Early Childhood Education AAS

Associate of Applied Science Degree

Program Director: Deb Huestis

Program Website

The Early Childhood Education AAS degree is offered onsite.

This program is designed to prepare students with the skills needed to be successful working with young children in infant/toddler and early childhood care educational settings.

This credential may lead students directly into the Bachelor of Science Degree in Teaching and Learning.

For more information on other degrees offered for Early Childhood Education, visit the catalog pages for the Early Childhood Education CTS and Early Childhood Education CAS.

Graduates are prepared to:

• Know and understand young children's characteristics and needs.
• Know and understand the multiple influences on development and learning. 
• Use developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments.
• Know about and understand family and community characteristics.
• Support and empower families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.
• Involve families and communities in their children's development and learning. 
• Understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. 
• Know about and use observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches. 
• Understand and practice responsible assessment. 
• Know about assessment partnerships with families and other professionals.
• Know, understand, and use positive relationships and supportive interactions. 
• Know and understand the importance, central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines. 
• Use own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum to promote positive outcomes.
•  Identify and involve themselves with the early childhood field.
• Know about and uphold ethical standards and other professional guidelines.
• Engage in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice.
• Integrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on early education.

Estimated Resident Program Cost*

Estimated Resident Program Cost

Item	Cost
Tuition and Fees	$8,288
Lab/Course Fees	$462
Books/Supplies	$1,145
Total	$9,664

*

Fall 2025 MUS Student Health Insurance Premiums may be changing. Please check the Health Insurance website and/or Student Central for confirmed premium rates.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Spring		Credits
(Students who complete the first semester of courses are eligible for the Early Childhood Education Certificate of Technical Studies degree.)
ECP 100	First Aid and CPR +	1
EDEC 108	Introduction to Early Childhood Education +	3
EDEC 130	Health, Safety & Nutrition in Early Childhood +	4
EDEC 249	Infant/Toddler Development and Group Care +	4
EDEC 251	Montana Preschool Teacher Education +	4
	Credits	16
Fall
(Students who complete the first year of courses are eligible for the Early Childhood Education Certificate of Applied Science degree.)
COMX 115	Introduction to Interpersonal Communication +	3
EDEC 210	Meeting the Needs of Families w/ lab +	4
EDEC 230	Guiding the Young Child with Lab +	4
M 105	Contemporary Mathematics **,+	3
WRIT 101	College Writing I **,+	3
	Credits	17
Second Year
Spring
EDEC 254	Infant/Toddler Evidenced-Based Practices and Assessment *,+	4
EDEC 273	Early Childhood Curriculum and Environments I +	4
EDEC 275	Early Childhood Integrated Curriculum and Environments II *,+	4
Select one of the following:
EDEC 247	Child and Adolescent Growth and Development +	4
PSYX 230	Developmental Psychology +	3
	Credits	15-16
Fall
(Students who complete the two-year program are eligible for the Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science degree.)
EDEC 256	Infant/Toddler Family Partnerships and Family-Centered Interventions *,+	4
EDEC 265	Leadership and Professionalism in Early Childhood Education *,+	4
EDEC 268	Administering Early Care and Education Programs +	4
Gen Ed Core Elective in Music, Art, or Nat. Science		3-4
	Credits	15-16
	Total Credits	63-65

+

A grade of C- or above is required for graduation.

*

Indicates prerequisites needed.

**

Placement in course(s) is determined by placement assessment.