Early Childhood Education CAS

Certificate of Applied Science Degree

Program Director: Deb Huestis

Program Website

The Early Childhood Education CAS 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 stackable credential may lead students directly into the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education.

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 AAS.

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. 
• 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. 
• Identify and involve themselves with the early childhood field.
• Know about and uphold ethical standards and other professional guidelines.

Estimated Resident Program Cost*

Estimated Resident Program Cost

Item	Cost
Tuition and Fees	$4,144
Lab/Course Fees	$35
Books/Supplies	$1,045
Total	$5,536

*

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
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
	Total Credits	33

+

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

*

Indicates prerequisites needed.

**

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