Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma
Program Description (Major Code: ECC2)
The Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the field of early childhood education. The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application as well as limited general core competencies necessary for successful employment. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including childcare centers, Head start, and Georgia Pre–K programs.
Admissions Requirements
- Must be 16 years of age
- Completion of high school or GED and submission of official transcript required to apply
- Achievement of minimum program admission scores in Reading, English, and Math
- Transfer of previous post-secondary credits will be determined by the Office of Enrollment Services
Student Performance/Graduation Requirements: Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and complete all required courses to graduate.
Blood and Airborne Pathogens: Students enrolled in Category I and II programs at Atlanta Technical College will be performing tasks in which there is a normal occurrence for exposure to blood, other potentially infectious body materials, and airborne pathogens. These tasks will be performed in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical activities for each occupational training program/course. Students will be required to present documentation of Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis immunizations as a result of potential occupational exposure. Students should contact their program directors for more information on policies and procedures regarding blood and airborne pathogens.
Criminal Background Check: All Early Childhood Care and Education students are required to submit a completed state and federal criminal records background check. The State of Georgia has a law regarding the placement of persons with criminal records in childcare facilities. Anyone who has been convicted of a felony offense, or of neglecting or abusing a dependent person, a sexual offense or any other “covered crime” will not be allowed to work in a childcare facility. If you are affected by this law, or think you may be, discuss your situation immediately with the department chair. Because your employment options may be severely limited in the early childhood profession, a person who has received an unsatisfactory criminal records check is discouraged from pursuing the ECCE program of study and may need to reconsider their chosen field of study. Students will not be allowed to take ECCE 1121 and ECCE 2245/2246, if their criminal history/arrest record request form (from any police department in the state of Georgia or federal background check) comes back with an arrest history.
Course Outline
Curriculum
General Education Courses (8 Credits)
Occupational Courses (45 Credits)
Total Credit Hours: 53
Minimum Program Length in Semester Terms: 4 Credits
Estimated Program Cost: $8,305
* To be employed in childcare centers, public schools, or Head Start centers, an individual must have a satisfactory criminal record check. Persons who have been convicted of a felony offense are not employable in the childcare field. Evidence of a current satisfactory criminal record background check is required at the student's expense prior to participation in practicum or internship.