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: $38,7421
Education administrator, kindergarten through secondary: $94,7151
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Source: texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2022
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 CEDC 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
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| TECA 1354 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CDEC 1319 | Child Guidance | 3 |
| CDEC 1358 or CDEC 1317 | Creative Arts for Early Childhood or Child Development Associate Training I | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Term | ||
| CDEC 1356 or CDEC 2324 | Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood or Child Development Associate Training III | 3 |
| TECA 1311 | Educating Young Children | 3 |
| CDEC 1313 or CDEC 2322 | 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 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Third Term | ||
| CDEC 2307 | Math and Science for Early Childhood | 3 |
| TECA 1303 | Families, School and Community | 3 |
| SPCH 1315 or SPCH 1318 | 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 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
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Students may substitute CDEC 1470 Educational Aide Associate for CDEC 1323 Observation and Assessment.
Capstone Experience: CDEC 2366 Practicum (or Field Experience) - Child Care Provider/Assistant