Occupational Development -Early Childhood Practitioner, A.A.S.

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Lori Barrett, Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator
Laboratory Preschool Director
144 Education Building / (304)367-4848
Locust Avenue Campus
Lori.Barrett@pierpont.edu

Program Purpose

The Occupational Development, Early Childhood Practitioner Associate of Applied Science Degree is designed for apprentices and journeypersons of the U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) Program. This degree program builds on the educational component and the on-the-job-training hours completed during the apprenticeship. Upon completion of the required general studies courses, required Early Childhood courses, and payment of the evaluation fee, a student may earn 28 college credit hours for the apprenticeship training.

Apprenticeship is required. Individuals who have completed a Child Development Associate (CDA) under the auspices of an agency or organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation are also eligible to complete the Occupational Development Degree.

Required Early Childhood courses include the study of the growth and development of young children as well as the planning, preparation and implementation of appropriate curriculum and environments for early childhood programs.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the AAS degree in Occupational Development, Early Childhood Practitioner, graduates will be able to do the following:

Plan, prepare, and implement appropriate curriculum for a quality early childhood program based on a knowledge of child development and appropriate practices
Plan classroom learning environments that are developmentally appropriate
Demonstrate appropriate communication skills, teaching methods and professional conduct while working with young children
Document that all West Virginia Child Care Licensing regulations for center employees are met
Demonstrate ability to implement West Virginia Early Learning Standards while working with young children

Opportunities

Graduates with the Occupational Development, Early Childhood Practitioner AAS Degree are qualified to teach in child care centers, Head Start programs, private nursery schools, and private preschools, or to serve as a Nanny. Graduates meet state requirements to be the director of a Type I, II or III child care center in the state of West Virginia. Other employment opportunities include positions in public and private organizations providing services for children.

Pierpont C&TC has an articulation agreement that allows graduates with the Occupational Development, Early Childhood Practitioner AAS Degree to apply 51 of the required 64 credit hours towards a Birth through Four teaching certification degree at West Virginia University. Of the 28 credit hours received for ACDS or CDA completions, 15 hours of credit articulates to WVU.

Occupational Development, Early Childhood Total Degree Requirement 64 SEM. HRS

General Studies Component I 21 SEM. HRS

The following courses are required: 12 SEM. HRS

~ENGL 1104 - Written English I 3-4 hr(s). (4 hr(s). Required)
~ENGL 1108 - Written English II 3 hr(s).
-OR
~ENGL 1109 - Technical Report Writing 3 hr(s). (“C” or higher in ENGL 1108 for graduation)
OFAD 1150 - Computer Concepts and Applications 3 hr(s).
~MTH 1207 - Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics 3-4 hr(s). (S) (5 hr(s). Required)
COM 2200 - Introduction to Human Communications 3 hr(s).
OFAD 1150 - Computer Concepts and Applications 3 hr(s).
~SCY 1101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 hr(s).
~PSYG 1101 - Introduction to Psychology 3 hr(s).

Select three courses from the following 9 SEM. HRS

Required Technical Studies Courses 15 SEM. HRS

The following courses are required

EC 1107 - Early Childhood Curriculum 3 hr(s).
EC 2283 - Cognitive Development 3 hr(s).

Select a minimum of 9 hours from the following courses

EC 2206 - The Child in the Family 3 hr(s).
EC 2230 - Classroom Strategies 3 hr(s).
EC 2231 - Administration of Early Childhood Programs 3 hr(s).
EC 2240 - Infant Toddler Development and Care 3 hr(s).
FOSM 1110 - Nutrition 3 hr(s).
-OR
FOSM 1120 - Nutrition in Childhood & Adolescence 3 hr(s).
EC 2210 - Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood Education 3 hr(s).

Technical Core Component II 18 SEM. HRS

Component II consists of courses developed and delivered by the Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) Program offered through, and approved by, the United States Department of Labor, or approved courses included in the Child Development Associate (CDA) education and training program under the auspices of an agency or organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation. The courses will be converted to college credit hours at the usual ratio of 15:1 for lecture and at 30:1 for the laboratory hours/credit ratio of Pierpont Community & Technical College to a maximum of 18 credit hours. This credit will be recorded immediately prior to graduation from the college following the completion of all degree requirements, a positive completed evaluation by Pierpont Community & Technical College and the payment of the Evaluation Fee.

Occupational On-the-Job Training Hours Component III -OR- Supervised Work Based Learning 10 SEM. HRS.

This component consists of paid or unpaid on-the-job training provided as a component of the Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) Program or Child Development Associate (CDA) Program. The on-the-job training component is to be converted to credit hours at a ratio of 200:1 to a maximum of 10 credit hours. This credit will be recorded immediately prior to graduation following the completion of all degree requirements, a positive completed evaluation by Pierpont Community & Technical College and the payment of the Evaluation Fee.

Documentation of Completion: for Component II and Component III is made to the Early Childhood Program Coordinator by submitting a copy of the U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist Certificate and a letter of completion from the U.S. Department of Labor or a copy of the Child Development Associate Certificate and a letter of completion from the organization or agency providing the training.

Residency Requirement: 15 credits of the student’s last course work in Components I and II must be completed at Pierpont Community & Technical College.

Evaluation Fee: An Evaluation Fee of one hundred-fifty dollars ($150.00) is required following the completion of all courses. The evaluation includes determination that all academic course work has been successfully completed and verification of Components II and III. When the evaluation is completed and all requirements have been met, then credits for Components II and III will be granted. The evaluation fee is paid at the time application for graduation is made.

WVU Articulation Credit: Graduates participating in the articulation agreement with the West Virginia University, Birth to Pre-K Teaching Certification Program may receive up to 15 hours of articulation credit for Components III and IV: EC 1105 , 3 hours, EC 1106 , 2 hours, EC 1130 , 3 hours, EC 2232 , 3 hours and EC 2995 , 4 hours.

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