Early Childhood Certificate

School: Business and Professional Careers
Academic Dept: Education and Human Services
HEGIS: 5503

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2025 to Summer 2026. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

The Early Childhood Certificate at SUNY Westchester Community College equips students with essential skills for entry-level roles in early childhood education, working with children from birth to age eight. This program combines foundational coursework with hands-on field experience, covering child development, assessment, and curriculum planning. Through supervised internships, students learn to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world settings, fostering each child’s unique strengths and building meaningful relationships with families. Graduates are prepared for roles in childcare centers, preschools, and other early childhood settings, with the potential to pursue further education and career growth in the field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Articulate a philosophy of teaching, based on valuing children’s strengths and ways of knowing.
Demonstrate knowledge of how to guide daily practice and curriculum in early childhood settings for each child.
Recognize the diverse and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities as a foundation for building relationships.
Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in early childhood settings.

Program Note

Students are encouraged to apply early due to an extraordinary demand.

Program Requirements

Required Courses - 24 credits

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Course	Credits
ECE 170 - Early Childhood Development	3
ECE 171 - Foundations of Early Childhood	3
ECE 270 - Observation and Assessment	4
ECE 271 - Early Childhood Practicum 1	2
Semester Total Credits	12

Semester 2

Course	Credits
ECE 280 - The Exceptional Child	3
ECE Course + Field Course: ECE 272 - Infant/Toddler Environments and ECE 273 - Early Childhood Practicum 2 OR ECE 274 - Early Childhood Curriculum and ECE 275 - Early Childhood Practicum 3	5
ENG 101 - Writing and Research	3
PE 116 - First Aid/CPR/AED	1
Semester Total Credits	12

Minimum Total Credits: 24

Gainful Employment Disclosure

For information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who have completed this program, and other important information please visit Early Childhood Certificate - GE Disclosure. For an overview of all gainful employment disclosures at Westchester Community College, visit www.sunywcc.edu/gainfulemployment.

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