colorful felt letters on a black background

Early Childhood Education, A.S.

Who We Are

Are you interested in working with children ages birth to five years of age? Consider Daytona State College’s Early Childhood Education AS degree.

The program prepares students to work as an early childhood education teacher, child development center curriculum coordinator, infant-toddler teacher, preschool teacher, child development center manager, or to provide supplementary training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations.

Daytona State College’s Early Childhood Education AS Degree program offers many classes online with some in a hybrid format, to meet your busy lifestyle. The program includes a core of courses which must be completed by all students.

A pre-admission consultation with the assistant chair is strongly recommended.
Dr. Cathy Twyman Building 320, room 427 Daytona State College’s main campus. Catherine.Twyman@daytonastate.edu 386-506-3113

Apply today

Get started on your path to make a difference in children's lives.

At DSC we offer a comprehensive career ladder for this specialized field:

ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate)
Directors Credential
AS degree in Early Childhood Education

Launch your path with an Early Childhood Education degree

career options

Infant/Toddler Teacher
Preschool Teacher
Before/After School Care Program Coordinator
Early Intervention Educator
Family Support Provider
Child Care Administrator
Resource and Referral Agency Counselor

Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC)

The Early Childhood Education, vocational professional certificate program (ECPC) is designed to prepare graduates for employment as a volunteer prekindergarten (VPK) instructor at a childcare center. Students in this certificate are required to be currently working in a childcare facility in order to meet the direct work experience requirement for this program. There are four classes in this program, and our next cohort will begin in the Fall term.

The curriculum includes suitable guidance techniques, developmentally appropriate strategies, and activities for young children ages infant to school-age, basic principles of child development, and professional and ethical practices pertaining to early childhood education.
Students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities to use with young children at their own early childhood education center.

Directors Credential

CHD2801 - Child Development Management (3 credits)

The Directors Credential is required to own and/or run a childcare facility. To qualify for this credential, individuals must also have earned a CDA/Staff Credential and complete the DCF 45-hour training course as well as other required DCF training. Potential students who have a degree in another field may be eligible to earn their Director’s Credential and are encouraged to reach out to the Assistant Chair, Cathy Twyman @ 386-506-3113 or Catherine.Twyman@daytonastate.edu for further information.

We work directly with T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship recipients. Please reach out to the contact information listed above for guidance regarding how to apply to the college.

Renewing a Directors Credential:
For information concerning the renewal of your director’s credential, access the site: https://www.myflfamilies.com/childcaretraining/credentials/director-credential. If you have any additional questions regarding renewal, you can call the Florida Department of Children and Family Services at 1-888-352-2842. For specific course information available at Daytona State College, you can contact the Assistant Chair at Daytona State at 386-506-3113 or email them at Catherine.Twyman@daytonastate.edu

Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education

The program prepares students to work as early childhood education teachers, child development center curriculum coordinators, infant-toddler teachers, preschool teachers, child development center managers, or to provide supplementary training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations.

The curriculum focuses on:

Emergent Literacy through the Use of Children's Literature
Working with Children with Special Needs and their Families Facilitating Social Development
Family Interaction and Cultural Continuity
Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood
Appropriate Curriculum Practices

U.S. Department of Education projects a shortage of skilled teachers in the coming years. Graduates of this program will be extremely well positioned for employment, whether in the state of Florida or nationwide. Nearly 100% of graduates of DSC's teaching programs find employment in the field.

Graduates may find employment in job roles such as:

Education Administrator
Preschool Teacher (Except Special Education)
Kindergarten Teacher (Except Special Education) (private school)
Early childhood educator

Apply for Financial Aid and Student Scholarships:

T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship: T.E.A.C.H. is an acronym for Teacher Education And Compensation Helps. The program provides scholarships to early learning and afterschool teachers, directors, family childcare home educators, and childcare facility owners working towards their Florida Staff Credential, Director Credential, National CDA Assessment, credential renewals, or Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees in early childhood education. A major goal of T.E.A.C.H. is that it links professional development, increased compensation, and commitment for the Florida early care and education workforce to remain in the field. This grant is offered through the Children’s Forum and is for students who are employed at participating early childhood centers. To be eligible, the student must have the approval of their employer. For more information about this scholarship program, access this link: https://teach-fl.org/

To apply for a scholarship, click here: https://login.thechildrensforum.com/teach/landing