Early Childhood Education Program Now at Community Care College
Do you love working with kids and believe that you could be a positive influence in their lives?

Do you love working with kids and believe that you could be a positive influence in their lives? A new opportunity has opened up for Tulsa area residents who wish to have a meaningful career in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Community Care College now offers an ECE program with two options – a diploma or an associate’s degree in applied science.

Research shows that young children benefit from having a nurturing caregiver, developmentally appropriate materials and activities, positive peer interactions and a safe learning environment in which they can take an active role in the learning process. The ECE program is committed to preparing students to enter the field with the skills needed to help children succeed not only in school, but in life.

CCC’s new program follows the developmental standards and teacher preparation guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which are geared to be reflective of what has been learned to be the best practices in early childhood education.

The program addresses all aspects of ECE: child growth and development, language and literacy, creative expression, health and safety, positive guidance, family and community interaction, class management, and curriculum and lesson planning. Graduates of the program will be prepared to work in a variety of early childhood settings, including child care centers, Head Start programs, family child care homes, before and after school programs, public schools and preschools.

Students can enroll in the 31-week diploma program, or they can obtain an associate’s degree in the 61-week program. With the diploma, graduates receive the knowledge and skills that will allow them to gain employment in virtually any child care setting. The associate’s degree also allows students to work in any child care setting – with a greater salary potential – as well as work in public schools as a paraprofessional

Classes begin in mid-September and meet Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each class is on a three-week rotation schedule.

Course format involves mini-lectures and informational sessions, plus lots of hands-on activities, including videos and a required internship.

The internship is 180 hours long, with the student working in a real-world child care setting roughly 40 hours per week during the last five weeks of the program. The majority of the students will intern at Totally Kids, CCC’s onsite child care center for staff and students. Totally Kids is not a typical “daycare” – emphasis is on engaging the children through song and dance, educational activities, arts & crafts, reading and playtime. With approval, interns may complete an externship at another location. For instance, a public school would be a more suitable location for someone studying to become a paraprofessional.