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Early Childhood Education CAS
Certificate of Applied Science Degree
Program Director: Deb Huestis
This program is offered in person; however, some of the course work may be available in online or hybrid format- discuss options with your advisor.
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*
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $4, 028 |
| Lab/Course Fees | $462 |
| Books/Supplies | $1,045 |
| Total | $5,536 |
- *
Fall 2024 MUS Student Health Insurance Premiums may be changing. Please check the Health Insurance website and/or Student Central for confirmed premium rates.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | 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 | |
| Spring | ||
| 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.