Education

Early Childhood Development Program

For additional information on the Early Childhood programs, please contact the Division of Engineering, Business & Public Services: 804.706.5121 (Chester Campus, Godwin Hall, G108) or 804.594.1480 (Midlothian Campus, Hamel Hall, H206).

The Early Childhood Development Program is an applied degree program that prepares students for immediate work in the early childhood field. The curriculum is designed for persons seeking employment in the care, education, and supervision of young children birth to age eight, or for those persons currently employed who want to update and enhance their skills. Occupational opportunities include administrator, director, assistant director, lead teacher, or assistant teacher in settings such as preschools, child care centers and homes, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, public schools, and before-and after-school programs. The following degrees align with the Virginia Career Pathways for Early Childhood and Out-of-School Time Practitioners, where Level 3 is a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and Level 9 a doctoral degree.

Students interested in working in a public school setting as a teacher assistant (paraprofessional) should enroll in the Early Childhood Development AAS degree program. The Virginia Department of Education require an Associate degree for paraprofessionals, but the degree does not have to be a teacher assistant or paraprofessional specialization. The ECD AAS degree prepares students to work in a variety of settings such as preschools, childcare centers and homes, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, public schools, and before-and after-school programs. If a student is interested in employment in public schools, he/she should communicate that to the faculty advisor, so she can place them in a public school setting for one of the two required practicums.

Teacher Education Program (K-12)

For additional information on the transfer Teacher Education programs, please contact the Division of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: 804.706.5086 (Chester Campus, Moyar Hall, M131) or 804.594.1509 (Midlothian Campus, Eliades Hall, E308).

The General Studies, Teacher Education Specialization in Elementary (K-6) is a transfer degree that is intended to provide the student with a general course of study that parallels the freshman and sophomore years at most colleges and universities and prepares the student for a baccalaureate degree program in K-6. Students who wish to complete this program will be required to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills exams prior to transferring to the four-year institution.

The General Studies, Secondary Teacher Education Specialization in Mathematics is a transfer degree that is specifically designed for students who plan to transfer into a math major at most four-year colleges and plan to teach in mathematics at the secondary level. Students who complete this program will be required to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills exams for acceptance into teacher education programs at senior institutions.

The Liberal Arts, Secondary Teacher Education Specialization in English is a transfer degree that is specifically designed for students who plan to transfer into an English major at most four-year universities and plan to teach English at the secondary level. Students who complete this program will be required to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills exams for acceptance into teacher education programs at four-year universities.

The Liberal Arts, Secondary Teacher Education Specialization in History is a transfer degree that is specifically designed for students who plan to transfer into a History major at most four-year universities and plan to teach history at the secondary level. Students who complete this program will be required to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills exams for acceptance into teacher education programs at four-year universities.

Majors

Transfer Degrees

Career and Technical Programs