Early Childhood Education
Training to Help You Develop Young Minds
As an Early Childhood Education student at Kirkwood, you’ll learn how to make an impact on the next generation of learners.
You'll participate in a variety of community early childhood programs, including Head Start centers, kindergarten classrooms, voluntary four-year-old programs, and child care centers. We encourage experience in inclusive and diverse settings.
Classes focus on the care and education of young children where you will gain knowledge about child development, nutrition, safety, and appropriate childhood curriculum and environments.
With this Associate of Applied Science (AAS) track, you can graduate and go straight into the workforce. If you're planning on transferring to another college or university to continue your education, choose the Associate of Arts (AA) degree.
Kirkwood offers more than $3 million in scholarships for students each year, and there are many specifically for students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program.
Graduates of the Early Childhood Education program will be able to:
- Demonstrate child development knowledge by using this knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments for young children including those who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of family and community characteristics by creating opportunities for families to be involved in their children’s development and learning.
- Practice a variety of child assessment techniques and utilize these assessments to plan curriculum and individualized instruction for young children including those who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.
- Use a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning experiences to support the development of young children including those who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.
- Use their knowledge of early learning standards and evidence-based resources and practices to design curriculum for young children including those who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.
- Demonstrate professional skills: collaboration, problem solving, commitment to NAEYC Code of Ethics, ability to follow policies, advocacy, and dispositions of effective teachers including sensitivity to culture, language, and ability.
An AAS degree in Early Childhood Education prepares you for entry level employment such as:
- Childcare/school-age director, lead or teacher
- Early Head Start teacher
- Head Start assistant teacher
- Assistant teacher/paraprofessional
- Childcare operator
Explore future career opportunities:
Program Costs
Early Childhood Education
School Year: 2024–25
Program Entry Semester: Fall, Spring, Summer
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours per Semester | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 63 |
| In-State Tuition | $3,906 | $3,255 | $3,255 | $3,255 | $13,671 |
| Technology Fee per Semester | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $200 |
| Clinical Expenses (mileage, lodging, screenings, etc.) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Conferences/Seminars | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Course Resources (textbooks, software, etc.) | $420 | $430 | $393 | $262 | $1,505 |
| Course/Section Fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Laptop (required devices) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Testing Fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Third Party Credentials | $79 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $79 |
| Tool Sets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Uniforms | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other | $45 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $45 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $4,500 | $3,735 | $3,698 | $3,567 | $15,500 |
Costs provided are estimated and based on the following current tuition rates: $217 (In-State), $290 (Out-of-State), $400 (International).
Fees and costs are subject to change. To view all costs associated with attending college visit our Tuition and Costs page.
Explore More
| Eman Mohamed | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title: | Professor, Early Childhood | |||||
| Phone: | 319-398-1258 | |||||
| Email: | eman.mohamed@kirkwood.edu | |||||
| Office: | 1028 Cedar Hall | |||||
Adjunct Faculty
Cynthia Clymer
Melanie Nollsch
Glenda Seward
Ellen Clar
Vivian Quinn
Students in Kirkwood's Early Childhood Education program, as well as those pursuing the Early Childhood Administration Certificate, Early Childhood Paraprofessional Certificate, or Early Childhood Education Diploma, are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), the only national Career and Technical Student Organization with the family as its central focus.
FCCLA is one of eight recognized members of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.
The mission of the Early Childhood Education program at Kirkwood Community College is to prepare learners to provide high quality early care and education for young children from birth to age eight.
“If you have a passion, there are so many opportunities to chase it at Kirkwood. It has everything you need educationally and personally. I actually feel emotionally changed by being here. I’ve felt alone at times in my life, but I’ve met a lot of great people at Kirkwood. I definitely don't feel alone here.”
Kevis Berger,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Questions?
Social Sciences Department
2092 Cedar Hall
319-398-4911
social.sciences@kirkwood.edu