating Quantity: Number, Operations and Numeration Systems 4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
Elective Elective 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EED222 Introduction to the Exceptional Young Child: Birth to Age Eight C, SB 3
EED225 Language and Literacy in the Context of Culture and Relationships C, HU 3
GCU/POS113 or
(HIS103 and
POS221)		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or (United States History to 1865 and Arizona Constitution) H, SB or H, HU, SB 3–4
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU220 or
EDU239 or
EDU240		 Introduction to Serving English Language Learners (ELL) or Structured English Immersion Grades K-8 or Structured English Immersion Grades 6-12 L or None or None 3
CS Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application EDU115 or EED115 recommended CS 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design EDU/ENH291 recommended HU 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS/ECH176 Child Development SB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT14+ or
MAT15+ or
MAT187		 College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions or Precalculus Critical course OR Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT15+ is a prerequisite MA or MA or MA 3–6
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EED200 Foundations of Early Childhood Education 3
EDU225 Professionalism and Ethics in Education 1
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT256 Investigating Quantity: Number, Operations and Numeration Systems 4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
Elective Elective 0–3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EED222 Introduction to the Exceptional Young Child: Birth to Age Eight C, SB 3
GCU/POS113 or
(HIS103 and
POS221)		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or (United States History to 1865 and Arizona Constitution) H, SB or H, HU, SB 3–4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EED225 Language and Literacy in the Context of Culture and Relationships C, HU 3
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EDU220 or
EDU239 or
EDU240		 Introduction to Serving English Language Learners (ELL) or Structured English Immersion Grades K-8 or Structured English Immersion Grades 6-12 L or None or None 3
CS Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application EDU115 or EED115 recommended CS 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design EDU/ENH291 recommended HU 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

General Electives

Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.

Course Area Key

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=16456328).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Arts (AA) in Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Early Childhood Education