Early Childhood Education Level I

Overview

The Early Childhood Education Level I certificate introduces
students to the world of Early Childhood Education. This certificate is perfect
for those who are exploring a career in early childhood, and can be used by
individuals with a completed degree in a related field to earn specialized
Early Childhood Education credits. 

Why RVCC?

• All four introductory courses run at both Claremont & Keene

• Courses are recognized by the NH Bureau of Child Development
  and Head Start Collaboration and the NH Child Care Licensing Unit
• Students currently employed in a NH-licensed program may
  qualify for scholarships available through the Early Childhood Tuition
  Assistance (ECTA) Program.  For details, please see: www.ccsnh.edu/ece

Career Options

• Child care centers
• Head Start programs
• Laboratory schools
• Parent cooperatives and after-school programs.

Related Degrees

• Early Childhood Education Degree
  
• Early Childhood Education: Infant and Toddler Certificate
  
• Early Childhood Education Level 2 Certificate
  
• Social Services Degree
  
• Social Services Certificate

The Early Childhood Education Program shares in the mission of River Valley Community College to prepare individuals to enter into the workforce, to advance in their chosen career as early childhood professionals and educators, and to prepare for continued study, including academic transfer. This program is also committed to preparing students to value the importance of and to participate professionally in quality early childhood settings and their communities.

We recognize and respect that students in the Early Childhood Education Program have varied career goals, both short-term and long-range. We work to meet these varied student needs.

We believe that the overall design of the early childhood curriculum should reflect current interdisciplinary knowledge about the preparation of early childhood professionals. We strive to provide a strong foundation for our students by utilizing the standards for early childhood professional preparation at the associate degree level as outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We believe in and support the Code of Ethics as established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Program Goals

RVCC’s Early Childhood Education Program combines theory and practical experiences.  The curriculum utilizes standards for early childhood professional preparation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Program Outcomes

RVCC’s Certificates and Associate Degree focus on:

• Promoting child development & learning;
• Building family & community relationships;
• Observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families;
• Using developmentally effective approaches to connect with children & families;
• Using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum; and,
• Becoming a professional.

The Early Childhood Education Level I Certificate, Level II Certificate, Infant & Toddler Certificate and Associate Degree are all open enrollment programs. This means we accept students once they are accepted to River Valley; no additional program-specific requirements are necessary. At RVCC, we believe all students should be able to complete a certificate or degree and be able to transfer or start their career as smoothly as possible.

Important Notes: 

• All applicants should carefully review the ECE Program’s Technical Standards prior to matriculation.
• All applicants should also read the full Criminal Background Check Policy in the Admissions section of RVCC Catalog and the Student Handbook.
• Applicants seeking admission to the Early Childhood Education Program who believe they may have difficulty with a state registry and criminal records check are advised to contact the New Hampshire Bureau of Child Care Licensing (1-800-852-3345) prior to matriculation.

If you have any questions about the Early Childhood Education programs of study, the please do not hesitate to request information or reach out to the ECE Program Director Kerry Belknap Morris at [email protected] or 603-542-7744, extension 5411.