Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education: Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities

About

TCC's Early Childhood Education program: Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities prepares students to become successful early childhood professionals working with young children to meet their individual needs. This program is for people wanting to work with young children (birth through 8 years old), including children who are culturally, linguistically and ability diverse. The program fulfills Washington State childcare licensing guidelines and requirements. Grants are available for interested students with the Early Achievers Opportunity Grant through Workforce Education.

We provide a supportive, welcoming environment for every student in our program and assist you to attain your educational and career goals. Please contact the ECE Program Chair for an appointment to get started. There is no formal admission process. (Note: This program requires a MERIT criminal background check/fingerprints.)

Enrollment is open to individuals who would like to work or currently work:

with young children including those who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.
in early learning programs such as center-based childcare, family home childcare, Head Start, and private preschools.
as paraeducators or teacher assistants.

Funding is available!

The ECE program is eligible for the Early Achievers Opportunity Grant through Workforce Education. Find out more and see if you qualify for funding.

Learn more

Early Childhood Education Program

TCC students can earn stand-alone certificates, or apply them to an Associate of Applied Sciences Degree

The Early Childhood Education Initial Certificate is the first certificate in the series of ECE stackable certificates. This certificate is a pathway to the Early Childhood Education Short Certificate of Specialization, the Early Childhood Education Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities Certificate, and the Early Childhood Education Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities AAS Degree. The certificate is directed toward students working or planning to work with children birth through eight years old. The Early Childhood Education Initial Certificate is aligned with the Washington State ECE common courses and stackable certificates.

Certificate Requirements
The Early Childhood Education Short Certificate of Specialization is the second certificate in the series of ECE stackable certificates. This certificate builds on the ECE Initial Certificate and is a pathway to the Early Childhood Education Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities Certificate and the Early Childhood Education Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities AAS Degree. The certificate is directed toward students working or planning to work with children birth through eight years old. The Early Childhood Education Short Certificate of Specialization is aligned with the Washington State ECE common courses and stackable certificates.

Certificate Requirements
TCC’s Early Childhood Education: Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities Certificate is the third in the series of ECE stackable certificates. This certificate builds on the ECE Initial Certificate and the Early Childhood Education Short Certificate of Specialization and is a pathway to the Early Childhood Education Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities AAS Degree. It is an academic program designed to develop the skills needed to be a successful early childhood professional and is directed toward students planning to work with children, birth through eight years old, including those who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse. Employment opportunities are in a variety of settings, including: preschools, childcare centers, early intervention programs (as a teacher assistant), and/ or other early learning programs. The Early Childhood Education Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities Certificate is aligned with the Washington State ECE common courses and stackable certificates.

Certificate Requirements
TCC’s Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education: Emphasis on Children with Exceptionalities builds on the series of ECE stackable certificates.

It is an academic program designed to include general education requirements to earn an Associate Degree. Students will develop the skills needed to pursue employment opportunities are in preschools, childcare centers, family childcare, HeadStart/ECEAP programs, kindergarten through third grade classrooms (as a teacher assistant), and/or other early learning programs.

Degree Requirements

Contact Us

Jennifer Karshna, Program Chair
Bldg. 13-131
jkarshna@tacomacc.edu
253-566-5010

Email Jennifer