Early Childhood Education, A.S.
If you love working with children, this program is for you. It is designed to provide education and experiences as a basis for employment in the field of early childhood working with children ages 0-8 and/or as a two-year educational foundation for students wishing to transfer to a four/five-year teaching certification program. You’ll be prepared to work in early care and education settings including child care, public school para professionals (K-2) and related human service agencies. Our courses also address the needs of individuals already employed in the area of early education looking to enhance their professional competence and depth of knowledge.The goal of the plan is to create an “accessible pathway for career mobility for early childhood educators.”
Special Opportunities
Some classes work with TRCC’s on-campus day care center, Little Learners. TRCC currently has working relationships with the following colleges: CCSU, ECSU, SCSU, University of Hartford, St. Joseph College, Charter Oak State College and The University of Connecticut: Human Development and Family Relations major.
Career Options
Child Care
Public School Para-professionals (K-2)
Human Service Agencies
Special Education
Credential Program
At Three Rivers Community College, we offer a special program to assist early childhood professionals meet the current ECE NAEYC Workforce standards. To address this workforce need, we have made special modifications by exempting employed ECE providers from the prerequisite requirements on the first twelve ECE credits taken in the program. We are pleased to be part of the changing pace of Early Childhood.
Accreditation
The 
Early Childhood Education, A.S. at Three Rivers Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org.
The accreditation term runs from March 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022.
Click here for NAEYC Accreditation Program Outcome Data
Click here for TRCC ECE Candidate Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Easy Transfer Options
Central Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
University of Hartford
University of St. Joseph
Charter Oak State College
University of Connecticut: Human Development and Family Relations major.
Related Degrees & Certificates
Because you are interested in the Early Childhood Education, A.S., you might want to look at these programs, too.
Human Services, A.S.
Liberal Arts and Sciences, A.A.
Pathway to Teaching Careers, A.A.
See below for a list of all full-time Department Faculty. Please note that not all listed faculty may teach courses related to this specific degree or certificate program.
Pamela Carroll
B.A., Merrimack College; Ed.M., Harvard University; Licensed School Social Worker/School Adjustment CounselorHumanities and Social Sciences Department Professor of PsychologyFaculty Office Hours (860) 215-9412 PCarroll@threerivers.edu
Philip E Mayer Jr.
B.S., Villanova University; M.A., Kansas State University; M.L.S., Fort Hays State UniversityHumanities and Social Sciences Department Professor of Economics and Political ScienceFaculty Office Hours (860) 215-9453 PMayer@threerivers.edu
William O’Hare
B.A., Marist College; M.A., University of ConnecticutHumanities and Social Sciences Department Professor of AnthropologyFaculty Office Hours (860) 215-9436 WOHare@threerivers.edu
Sheila Skahan
B.S., Lesley University; M.S., Wheelock CollegeHumanities and Social Sciences Department Professor of Early Childhood EducationFaculty Office Hours (860) 215-9475 SSkahan@threerivers.edu
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
