Plan and earn your early childhood education program online and with our Early Childhood Transfer Pathway from MSC Southeast. The Early Education Associates Degree online gives you education skills and credits that you can transfer to the Minnesota State University of your choice. Begin the first steps as an early childhood professional with аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± 100% online transfer pathways.
Being an early childhood educator is more than a job -- it's a calling. But it takes more than love of children for a person to be an effective early childhood educator. Working with young children is a complex job that requires competency and skill.
Early childhood teachers create a healthy, supportive, and safe learning environment where children can flourish. Research has shown that quality education and training of childcare professionals is directly related to the increased social, cognitive, and emotional growth of children.
If you are planning to advance to a high level position in the field, the Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway associate of science degree from MSC Southeast is a great first step. This 2-year early childhood education associates degree is specifically designed for students who want to begin college at MSC Southeast, then transfer to a Minnesota State university to complete a bachelor's degree.
This 100% online education program from аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½± offers a supportive distance learning environment for new and experienced early childhood educators. Coursework can be completed for the early childhood education associates degree online with local field experience in a licensed early childhood setting, working with children between the ages of 0-8. Students are directly evaluated during their field experiences throughout the program.
The development of a professional portfolio is a component of the MSC Southeast Early Childhood Education program for students to demonstrate competence, based on standards from the . The completed portfolio will be presented at the completion of the MSC Southeast associate degree.
Transfer Pathways
The Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway AS offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an Associate of Science degree with course credits that directly transfer to related bachelor's degree programs at universities.
The curriculum has been specifically designed so that students completing this pathway degree and transferring to one of the seven Minnesota State universities enter the university with junior-year status.
All courses in the Transfer Pathway associate degree will directly transfer and apply to the designated bachelor's degree programs in a related field.
The Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway (AS) degree transfers to the following 4-year degree programs:
| Transfer University | 4-Year Degree Name |
| Metropolitan State University | Early Childhood Studies, BAS
Urban Early Childhood Education, BS |
| Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Early Childhood Education, BS
Early Childhood Education- Non-Licensure, BA |
| Saint Cloud State University | Early Childhood Education, BS |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | Early Childhood Education, BS
Early Childhood Special Education, BS |
| Winona State University | Early Childhood Education Birth-3, BST
Special Education: Early Childhood, BST |
Download the Program Plan
Courses
Associate of Science Degree General Requirements for Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway
- A minimum of 60 semester credits.
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (students with a GPA 2.0-2.4 may receive conditional admission)
- A minimum cumulative MnTC GPA of 2.0.
- A minimum of 20 semester credits applied toward the degree must be taken at аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±.
- Students must earn a grade of 'C' or better for ECED courses to transfer.
- Some university education programs require 'B' or better in English and math coursework.
- Completion of the specific degree requirements below:
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Requirements - A minimum of 30 credits to complete the MnTC required 6 goal areas for the AS degree. A MnTC course may satisfy more than one goal area; however, the credits only count once.
MnTC Goal Areas (36 credits):
Goal 1 Communication (Three courses) - 9 credits
- ENGL1215 College Writing I (3 credits)
- ENGL2525 College Writing II (3 credits)
- COMM1218 College Speech (3 credits) or COMM1228 Interpersonal Communications (3 credits)
Goal 2 Critical Thinking
- (Fulfilled by ENGL2525 College Writing II)
Goal 3 Natural Science - 6 credits (Goal 3 courses must include coursework from two different subject areas)
- Recommend: BIOL1120 Environmental Science (3 credits)
- Recommend: CHEM1122 Environmental Chemistry (3 credits)
Goal 4 Mathematical/Logical Reasoning - 3 credits
- Recommend: MATH1220 College Algebra (3 credits)
Goal 5 History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences - 9 credits
- Recommend: SOCS1205 Sociology of the Family (3 credits)
- Recommend: PSYC1115 Lifespan Psychology (3 credits)
- (Additional 3 credits - Goal 5 courses must be taken in at least two different subject areas)
Goal 6 The Humanities and Fine Arts - 9 credits (Goal 6 courses must be taken in at least two different subject areas)
- Recommend: HUMA1430 Exploring World Cultures (3 credits)
- Recommend: HUMA1125 Moral Problems (3 credits)
- Recommend: PHIL1410 Technology Ethics (3 credits)
MnTC Theme Goal Areas:
Goal 7 Human Diversity
- (Fulfilled by PSYC1115 Lifespan Psychology)
Goal 8 Global Perspective
- (Fulfilled by HUMA1430 Exploring World Cultures)
Goal 9 Ethical/Civic Responsibility
- (Fulfilled by HUMA1125 Moral Problems or PHIL1410 Technology Ethics)
Goal 10 People and the Environment
- (Fulfilled by BIOL1120 Environmental Science or CHEM1122 Environmental Chemistry)
Early Childhood Education Credits (24 cr):
- ECED1020 Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition (3 credits)
- ECED1150 Child Growth and Development (3 credits)
- ECED1136 Interpersonal Relationships and Diversity in Early Childhood (3 credits)
- ECED1132 Behavior and Emotional-Social Development of the Young Child (3 credits)
- ECED1231 Developmentally Appropriate Environments and Experiences for Young Children (3 credits)
- ECED1475 History and Professions in Early Childhood (3 credits)
- ECED2350 Foundations of Language and Literacy (3 credits)
- ECED2440 Early Childhood Special Education (3 credits)
Estimated Costs for this Major
| Approximate Tuition/Fees: | $13,914 |
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| Minimum Tool Cost: | N/A |
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| Books/Supplies: | $700 |
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| Estimated Total: | $14,614 |
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Career Opportunities
- The purpose of the Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway degree is to prepare students for transfer into a designated bachelor's degree program at a Minnesota State university.
- Graduates may also be able transfer to additional private and public colleges/universities.
- At university level, students may prepare for teacher licensure.
Career Information
Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer to learn about wages, job growth, And much more in this career field.
Outcomes
Program graduates will be able to:
- Utilize their understanding of developmentally appropriate practice respective to the characteristics and needs of young children.
- Understand and value the importance and complex characteristics of families and communities.
- Develop partnerships with families, community, and educational professionals as well as additional service providers
- Design and implement outcome-based learning experiences through application of the knowledge in relation to goals, benefits, and uses of assessment.
- Use systematic, critical, and creative processes to apply ethical and professional decision-making.
- Demonstrate proficiency in gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information for the professional portfolio.
Highlights
- Transfer opportunities for students to continue for a bachelor's degree
- Online program offers supportive distance learning environment for new and experienced early childhood educators
- Combination of child development, professional development, and career application courses
- Strong national demand for highly trained early childhood educators
Instructors
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Rachel Daley
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Rachel Daley has earned her M.A. in Education from Concordia University. After obtaining an A.S. degree at MSC Southeast, Rachel proceeded to SMSU to obtain a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. In addition to teaching at MSC Southeast since 2010, her career experiences include family childcare, nanny, director of religious education, childcare trainer, preschool teacher, foster parent, and substitute.