Child Development/Early Childhood Education, Associate of Applied Science

Program Information

Do you have a passion for shaping the future? Do you desire to inspire the youth around you because of your passion? If so, San Jacinto College’s Child Development program is designed for students like you who want to have a profound, positive effect on society through our children. Our program offers the knowledge and technical skills you need to enter the child development profession and serves as a launching pad to a four-year bachelor’s degree program in education. Are you ready for the future?

The San Jacinto College Child Development/Early Childhood (CDEC) studies program is designed to develop basic skills, attitudes, and competencies necessary for personnel to provide high-quality care in a variety of early childhood programs.

Career Opportunities

Students who receive an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in CDEC pursue careers in:

  • Teaching,
  • Directing and/or owning an early childhood program for profit or non-profit,
  • Teaching in a family day home setting,
  • Becoming a nanny,
  • Teaching in a church-related program or government facilities,
  • Working at a children’s museum, and
  • Working in an early childhood intervention program.

Earning Potential

Preschool teacher: $37,2891

Education administrator, kindergarten through secondary: $94,0351

1

Source: texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2021

For more information, students may contact Central campus, 281-476-1867; or North campus, 281-459-7635.

Campuses

Central Campus
North Campus

San Jac Online

Information

The College designed the Child Development/Early Childhood Education (CDEC) Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree curriculum to develop basic skills, attitudes, and competencies necessary for personnel to provide high-quality care and early education in preschools and child care centers.

Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site.

CDEC and TECA Student

The 80th Texas Legislature passed a law, Senate Bill 758, that as of September 1, 2007, requires a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check for anyone who is currently required to have a background check in a child care center. This includes any person(s), including volunteers, who are counted in the child/caregiver ratio. Child care center employees/volunteers will have to have the background fingerprints once every two (2) years. Similar legislation, Senate Bill 9, passed setting 2011 as the deadline for public school districts to be in compliance. FBI fingerprinting allows the state to check an individual’s criminal record in 50 states, rather than just checking for a record within the state of Texas, which is all that the current system allows. Additionally, it addresses concerns with individuals using fake names and social security numbers.

No CDEC or TECA student can be in any one location more than two (2) days a month, in which case they would not be a “frequent” in-contact person in the classroom. Our experience indicates that the area school districts are implementing criminal background checks in a variety of ways. A fee is required but may vary depending upon the center, program, and school district. Based upon this information, it is the student’s responsibility as a future teacher of children in the state of Texas to understand and comply with the requirements of each institution in which they may observe and/or intern.

In accordance with Texas House Bill 1508, the College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the Department Chair. 

Plan of Study

3CHID-ECE

Plan of Study Grid
First TermCredits
TECA 1354 Child Growth and Development 3
CDEC 1319 Child Guidance 3
CDEC 1358
Creative Arts for Early Childhood
or Child Development Associate Training I
3
ENGL 1301 Composition I 3
 Credits12
Second Term
CDEC 1356
Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood
or Child Development Associate Training III
3
TECA 1311 Educating Young Children 3
CDEC 1313
Curriculum Resources for Early Childhood Programs
or Child Development Associate Training II
3
Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) 3
Creative Arts (Fine Arts) 3
CDEC 1323 Observation and Assessment 1 3
 Credits18
Third Term
CDEC 2307 Math and Science for Early Childhood 3
TECA 1303 Families, School and Community 3
SPCH 1315
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
MATH 1314 College Algebra 3
CDEC 2326 Administration of Programs for Children I 3
HIST 1301 United States History I 3
 Credits18
Fourth Term
TECA 1318 Wellness of the Young Child 3
CDEC 2366 Practicum (or Field Experience) - Child Care Provider/Assistant 3
Government/Political Science 3
HIST 1302 United States History II 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits60
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Students may substitute CDEC 1470 for CDEC 1323.

Capstone Experience: CDEC 2366 Practicum (or Field Experience) - Child Care Provider/Assistant