Elbert County Campus

Early Childhood Care and Education

Programs

Diploma Program

The Diploma Program in Early Childhood Care and Education prepares students to work with infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and their families. 

Associate Degree

The Associate Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education prepares students to work with infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and their families, plus with school-age children as assistants in public school systems or in after-school or summer programs.

Both the Diploma Program and Associate Degree provide the 120-contact hours of training required for the Child Development Associate (CDA)*.

Infant/Toddler Child Care Specialist - Technical Certificate of Credit

The purpose of this Technical Certificate is to provide a solid Early Childhood Care and Education foundation of knowledge, skills, attitudes and techniques that will improve the quality of care of Georgia’s infants and toddlers.

Child Development Associate I - Technical Certificate of Credit

The CDA I Certificate Program is designed to meet the training needs of persons already working in the field of early care and education.  This program is designed to provide the minimum formal training in early care and education competencies, knowledge, skills and techniques required to apply for a CDA*.

*Child Development Associate (CDA)

The Child Development Associate credential is not issued by the technical college but by the Council for Early Childhood Recognition in Washington, D.C.  It must be applied for and paid for separately from this program. 

Educational requirements for the CDA state that candidates must complete 120-clock hours of formal child-care education within the past five years, with no fewer than 10 hours in each of the following subject areas:

• Planning a safe, healthy learning environment;
• Implementing steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual growth;
• Identifying positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development and providing positive guidance;
• Developing strategies to establish productive relationships with families;
• Maintaining a commitment to professionalism;
• Observing and recording the behavior of children;
• Understanding the principles of child growth and development; and ensuring well-run, purposeful programs that are responsive to participant’s needs.

Once achieved, the CDA is recognized nationally by Head Start and, in Georgia, by State Pre-K programs and many other public and private early care and education providers.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program qualify as day care center teachers, lead teachers in Pre-K programs, directors or teachers’ assistants in public school systems or special needs facilities, home day care or group day care providers, and nannies.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit:
Completed and signed application for admission and nonrefundable application fee;
Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past; and Valid ASSET, COMPASS, SAT, or ACT test scores.

Persons enrolling in the Technical Certificate of Credit - Child Development Associate I program must have completed a minimum of 480 hours of work in the field with young children.

Prior to enrolling in a lab course, students must provide the following documentation:

• Satisfactory criminal record check (Georgia law prohibits the placement of persons with criminal records in childcare facilities.  Because employment options may be severely limited in the early childhood profession, applicants who receive unsatisfactory criminal records checks are discouraged from pursuing the Early Childhood Care and Education program of study and may need to consider other options).
• Verification of liability insurance;
• Basic cardiac life support and first aid training; and
• Verification of health and accident insurance.

Malpractice Insurance

Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Care and Education program must have malpractice insurance, and they may purchase this insurance at the Business Office on the Elbert County Campus.  The group policy runs from July 1 through June 30 regardless of the date of payment by students.  The insurance company does not prorate student payments.

Curriculum

73 quarter credit hours
General Core 13 credit hours Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development English General Mathematics Essential Fundamental Occupational Core 27 credit hours Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education Human Growth and Development I Health, Safety, and Nutrition Curriculum Development	Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum I Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum II Introduction to Microcomputers Essential Specific Occupational Courses 33 credit hours Art for Children Music and Movement Language Arts and Literature Math and Science Social Issues and Family Involvement Early Childhood Care and Education Internship
Associate Degree Program
General Education 30 credit hours Composition and Rhetoric Composition and Rhetoric II Mathematical Modeling OR College Algebra Introductory Psychology Introduction to Sociology OR General core elective at 191 level or above Fundamental of Speech Professional Core 27 credit hours Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education Human Growth and Development I Health, Safety, and Nutrition Curriculum Development	Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum I Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum II Introduction to Microcomputers Professional Major 53 credit hours Arts for Children Music and Movement Language Arts and Literature Math and Science Exceptionalities Social issues and Family Involvement Human Growth and Development II Methods and Materials Professional Practices Early Childhood Care and Education Internship
Child Development Associate I - Technical Certificate of Credit
19 credit hours Intro to Early Childhood Care Human Growth and Development I Health, Safety, and Nutrition CDA Certificate Preparation CDA Certificate Assessment
Infant/Toddler Child Care Specialist - Technical Certificate of Credit
25 credit hours Intro to Early Childhood Care Human Growth and Development I Health, Safety, and Nutrition Infant and Toddler Development Infant and Toddler Group Care

Contacts

Leslie Malanoski, Early Childhood Care
and Education Program Director, lmalanoski@athenstech.edu
or (706) 213-2124