Early Childhood Education

Overview

Begin a career dedicated to our next generation! River Valley’s Early Childhood Education Associate Degree provides students with the many opportunities—new employment, career advancement, and continuing education, including transfer to bachelor degree programs. River Valley is the best first step into your new career in early childhood education!

Why RVCC?

Early Childhood Education at River Valley offers accessible courses, flexible plans for part-time study, and individualized advising. A career in early childhood education provides the opportunity to truly touch the future. Early childhood professionals work with young children, ages birth through 8 years, in a variety of settings.

Career Options

• Child care centers
• Nursery schools
• Head Start centers
• Laboratory schools
• Family child care homes
• After-school programs
• Montessori schools
• Parent cooperatives
• Public and private schools

Related Degrees

• Early Childhood Education Infant and Toddler Certificate
• Early Childhood Education Level 1 Certificate
• Early Childhood Education level 2 Certificate
• Social Services
• 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
• Becoming a professional.

Early Childhood Education is an open enrollment program. We accept students once they are accepted to River Valley; no other requirements necessary. At RVCC, we believe all students should be able to complete a degree and be able to transfer or start their career as smoothly as possible.

If you have any questions about Early Childhood Education, please request information or reach out to the faculty.