Childhood Education Studies (1-6), A.A.

Degree: Associate in Arts
HEGIS Code: 5649
Curriculum Code: 1802.ELE
Liberal Arts Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: HS or HSE (High School Equivalency) Diploma, Interview, All remedial work completed
Career Opportunities/Further Education: Transfer to designated Western New York Four-Year College to complete Bachelor of Education Degree

• Program Description 
• Program Competencies
• Curriculum

Program Description

The Childhood Education (1-6) degree is designed to provide students with a seamless transfer into the Bachelor of Science Education programs offered by area SUNY institutions Buffalo State and SUNY Fredonia, and a solid foundation of required coursework for transfer to other SUNY campuses and local private colleges that offer education programs. Curriculum areas include: SUNY General Education courses, subject area concentration courses, introductory education courses and other required core courses related to the childhood education curriculum. Included within this program will be early and direct access to teacher practitioners as students complete the clinical field observation experiences in specific pedagogical courses.

When transferring to the four-year college of choice, students will be able to utilize this degree to pursue the Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education 1-6 degree, a dual Certification Program: Teacher of Childhood Education 1-6 and Childhood Special Education degree, a combined Birth to Grade 6 (Early Childhood B-2/Childhood Education 1-6) degree or a Childhood Education 1-6 with a Middle School extension degree. Successful transfer to an education program at the four-year college level will be contingent upon students meeting the four-year college’s admissions criteria, including a minimum GPA required by that institution.

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with Childhood Education Studies (1-6), Associate in Arts degree, the graduate will be able to:

1. model and create aspects of the classroom environment that demonstrate the teaching profession;
2. critically analyze the philosophies of education for use in the classroom;
3. identify, describe and interpret how the historical development of America’s public school system relates to the present-day public-school system; 
4. gain knowledge of the laws and terms governing students with special needs and the implications for the classroom teacher; 
5. utilize appropriate resources to investigate students’ special learning needs and identify appropriate instructional strategies;
6. create and develop an understanding of psychological childhood development and how the home environment and conditions that lead to at-risk children affect the school environment; and
7. demonstrate the foundational concepts in the common core subject areas of English and Mathematics.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 62-64